The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-11-10

New York Herald; The cable brings
us news that new and most important
document has been brought to light In
tho archives OF the vatican library. 1t
is nothing less than the official an
nouncement of Pontius PLATE 10 the
Emperor Tiberlus OF the cruclixlon OF
Christ. Accounts differ as to whether
It is a transcript of the original, made
in A. D. $40. or the original itself, which,
according to accepted Biblical chronol-
ogy would date from 80 A. D. The vat
lean authorities are themselves retieent
about the matter, They evidently con-
template the possibility that this may
be only a new addition to the mass OF
apocrypha relating to the New Tesla
ment which has tloated down to us from
the early ages of the church. They dd
not wish TO give the imprimatur OF their
sanction to what may prove to be an
other forgery
FORGED LETTERS OF PLATE.
They are wise in this retcence, For
this is not the first time that docu-
ment has been discovered claiming to be
Pilates description of Christs cruel
fixion. Theologians are well acquaint-
ed with three different forgerles Of this
sort. One Is contained In the apochry-
phai. "Acts of the Holy Apostles" which
was first published In complete form
by Thllo in 1887. Thilo collected six
INNS. for this edition, the Oldest OF the
end OF the nineteenth century. Another
Is separate document entitled THE
Letter Of Pontius PLATE which he wrote
10 the Roman Emperor concerning Our
Lord Jesus Christ" There are four ex-
tant manuscripts OF this letter, none OF
them very ancient. longer and more
elaborate fabrication is entitled THE
Report OF PLATE, the Procurator. con-
corning Our Lord Jesus Christ, sent to
the August Caesar Tlberius in Rome"
Six manuscripts, all in Greek, differing
slightly In details, are extant. Tho
earliest Is assigned to the tenth CEN
fury, but the date of the original,
which has now persisted, 10 unknown
In addition an engraving on copper
plate entitled Death Warrant OF Jesus
Christ" purporting TO be the sentence
passed by Pontius PLATE on the Saviour,
was unearthed in 1910 In the ancientcltY
of Agullla, in the kingdom Of Naples.
The new document follows In the
steps OF the old ones and has anal6sies
with all, but the closest likeness IL te
be found In what is the most Interest,"
ing OF all these ancient forgeries, tho
apocryphal Gospel OF Nicodemus"
This consists of two seperate works.
the Acts OF PLATE" and the Descent
of Christ Into He'll" These appear to
have been Joined together at an early
date, though In combination did not re-
ceIYe the name II now bears until lailer
the thirteenth century. The former OF
these two parts Is OF some Importance
for the explanation and further eluci-
dalton OF the canonlcal gospels Tisch-
endorf attributes IL to the second CEN
fury, which is probably too ,oarly.
though without doubt the legend was
formed by the end of the second icen-
fury. Renan places the actual compo-
Bition In the beginning OF the fifth CEN
tury-from 405 to 40. The author was
probably Hellenlstic Jew converted to
Christianity. The original manuscript
was most probably Greek. though as is
the case with many similar forseries,
the original language is t. the preface
stated to have been Hebrew.
In the light of the present discovery
It is interesting 10 make brief sum
mary OF this ancient document
GOSPEL OF NICoDEMUs.
The chief priests and scribes go IA
plate to accuse Jesus of claiming to bl
the Son of God and king, of profanlng
the Sabbath and OF Wishing to annul
the law. PLATE urges against them the
miracles performed by Christ. He Is
however, persuaded to summon Jesus
The latter IL respectfully brought u
PLATE; the standards bow as he APP
proaches. The Jews complain OF this
honor being paid by the soldiers, but
are made TO see afterwards that the
standards themselves pay the homage
plate In alarmed and wishes TO leavi
the tribunal; his wife, Proda, also sends
warning TO him. In his irresolution he
inquiries OF Jesus what are the charges
brought against him. Among other
things the Jews urge that Jesus was
born lllOgltlmately. This Ia proved false
by the testimony OF twelve godly men
PLATE is enraged Mt the Jews and desires
TO release Christ.
Appealing to the priests and to the
crowd who has brought Jesus. he says
~ take the sun to witness that find nc
fault In this man"
inc EIuWu huhN'lhH II ii' NNiN i''
n Borcerer and n magician and bias
phemer, we should not have brought
him 10 your hiBhneBs"
TRY him yOurselvesi" cries PLATE;
land since you have law, do as your
law says"
"our law permits to put no man tc
death"
III you are unwilling to put him tc
deaths how much more am I?' Is Pl'
late's retort.
PLATE AND CHRIST.
Then plato returns to the palace and
says to Jesus: Tell me. art thou the
King OF the Jcws?" Jesus answered
''Dost thou say this or have tho othel
Jews said II TO thee, that thou mlghtcs
question me2" PLATE said: Thou dos
not think that am a Hebrew ! au
not Hebrew. Thy people and the chic
priests have delivered thee into mJ
hands; and tell me II thou art King Of
thc Jews?" JcsuB answered: ms
kingdom ls not OF this world for N ms
Kingdom wero OF this world, my BoldierI
would not be unconcerned Mt my bclnl
seized: wherefore, my kingdom In not o.
this world" PLATE says: But art thot
n klng?" Jesus said; "Thnt hast Bnlt
for this wnB born to bear witness Il
the truth; and II any one be man o.
truth, he belleycg my word and docs ~