The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-06-02
Christ's Trial Before PLATE.

nc vi mate was
palpable misfit. There is some
hing in a name sometimes. This
"Javelin-man" from the beginning of
his official life in this most undesir-
able of provinces, had not ceased to
hurl his darts at the hierarchy and
people, for whom he had a supera-
tive hatred. Utterly Indifferent to
the fact that they esteemed it an ex-
treme proclamation, he allowed his
soldiers to bring their eagles into the
holy city, he hung up gilt shields
dedicated to Tiberius, and took
money out of the temple treasury
to build an aqueduct. When the out
ragged populace stood before his pal
ace protesting and refusing to dis
perse, his soldiers, disguised and
scattered in the throng, at a signal,
began a wholesale assassination. On
another occasion he mingled the
blood of some Galileans with that of
their sacrifices. Once the Jews had
appealed to Caesar, and not unsuc-
cessfully, against this tyranny. The
relation between ruler and ruled was
now strained to the last degree. An
other successful appeal to Rome
would probably effect the deposition
of Plate, his exile or execution.
1t was under circumstances like
these that the procurator had come
up from his official residence in Cas-
area to keep the peace in the great
concourse of Passover week. What
TO him did all the Oriental splendor
of the great Idumean's costliest pal
ace, which he occupied on this occa-
sion, amount to, when at any mo-
ment, under it's vermilion ceilings
and over it's tessellated floors, the
lava-streams of popular instruction
were apt to sweep? Imagine, then,
his feelings when, the feast being at
its height and the city crammed to
its utmost capacity with heterogen-
eous throng from every quarter,
there appeared at the portal of his
palace a mob headed by the high
priest, and all worked to the highest
pitch of religious frenzy. 1t was az
gravating to the last degree. Yet
fear of another appeal to Rome,
whose fixed policy was the concilia-
ton of the provinces, required at
this juncture that these imperious
petitioners should not be driven un-
heard from the judgment-seat. Plate
makes, with illgrace, his first conces-
sion. The Jews will not enter the
Judgment hall for fear of ceremonial
detilement. So the procurator places
his curule outside. Before him, with
hands bound, stands the object of
this religious fury. The accusation
is demanded. Pilates answer is,
Take him and punish him according
to your law" This brings the con-
fession that power to inflict capital
punishment was no longer theirs.
The charge is that Jesus is a deceiv-
er, encourages the Withholding of
tribute, and calls himself king. Pi-
late beckons Jesus, and both retire
into the comparative quiet of the
Judgment hall. He asks him: Art
thou, poor lone peasant, king of the
Jews?" Jesus puts the counterques-
ton: Do you ask me whether | am
king in the Roman or Jewish sense of
that word?" PLATE retorts: Am a
Jew?n Jesus replies: I'm the Roman
sense am no king. In the mistak-
en- Hebrew sense, too, l am no king.
. My kingdom is unlike any earthly OF
political sovereignty. If it were,
would have trained my followers to
arms" Are you king in any sense?''
asks the judge. The answer is: Il
am. My realm is truth, my subjects
the lovers of truth Truth! What
transcendentalism is this!n PLATE
announces the innocence of Jesus.
Accusations fill the air like flying ar
rows. The ruse of transferring the
jurisdiction to Herod Antipas fails
What shall l do with Jesus?'' asks
the jaded governor. Cruelty him.
is the answer. One more protest.
why cruelty an innocent man? Let
me scourge him only" Like a wild
sea the vociferation broke about the
Gabbatha. PLATE washes his hands.
The Jews accept the onus. Direct
from the scourging, decked with
mock insignia. His life blood giving
new tint to the notified pavement.
PLATE as last appeal, cries: BE
hold the man! Is not this suffering
and humiliation enough?" "Crucifyr
is the only answer, Then cruelty
Him if you will; but He is innocent
of offense against any law of which
am cognizant." The priests answer
HE has Violated Jewish law, the
penalty of which is death. He affirms
Himself the Son of God." PLATE
takes Jesus aside to ask Him the
meaning of the term. The meaning
is hpvOnd his COMMUNICATION Tasus