The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-11-11

Phone 139. Douglas Avenue Depot
been that these manuscripts have been
appearing from time 10 time and mod
ern writer's have collated them, and i,
will be found that any supposed to be
new discovery viii not depart far from
the usual trend Of the writings. for they
are all on the same lines.
AN APOCRYPHAL REPORT.
"Now," continued DR.. Ward, as he
took a book from the shelves within
reach and opened IL, "here in the Ante
Nicene Fathers IS one Of these reports
credited TO plate. 1t Is formed from
four sources, and none OF them ancient.
Its origin is unknown, but II is preserv-
ed among apocryphal writings"
The report in its translation reads as
follows:
sePoutius PLATE TO Tfberius Caesar. the
Emperor, greeting:
upon Jesus Christ, whose case had
clearly set forth to thee in my last, at
length, by Will OF the people. bitter
punishmenth as been inflicted. myself
being in a sort unwilling and rather
afraid. man, by Hercules, so pious
and strict, no age has everh ad or VIII
have But wonderful were the efforts
Of the people themselves, and the un-
anin1ity Of all the scribes and chief men
and elders to cruelty this ambassador
Of truth, Notwithstanding that their
own prophet and after our manner the
sibyls warned them against it; and su-
pernatural signs appeared while he was
I'LL, of hi a.
sophers, threatened destruction TO the
whole world. His disciples are flourish
ing their work and the regulation OF
rheir lives, not belying their master;
yea, in the name, most beneficent. Had
I not been afraid of the rising OF Sc
dition among the people who were just
on the point Of breaking out. perhaps
this man would still have been alive 10
US, although urged more by fidelity 10
thy dignity than induced by my own
wishes. I did not according to my
strength resist that innocent blood free
from the whole charge brought against
it, but unjustly. through the malignity
of men, should be sold and suffer, yet,
as the Scriptures signify. to their own
destruction. Farewell. 2Sth March.
Examination Of other letters and re-
ports as set forth in the "Anti-Nicene
Fathers" credited to Plate, and whica
purport to be official communications
with the government at Rome, are in
the same general 5 train as the one given
above. They all set forth an apparent
regret on the part OF PLATE that the
crucifiXion ever took place, with re-
iteration that il was not induced ''by
my own wish" He continually refers
to innocent blood and writes of
Christ's peaceful mission, and that His
life might have been spared II the ex-
ecution could have been postponed. His
inability to either prevent or postpone
tne cricifxion is charged to the clamor-
ing Of the people, who cried Cruelty
Him. and his desire to show fidelity to
the central government at Rome.
To any OF these letters and reports il
is impossible 10 sign a date, and the
best the authorities can do is 10 state
their various publications. none Of which
go back 10 any time near the days Of Pi-
late Many OF them show by forms OF
expression that they are comparatively
modern in origin, and that they often
further show that they are copies of
writings little older. which the copists
have seen fit to change 10 their pur-
pose and in cases 10 elaborate and ex-
tend.
AN ELABORATE REPORT.
Among these pretended writings OF Pr
late is quite an extended report, wlthou;
date or mark Of naturalization. which |
is said 70 have been resurrected from
some out of the way corner centuries az |
ter Plate was dead. II was first pub
iished by Fabricius. with a Latin trans !
lation; then by Birch, and again by |
Thilo.
This report tells OF the stir that Je- |
sis made in the community. his peaceful |
utterances, and now many were drawn |
to Him, while the great multitude took |
offense at His doctrine and clsmored for |
His death by crucihxiOn. He sets forth |
the heresies with which Christ was /
charged, giving the principal one as an /
object TO the Sabbath and His teach 1
Ings that the day should not De one OF /
IAIsurt, and should not be observed: His |
position being priven by the performing !
Of wonderful cures on th5t day, even 10 /
the raising ot the dead-in one In
stance. PLATE then describes the events !
leading UP 10 the cricifxiOn, his desire |
to prevent. or at lAast 70 postpone. the
execution. and his great fear OF rebel
lion II he did not satisfy the demands
OF the people.
Following this ls description of the
crucifxioa. with attending unnatural
darkness and a great earthquake. which
was accompanied ~ the0pening ot
graves and resurrection 0. the dead
Dead men were s=en who had arisen.
says che report Abraham, Isaac. ia
cob. the twelve Patriarclls. and Moses
and JOB. wao died $500 years ago
The report then continues with al ac-
couRt ot the resurrection o. Christ.
which vas attended with marvellous
happenings, among which were great
Lights that appeared IN ne heavens.
Il is after E5Is fashion that al q TIE
ra-ious writing on Pilates o<13clsi con
1ection with me great tragedy run.
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