The Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Ark.) 190?-current, 1911-05-26

wnat was Done he slorihed God SAW ss
Certainly this was a righteous saying
| Luke %, Al. man.
Jesus has been brought to c.v..
The chosen place has been 49,
and the soldiers settle to tba,, wv,
The cross Is gotten ready. Thu
right beam is laid upon the pron y
handy TO the hole into which tho s.s
will slip. Jesus is laid unon ~
beams and sharp pointed spikss ~
driven through the palm of each b.ss
and through the feet. Then s,,.s
hands seize the upper end and ssls
the cross into place; and as be !. a.
ed up on high the first words t,aN
the sufferer are: Father forgiv.
them, for they know not what NV
/ do"
Standing by through the wbola ;,
the crucifixion was the centuros
whose duty 1t was to see that AVA
thing was properly done. It is not !,
be assumed that he was any be,...
than his fellow-officers, but II m.,
be assumed that he did not relish n.
days work. When a soldier ia ca,lod
to war and wounds he is proud n,
that is his calling; but when be !,
detailed to guard an execution bs 4.
filled with disgust, for this is a bumig.
alton.
With his company this centurin,
had gone on duty in the morning At
Pilates palace, and 1t was late afte.
noon before they were released IA
had heard the trial of Jesus. and
helped to keep the bowling rabbs
back. He had handed Jesus over IN
his len for scourging and looked on
with a callousness born OF a rougb
life. He had escorted Jesus and Tia
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 Tie
rabble passed by hooking Jesus, and
as his men gambled for his garments,
the centurion had sat on his hons
silent. watchful, immovable.
When the criminals were proved to
be dead. and the bodies had been d.
posed of he gathered his company 70
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 SUI
1t had been a long day for the cen
turion and a sorry days work. and BE-
was glad in his soul that 1t was Oyer.
Yet the centurion knew that hi
day would never pass from his men
DRY. Perhaps he had assisted at NAM
crucifixions, but he had never had
prisoner like Jesus. AS he stood BE-
fore Plate there was about him
certain dignity Of manhood and
bravery OF soul, which neither bonds
nor insults could obscure. OrdinaH
men had been degraded by the mocf
ings and scourging: this man LETT tis
degradation with his enemies. Con
man men had cried out In their pan
as they were fastened 10 the WOOD
this man had lifted up his voice u
prayer for those who were tortuH4
him. From the cross this man la
cared for his mother and bis M
words had been words OF triumph
II a great task had been aceomplisn@
This spectacle of moral heroism M
its effect upon the blunt and nones
soldier. and II needed not the 0nf
ness and the earthquake to call iOlu
his confession. Certainly this vs'
righteous man; truly this was s~
OF God"
The excellency OF our Master coma
out after the same fashion 10 se'
soul. but has various avenues :"
cess. To some he comes by the 's
nue. OF intellect. To some he cone
by the avenue of the heart anu ~
emotions. There are others 10 WV.
the Lord has come as the reVeiAuv.
and incarnation OF duty. lhes -
practical people and they receive -
Master with their conscience. :.
years they have been doing tnei 49,
by the best light they had lne' a. a.
also certain unrealized Ideals v =.
day they find them fultilled
Master, and henceforth he o'''~
their model and their Lord
What multitude OF men 'ne''
in every land whose one idea Is y"
save their souls or to earn fe' .,s
but to do faithfully the WORK s ~.,
God has laid to their hahu' ms
make provision for those WYNN :.
love. or who are left TO their 'ua a-m
they help where they can any . .
cause and unfortunates IN ~o,t
They are honorable merchan'', .,e
men. sailors or soldiers, anu
conscientious unremitting iaDO oss
ponds the welfare of society "
they have hateful and heavy so wa, &
the mines and mills ana luin 'sa ~
under the blazing sun ike . W., II
turion. Yet who commences -" chtS
doing their duty? No one ou' t,s
who says well done gooa a.. :, NJ
l. m