The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-05-18

was set TO govern. The incident of
the guilt shields and the mingling OF
the blood of the Galileans with that
OF their sacrifices proves it. Another
popular appeal to Rome would depose
him. Imagine, then, his feelings
when the feast being at its heihgt,
there appeared at his palaces gate a
mob headed by the high priest, and
all worked to highest pitch of relig
ious frenzy. 1t was aggravating, vet
fear required that they should not be
driven unheard from the Judgment
seat. Plate made his first concession
when he placed his judgment-seat
outside the hall. The prosecutors of
Jesus feared that in the palace there
might be some leaven, and they would
thus be disqualified from completing
the feast of unleaven bred. Court
having opened, the judge demanded
the substance of the accusation. The
answer was that the fact they had
brought the accused to the governor
was evidence of the aggravated CHI ar
acter of His Offense. Petty crimes
they could punish; capital, Rome only.
Ignoring what was said, PLATE b ade
them take Jesus and punish Him ac-
cording to their law This brought,
as was expected, the humiliating con-
fession that thew had lost power to in
tiict capital punishment. Again the
accusation is demanded, and the reply
is that Jesus proclaims Himself King.
PLATE rises, beckons Jesus to follow
him into the Judgment hall, and asks
Him, Art Thou poor, lone peasant
King of the jews" Jesus puts the
cOunter-question, DO YOU ask Ne if
1 am King in the Roman or Jewish
sense?" and then proceeds, In the
Roman sense l am no king. In the
mistaken Jewish sense ! am no king.
My kingdom is unlike any earthly
kingdom. If it were like them, |
would have trained Ny followers to
arms" Are you King in any
sense?" asks PLATE. Il am. My realm
is truth. My subjects, the lovers of
truth" Truth, What transcen.
dentalism is this?" A moment later
PLATE is announcing the innocence of
the accused, Itraised a tumult. Ac-
cusations fly like arrows. PLATE
sends Jesus to HeroG Antipas then a
guest in Jerusalem. Most OF the pub
llclife of accused haYing been spent
in Ga, lee, of which HerOd was ruler.
But the eXpedient fails. Jesus is re-
turned. What shall ! DO with
Jesus?' asks the iaded governor.
Then for the first time ring out the
Hateful words, "Crucify Him" One
more protest, Why cruelty an innocent
man? Let me seourge Him only"
Like wild sea the YociferatiOn broke
about the Gabbatha. PLATE tries to
shrive himself by washing his han DIS.
The Jews accept the ouus. PLATE as
a last appeal brings Jesus out after
His scourging, and cries: Behold
the man! Is not this suffering en-
ough?" The reply is, Cruelty Him.
PLATE retorts, Then cruelty Him,
but He is innocent Another eXpe-
dent occurs to the vaccilating Judge.
1t is customary to release at this fes-
tival condemned prisoner. If they
ahnnCa ha Npil1
they choose Barabbas. Now comes
the warning of Pilates wife. The
judge was on the point even now, of
acquitting Jesu when the prosecutor
uses the last arrow in his culver, and
cries Let this man go, and you are
Caesars friend - Behold your
King" said PLATE. I'VE have no
king but Caesar" they retort.
"Crucify," Shall l cruelty your
King" I'VE have no king but
Cesar" resounds once more. So
ended the long drawn battle in which
the life of Jesus was the stake. PLATE
orders Him to the cross.
The Teachers Lantern.
PLATE is conspicuous type of the
time-server. He had no moral earnest
ness. He thought truth an indiffer-
ent matter. His ruling motive was to
keep his place To do this, if neces
sary, he was willing to condemn the
innocent.
Yet to some degree he showed
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.
PLATE sStimeserving. brought him
small reward. He eked out his of1ici-
al life few years; but, on the com
plant 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 the deepest infamy, as
II 10 ranpota6 in auaru land o,1 To-