The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-06-02

against greater light will they
not prefer Jesus to Barabbas as the
object of clemency to grace their fes-
tiyal according TO customT' With
the collapse of tn is last shift comes
the Omin ious warning of Pilates
wife. He is on the point, even so
late, of acquitting the accused, when
the prosecutor let's fly the last arrow
in his culver: Let this man go, and
you are not Caesars friendr' BE
hold your kingr' says PLATE. I'VE
have no king but Cesar." resounds
once more. So ends the long drawn
battle in which the life of Jesus was
at stake. PLATE orders Him to the
cross.
The Teachers Lantern
Plate is a conspicuous type of the
time-server. He had no moral ear
nestness. He thought truth an in
different matter. His ruling motive
was willing to condem the innocent.
Yet to some degree he showed a
Romans proverbIal regard for law
and justice. He demanded the accu-
sation and evidence. He contended
with the Jews, making use of various
expedients, until they were on the
point of tumult; then, however, he
ANONYMOUSLY conceded to their de-
mand.
Pilates time-serving brought him
small reward. He eked out his official
life few years; but, on the complaint
of these very Jews whom he sought
to placate by such a sacrifice of honor,
he was finally deposed and exiled.
His name will go down to the end of
time in deepest infamy,as it isrepeat-
ed in every land and language in the
imperishable creed "Crucified under
Pontius Plate
That clOud-hooded mountain, up
whose sOmber heights one can look
from the balcony OF the inn at Lucene
may not have been the actual
scene of Pilates suicide, as tradition
says it was; but it seems a fitting
memorial of one of the most odious
characters of history.
Take from the galleries of the Old
World the pictures, the themes of
which We're suggested by the life of
Jesus, and art would be irretrievably
impoverished; and gospel narrative
still yields inspiration for the pencil
of genius, as Munkacsy's Christ Be
fore Plate show.
Art thou King?n How unlikely
So it seemed to the procurator, proud
Of his power, and inclined to patron.
ize the despised claimant to royalty
YetJesus was the real Ruler though
in disguise. Pilates power, then on
the wane, lasted q scant six years
| longer. Jesus dominion, ever aug.
menting, has lasted for twenty cen.
turtles, extends from sea to sea, and is
owned by three hundred million OF
the race. David's cradle hymn over
the infant Solomon applies better tc
David's greater Son.
In the ultimate testing of character,
the tinsel and trappings of Office play
no part. The moral qualities OF jus
/ tice, humanity, courage, and the like
outweigh crowns, scepters, and thrones
| Nothing fortuitous counts. In the
final analysis it is what the man il
that makes or unmakes him, moi
what he appears.
One moral earnest soul is the touch
stone for all others They rise or fall
by such test. AS Jesus is the suprem,
/ ethical and spiritual character
the destiny of men is fixed by theil
! attitude toward Him. This is no
arbitrary, but inheres in the very Ia
/ ture of the case. A choice must needs
be pressed. The cry which was hearC
/ at Pilates judgment, seat still rings
in the conscience, (which will ye?'
Will the loftiest character the world
has ever known be taken as the mod.
ell, or one less worthy or wholly un
worthy. The circumstances do moi
admit of neutrality. 1t is still for
or against" gathering with Of
scattering aboard" The same choic,
made two thousand years ago is max
ing still in current life. There are
tragic personal reflections of the
] Christ-ideal, as there was then a ma
tional rejection.
Letter to II. G. SinCelI.
Dear Sir: Clothing is just like paint