The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1918-09-26
PLATE

worth of each earthly career. Some there who
may by adding on the credit side large items of Di-
vine compassion, love and forgiveness have per-
feet balance TO show But to every one of these
fortunate there hundreds who cannot strike
balance-who realize at last that they bank
rupt. Even the great love of their Creator cannot
add enough to their credit to offset the items they,
themselves, have written on the debit side. Could
you glance those items you would see near the
head of the list Se6shness," and opposite it an ap-
pallingly large figure representing what you had
lost in success happiness, love- honor health-n all
that are the realities of life.
Selfshness is, perhaps, the commones trait of
human character-all mortals possess it. Mankind
of necessity has to be selfish to certain degree and
of certain nature. in order to preserve its life and
develop the possibilities God has given His people,
but further than that sefshness has right 90.
1t has need to make any person cruel unjust.
Sel6shness to be the virtue it be must begin and
end in thoughts and actions for humanitys best in
terests-not in consideration of any one individual.
But like many of the other items that write
the debit side of our balance Sheets seshness loses
great deal, never gains a single benefit
blessing.
In the pages of history great deal of selfish
empires will it be found the ruling force And of
all the empires. that of Rome developed selfshness
to the greatest degree-made of it an art if so lofty
name may be applied to thing base. 1t
the extremes to which this sefshness was carried
that brought about the fall of that mightest of all
the empires recorded in history. So it is not strange
that we should seek lesson on selishness in Ro-
mans life.
In the year 63 B. c.. after more than hun
dred years of intermittent warfare with Syria strv
ing to obtain religious and political freedom, the He
brew nation became tributary to Rome and her in
dependence was lost forever. Hoping for peaceful
lives the Jews found themselves intrigued into
greater difficulties and subjected to more shameful
treatment than ever before. With Roman govern
ors and political and military leaders vieing with
another for the spols of the country and their
own people divided between the Pharisees and Sud-
duces their small opportunity for peaceful pur-
suits.
1t was in the midst of such turmoil that Christ
was born. Herod had secured for himself throne
but he was king of a nation that hated him.
Christ's very birth was Swallowed by Roman author
ity and cruelty his entire life and the end
his death. Born in Bethlehem because Roman
authority compelled his parents presence there His
coming led to the slaughter ofthe chdred of Beth
lehem by Herod. in mad effort to thwart the pur-
pose of the proclaimed Messiah. But he failed pitt
ably and Christ went with His life and purpose.
Through all the vain strivings of the Romans
and the religious sects of His people He passed
serene and composed; and unmoved from the great
object of His life. But there came time when He
could longer evade the fanatical zeal of his enc
mics and he stood at last before Pilate-1nighty
Romes authority and power.
Condemned by the Jews. only the permission
of Plate stood between Him and death. But he
was far from willing to condemn man in whom he
found no fault" The historian records that he
knew that for envy they had delivered Him." He
could not have failed to through the miserable
subterfuge by which the priests and elders had Sc
cured the person of Christ and by which they
asking that he be judged and sentenced to death.
No doubt it was according to Divine will and
plan that Chrsts supreme sacrifice was made but it
was selfishness that cruciied him that particu-
lar time. Plate could have released Him. He
should have done so he found after repeated ques
tionings that Christ had offended in way Plate
was the offending one His actions as governor of
Judea had earned the hatred of the people and here
was an opportunity to win their favor. So he de-
livered Him to be crucifed" and lost place beside
the truly great of all the ages.
Pilates only for allowing the Jews to
cruelty Christ was to further his interests sell
fshness was the master of his lfe-see what it
brought him. He never gained the favor of the
Jews and in few years lost his position procur-
ator of Judea. He was sent to Rome to answer for
his conduct and from that date he disappears from
the pages of history. Legend has it that he
lied from the imperial city to Switzerland and ended
his life bv committing suicide. What ever his fate,