The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1911-06-08


and the soldiers settle to their work.
The cross is gotten ready. The up
right beam is laid upon the ground
handy to the hole into which the end
will slip. Jesus is laid upon the
beams and sharp pointed spikes are
driven through the palm of each hand,
and through the feet Then strong
hands seize the upper end and shift
the cross into place; and as he is lift
ed up on high the first words from
the sufferer are: Father forgive
them, for they know not what they
do"
Standing by through the whole of
the crucifixion was the centurion.
whose duty it was to see that every
thing was properly done 1t is not to
be assumed that he was any better
than his fellow-oficers, but 1t may
be assumed that he did not relish his
days work When a soldier is called
to war and wounds he is proud, for
that is his calling; but when he is
detailed to guard an execution he ia
filled with disgust, for this is humili-
alton.
With his company this centurion
had gone on duty in the morning at
Pilates palace, and 1t was late after
noon before they were released. He
had heard the trial of Jesus, and
helped to keep the bowling rabble
back. He had handed Jesus over to
his men for scourging and looked on
with a callousness born of a rough
life. He had escorted Jesus and the
Indicators through the streets and
taken care that they were kept safe
for legal punishment He had select.
ed the site for the crosses and seen
that they were firmly set And as the
rabble passed by mocking Jesus, and
as his men gambled for his garments
the centurion had sat on his horse
silent, watchful, immovable.
When the criminals were proved to
be dead, and the bodies had been dis
posed of he gathered his company to
gether and marched them back to the
barracks. He went to his room and
removed his heavy armor which had
been like fiery prison in the hot sun
1t had been long day for the cen,
turion and a sorry days work, and he
was glad in his soul that IT was over
Yet the centurion knew that this
day would never pass from his mem
DRY. Perhaps he had assisted at many
crucifXions, but he had never had a
fore PLATE there was about him a
certain dignity of manhood and
bravery of soul, which neither bonds
nor insults could obscure. Ordinary
men had been degraded by the mock
ings and scourging; this man left the
degradation with his enemies Com
man men had cried out in their pain
as they were fastened to the wood
this man had lifted up his voice In
prayer for those who were torturing
him. From the cross this man had
cared for his mother and his last
words had been words OF triumph as
If a great task had been accomplished
This spectacle Of moral heroism had
its effect upon the blunt and honest
soldier, and it needed not the dark,
ness and the earthquake to call forth
his confession. Certainly this was a
righteous man; truly this was a son
OF God"
The excellency of our Master comes
out after the same fashion to every
soul, but has various avenues Of &C.
cess. To some he comes by the ave
nue. of intellect. To some he comes
by the avenue Of the heart and the
emotions. There are others to whom
the Lord has come as the revelation
and incarnation of duty. They are
practical people and they receive the
Master with their conscience. Fol
years they have been doing their duty
by the best light they had. They have
also certain unrealized ideals. One
day they find them fulfilled in the
Master, and henceforth he becomes
their model and their Lord.
What a multitude Of men there are
in every land whose one idea is not to
save their souls or to earn a reward
but to do faithfully the work which
God has laid to their hand. They
make provision for those whom they
love, or who are left to their charge;
they help where they can any worthy
cause and unfortunates in trouble
They are honorable merchants, work
men, sailors or soldiers, and upon
conscientious unremitting labor de
ponds the welfare Of society. Often
they have hateful and heavy work, in
the mines and mills and furnaces, OF
under the blazing sun like the cen
turion. Yet who commends them for
doing their duty? No one but Christ
who says We'll done good and faith
full servant" This is the class OF m en-
among whom Christ worked and to
whom his gospel should come with the
greatest power, and one day they will
see that Jesus is the ideal and ex
ample of all men who labor.
EndIees lie in Hod