The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-16

Every pen is timid when 1t approach
es the greatest theme in the religious
worId-the historical climax; the death
of Christ, the theme of countless songs.
stories and sermons, yet ever fresh and
interesting.
A clever writer in reviewing this
date has tersely summarized the event.
Humanity speaking, says that writer,
back Of the death. as Its cause, is found
the hate and jealousy and bigotry OF
those contriving, crafty ecclesiastical
Jewish politicians. They were the pow
er behind the Judge and the execution
er-the worlds extreme example Of the
lengths to which narrow sectarianism
can go.
Pilates conduct gave the world a new
synonym for what is contemplate. He
typifies the man afraid for his job-the
the politician. He wanted to please ev-
erybody, so he succeeded in pleasing
nobody. Because he was not brave
enough to do his duty.
A certain part Of the world is not
f1ne-f1bred. sensitive souled or sympa-
thetic. It can look upon deep sorrows
merely as incidents to minister to its
dull interest. In this crisis of history,
these rude soldiers saw in the great
hearted Jesus only an occasion for
rude sport. So they put him through
a mock trial, heaping upon his patient
spirit the grossest indignities; and
when he hung dying they regarded
him merely as an entertaining spec
tacle, whose raiment might be gambled
for.
Anything for diversion Is the rabble's
motto. A fatal accident, dog fight,
a street fakir-anything that promises
a moments interest attracts the crowd.
Christ was only an object of curiosity
to the thought1ess multitude, which
now cried Cruelty him. as Justify as
it had shortly before cried ''Hosanna"
There are few sadder sights in the
world, to such a great heart as beat
in the breast of Christ, than tickle,
impulsive, amusement-hungry crowd.
Alas, that the crowd should usually
vote for the destruction Of it's best
friend!
Artificial social conditions may put
hard and cold and selfish veneer upon
some women; but womanhood as u
the mob jeered, some pitiful women
wept. Among his friends it was the
women who at all times understood
him best and were ''last at the cross
and first at the grave" Woman's re-
ward has been that she has found In
Mary's son her ideal Of friendship: the
one whose compassion has, in turn
| eased her heaviest sorrows, and who
has been her comprehending, sympa-
| thetic friend.
| Once the load Of Christ grew toe
heavy: he staggered, stumbled and fell
beneath his cross, so that he knows
about those who since have been II
like case. Then, Simon, whose sons
and probably himself also, later became
disciples, was made to bear the load OF
| the condemned one. He was earliest OF
that line OF privileged suffering ones
who have shared the sorrows Of the
Lord-and have been rewarded by en-
trance into the fellowship of joy.
| A little knoll of ground. skull-shaped
makes Jerusalem different from al
other cities: and has drawn the braves'
soldiers, the tenderest hearts. the
wisest brains, in loving pilgrimage
thereto. The hill called Calvary is the
Christian worlds highest point: it Is
the apex Of their history. For there
was enacted the greatest event in theil
annals. Calvary's crest-the refuge Of
broken hearts, the beacon OF hope fol
those who sin.
What was the supreme agony Of tha
eliminating hour? Not the excruciat
ing physical pain. Was it the though
that the world which he loved did no
comprehend?
Feeble, fearful, fat-witted Plate wa
of those who can never discern an ap
propriate season. He chose the cruel
fixion of this man, whom he believed
to be innocent, and whose presence hat
moved him strangely, as the occasion
for a petty act of spite against tn
!. Jews. He "got even' with them by in
scribing. CONTEMPORARY, over the heaa
of the one whom the law had pro
, nounced a criminal, This is Jesus o
Nazareth, King Of the Jews" tn
aristocratic Pharisees frothed an
fumed, but PLATE had a small man
stubbornness. Yet, though he knew
not. the Roman governor wrote Alright
Most Of us are too busy to tax
thought for the thousands of con
demned criminals who, at this momen
languish in prison. Christ, when in tn
crisis of the universe's supreme trans
, action, had time for a thought of pit
and pardon for a condemned thief. H
: saved the man who repented at tn
eleventh hour and sought his help; s
there Is hope to the end for the wors
Some Christians think they are S
busy saving tho world that they hav
not leisure to be decent to their ow
families. Jesus was a gentleman, eve
in death. AS he hung dying he too
thought for his mother, and provide
n for her future by committing her I
4 the care Of loyal John, his best frien,
s The custom still exists in the Orier
II of drugging condemned criminals,