The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-03-16

SENTENCE Ucrscs g and 2D--rhc ears OF
| the Jews Nerc deaf 60 the oiinS OF mercy and
justice; their hearts wcro hot with consuming
hate. Again the clmor hokc forth a, before.
with loud voices they cried. "Cmcifv Him"
GIadually Pilates will broke down and he Weld.
cl, Nineteen centuries Of criticism have hcdprd
upon The head Of the governor ior hi, hndi
surrender 70 the populdoc, lie has been accused
ul duNIIdiCr, Ol Injustice, of weakness, of NAL.
administration. Why did he not summon the
ooidylS and defend the innocent. That was hia
only alternative, ard probably he ought 10 have
adopted il. And yet there is slight apology
Tor his ,our-c -Four Times previously he hJd
croumtclod the fierce hostility ot tho Jews ls
We are informed in protanc history, in the re.
movdl oi the cnsignS from CGc-aIcl 10 Jcrl-alclu
in suspculing in his palace inscription, to del.
tics, in the Use OF the lcdcmptiye VOWS, IN the
slaughter ut the Gdlilclns duke, Niii:D Aud
from these circumstances he had reason to icag
instruction ii he did not comply. Washing his
hands in protested innocence Matt, xvui:2D
he issued the decree that sent Jesus to the Cross
DELIVERY NclSos p and 2O-Two persons
were that day delivered by the Roman procurltog
10 the will OF the Jews. Barllbds, the murderer,
whom they had asked 10 iulrll the custom Of
pardon, was released from prison. suffered 20 20
iorth INTO ,ociely To work further evil at pleas.
mc, and Jesus was turned over into the Gus.
tody ot officers tor execution. For once the
Jews have triumphad over Rome, the rahbc Is
stronger than the officers OF the state righteous.
ness is oycrbornc by inquity the wicked is set
free and the good condemned The hands have
turned backward on the dial plate u time; re-.
lgon has proved a moCkCry, and civilization
has bccn outraged, The CrucfXion was ordered
to occur on Mount Calvary, Just outside the
western gate Of the city. IS the sufferer was led
away, ono spark Of pity appeared in the hearts
OF the enemies. Weakened by long fasting
through the slecpcss night hc was unable 10
bear his cross, as was usual with criminals and
50 II was laid on Simon. Immortal distinction
was thus given 10 this Cyrcnian.
REFLECTIONS, This mock trial belolc pi.
late acqutS Jesus of any political intcntiou-
, lie must take His place forever among moral
| and religious teachers ana rciormeIs. >. We see
here now man clothed with absolute authority
may hesitate; deciding first ior the right, aud
ending at last with The evil. D. The choice be.
| tween Jesus and BarIbhls is the same which Is
proposed TO mankind IN all the centuries. namely
between blessing and cursing. II Is something
worse, however, after Jesus was rejected that we
who have seen His glory and known Ills grace
should reject Him, I. Here Is illustrated the
moumful triumph O: persistent vickcdncss over
hcsitalug wclkncss.-u double waning, tr,t to
the wlyWard, and nest TO those charged with
official trust, ). These men who cried "cuciiy'
were IN striking contrast with those who a few
days before shouted "hosanna" We must cX.
poet 10 encounter both friends aud foes Human
wisdom goes with the tide. 1t takes strong
man TO pull mp the stream, O, PLATE released
the murderer aud condemned the saviour,