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THURSDAY, MARCH 29th, 1945 PAGE NINE THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO In April, 1929, the Pictorial Revîew printed the fobowing story under tbe above tithe. A foreword states that it was rewritten by Catherine Van Dyke frorn an aid traditional rnanuscript kept for centuries in a monastery at Bruges and wbich was read every Good Friday at the court of Ver- sailles. At the request of 'severai ladies of Enfield and Ennis- killen cornmunity at this Easter time we reproduce the ,story with acknowledgments to the author and Pictorial Review, the copy of wbicb came to us througb courtesy of Mrs. T. M. Semon, Ennis- killen. Here is the stary: You ask me, dear and faitbful1 :friend, for an account of some off the rumors which bave already, reacbed you concerning PontiusE and myself, and you appeart lrigbtened at the mystery by, which we are enveloped. Read ' this, my scroîl, and give to me, at1 least, an understanding, for, 0 Ftilvia, I amn the wife of the man who condemned Jesus Christ to deatb. If even bere in this litthe Gallic inountain town where Pontius and I have been driven, he by re-t morse, I by tbe scorn of Rome as1 weil as that of Jerusaem-if even1 here children slink away from us,1 and women draw their veils clos-3 er, let me believe that sornewberec some woman will understand, even as she the mother of Jesus would bave understood. But first remember my child- hood in Narbonne. You will re- cail that I bad scarcely completedt mny fifteenth year when I was be- trofbed to Pontius, then holding an bonorable position in Illyria. or I bad neyer seen Ponthus before my marriage feast, nor did I know any love, nor bow that flame may burn witbin the human breast. Ponthus sorn&wbat praised my beauty, and I know he'esteemed nsy wealth, for he was ambitious. j, Love be beld a weakness, fit only for women, for Pontius was a philosopher. Altho the flute-players pleaded ail nigbt before my bridai charn- ber, fbey did not know I lay abone, for Pontius bad put me from him, saying, "I seek truth, the trutb of life." Often he would rise frorn bis library, closeted wifb bis scribes, and poise against the dawn and my empty arms, the question, "Wbat is truth?" Thus five years passed before I became wife anuhtoebe a rnoter. hen1 lied anewlife But, Fulvia, only love can be- get love and its perfect image. My son, Pibo, beautiful, so brie~t in bis srnile that the very slaves laoked up wben he passed, rny son bad a witbered foot. But soon be earned ta walk witb a very little crutcb. Ponthus was divided between bis chagrin in a son wbo coubd not be a soldier and prîde that he yet had an heir ta bis namne, old as Rome itself. Now ambition stirred in bim the politician. Caesar's favor namned him Consul of Judea, a step toward Egypt. Thus we camne to Jerusalern. None of abb the vast lands that paid tribute ta Rame was more beautiful than these purpie bibis folding back into the yellow sands. Roses and scented myrtie trailed ta everyi roof-top, while the pabms, ovelier even than those at Delos, waved above gnarled gray olive-trees, or graves of oranges or thase scarbet pomegranates of whicb their Solomnon had sung. Above ail, even above aur Roman c o ur ts, towered the mighty temple of Jerusalem, its sacrificial smake smudging the sky. But ahi the fattering pornps and pageantries of aur carning mocked us. The Hebrews de- tesfed us and aur court of "idola- trous pagans," as tbey styled mny countrymen. Tbese Jews were a turbulent people, and very heady. Tbeir thousand sects were united only.in the bate of Rame. Some few believed the time had came ta pass for a Messiah ta ap- pear wbo would mnake himsebf king and overtbrow aur own power. In this we feit tbemn very secretly abetted by Herod, not for any treason, but tbat he had a cousin wbo w o u b d suppiant Pontius. Naw he would show that Ponthus could nat rule these pea- pies. Herod held bis rigbt most Jrbecause he was a fishermafi, and Caesar, toa, was a fishermafi. And A Letter f rom Pontius Pilates' Wif e bis eyes. Nor would be allow me even converse tbat day with any outside, but bade me severely to keep to my woman's court. He looked baggard, desperate witli uncertainty. But I coubd not sleep tbat nigbl for the calling of Jesus face. Wben tbe hast bugle of the temple sounded I was like one wbc they wrote one to the other about their fishing. ýNow we were ap- Portioned part of the palace of Herod and were much beholden to him. If Herod drew upon himself the scorn of-those Sad- ducets he sought most to please with his dancing-girls and wine- feasts, Pontjus, too, was hated by the Pharisees, with whomn he would wrangle bis question for1 truth.E Austere and7 very just in hist judgments here, yet my husband judged flot the ache in my heart,1 nor turned to me then as toaat faithful servant. Had it flot been] for my boy, Pibo, I would havez died of loneliness in Jerusalem,1 even in ahl the dazzling circum-t stances with which Rome upheld our court. My boy became my1 love, my life. Withered tho bis foot was, he was brave, and threw away his crutch early and endur- ed without any protest ahl the torments of the pullers and straighteners Pontius brought in- creasingly, for more and more he looked ta our son. Now, at this time, we had ac-1 quaintance with one Jairus, a1 ruler of the synagog. Whenc Pontius would argue with him1 his philosophy I wouid sit in thei woman's court where the foun-1 tain is and embroider upon my1 veils with his wif e, Salome. They1 had an only child, Smedia. She had then just reached her twelfth1 year and was lovely as thosei dawn roses which in ahl the worldg grow only at Jerusalemn. When Pontius spread out his hands against the argument of Jairus, I in my loneliness listen- ed to Salome. First in my court,1 then many times on her own roof, she whispered to me of one Jesus, a carpenter of Nazareth who walked among these people, heai- ing the sick, curing lepers, mak- ing the dumb cry out, the blindi to see. And now He had made a lame child leap up whole. A lame child! 0 Fulvia! Now others, unbeiievers, poli- ticians, the Pharisees themselves, began to talk of this Jesus. Herod told us He had taken a tribute- piece from a fish's mouth, and laughed heartily, and so did all. Then they said He raised a man of Bethany from the dead. Now ail Jerusalem rang with this Jesus. But in His discourse was no miracle, only the heaiing of empty cleverneas with, simple truth. Salome said He said, "You must become as a ittie child to know God." But Pontius forbade us, or any of the household, to approach Jesus, for Pontius was very learn- ed, nor would he wish ta become as a child. Whben once I pleaded he put me by with, "'Yes, yes, I know, this Jesus has tuirned water into wine; He multiplied a few boaves and fishes to feed- many; He disappeared out of a crowded room, but so the conjurers of the East have done. Let Hlm show me how it is done so I myself may do these things, and when I do them 1 may believe. I want truth, not any trickery. Hold thyself, Claudia Procula, very high; thou art a Roman's wife." But now I pitied Pontius. He had many cares and a very lean look. His rulings took himn often from us, and then be bad lost bis taste for if e itself as one who, grown arid among his parch- ments, could not see what was real before himself. Many wise men are so, Fulvia. Then a strange sickness fell upon us that Summer. Its malice gathered with the heat. Particu- larly it wasted children witb a torpor like of deatb itself. Sa it numbed my boy. He tbinned, whitened, fell. Even Pilate was roused. He sent runners to Athens, to Alexandria, to Rome itself, for drafts. And the weak- ness increased. Now the gentie sweetness of my boy was scarcely of earth. I trembled. Then the child of Jairus and Salome was stricken, and quickly. The nigbt Smedia died the physicians also turned away fromn my boy's couch. Pilate, to meet the end, closeted himself with his Stoics. I was alone witb my dying Pibo, and his tutor, Mata, a Greek slave to Pontius. Now Mata pressed a tablet into my hand. It was from Jairus. It said, 'Jesus will come to Smedia, even dead. Do tbou bring Pibo." A faint trembling light shot into my soul. Ail else bad failed. My child's bast 1breath was almost burned out. Could He, this Jesus, save my son? Scarcely knowing it was my own voice, my arms, my substan- tial self, I followed Mata. He held Pibo very gently and glided soft- ly, swiftly, into the dawn, like a shadow witb a sbadow. I bad flot known it, but Mata was a fol- lower of Jesus. But wben we came to the street of Jairus our chariot could not proceed farther, the crowd was 50 great. Mata would not bave us known imperially, so I stood beavily veiled as mourner. Thus I was slowly given passage through the outer wailers and the flute-pbay- ers and the many poW, and those fisberfobk who foibow Jesus, and those Pharisees and Scribes who seek the more to trap Him into treason against Caesar. These would give me no en- trance beyond the vestibule, for they wished not witness. But, O Fulvia, to bave gained thus far, and now to fail my chance to ask for Pib bhis life, of Jesus! Then at the head of the stairway I -saw Jairus. Before the authority of bis hand a way opened upward. But when I was at the bedcham- ber door Jairus quickly witb- drew, and I coubd not move farther nor yet descend again. I could only wait there, pressed, agonizîng. So I saw into the chamber of deatb, and, tbrough the clouds of thick incense, Smedia, lying upon ber funeral bier, very white with complete deatb. Beside ber, ut- terly bowed, was Salome, and many burning candles and many faces. And then I saw Him, Fubvia. Then I saw Jesus. Scarce- ly did He seern a man to my first sight, nor yet a person. Tho His face and bands, His very gar- ments, were as those of them about Him, rather He was some presenoe, some undefined feeling as of the very loveliness of love itself. Ail the cbamber seemed full of the fulness of His love. Like an empty vase now filied witb precious spikenard, s0 I left ahi the beigbts and deptbs of my be- ing flooded witb the loveliness of Jesus. Nor was there any bitter- ness left in me, only love. Suddenly I saw Jairus throw bimself upon bis knees before Jesus. He cried, "Lord, my daugbter is dead. Say but the word and she shahl be healed." A sbudder ran througb my frame; my very soul bung upon bis words. Tben Jesus took Smedia by the band and said, "Arise." Fulvia, she obeyed Him. She rose. ,Her eyes opened upon us ail. Slowly ber face flusbed witbh ife. She looked in- to the eyes of Jesus. Then she threw out ber arms and cried: "Wby, Mother!" f I did flot know I bad fallen upon my knees, but presentiy I was aware of the trampling crowd. There were shouts about me, but so strangeby few of joy, and these alone from the bouse- bold. More were of hate, and many bissed. I turned desper- atebyoevery wbicb way to try to get t0 Jesus. But tbe crowd crushed me down the steep stair, and tided me fartber and fartber until I sobbed witb rny despair. For now I knew I could not ask Jesus to beal Pibo. So tbey pushed mýe tbrougb the shouters of hate, and tbe Phari- sees, wbo called Him loudly, "Blasphemer, bater of Caesar," until I was forced into a little passageway roofed witb gourds. And tbere I beard a cry. It wil ring forever in rny ears. "Mother, Mother!" Tbrough ahi the mulcitudes sprang Pibo in my arms. Pilo, erect and firm, witbout any sick- ness in him. And more, nay more. He dragged no witbered foot. My Pibo leaped, walked, danced, ail sound. His feet were lovely as bis face. Pibo, my son, made whole. Before I had asked of Jesus He bad beard. More than I bad ask- ed, He bad granted. 0 Fulvia! Now I must struggie to write you of wbat follows. My words are difficuit. Beyond Pontius's pride in Pilo made wbole, beyond bis love for the boy wbicb sprang new-born from out the very cheers of the soldiers, for Pilo was now a very marvel of sport and joy, Pontius must satisfy bis own mind, for the beart be reckoned not. "'There is some trickery bere," he said. "This man is but a car- penter and wifbout education, and I am a man of learning. I break of the priests, for they are was in truth the Son of God." powerful here. Herod bais asked And many more believed on me to make an example of this Him when He rolled the stone man. If not he will speak ill Of away from His own sepuicher and me to Caesar. And if this Jesus walked among His people in com- be the truth or not. I can not de- pany with His disciples, who now cide, for I am a philosopher and tbemselves did beal and teach His must argue the matter. further. words. My mind rejects this man who is But now, tho my soul was on but a carpenter, and yet" - he its knees before Him in suppli- pushed his hands' forward and cation for Pontius, Pontius could groaned from his depths-"I feel, not believe, but studied increas- I feel- ingly, and was wretched to look And then the guards came for- upon. Such calamity fell upon ward. They stepped briskly, for bim, my heart ached for this man, they held scourging a fine sport. My husband. Blow on blow feil And a shriek rose everywhere, on Pontius, even as once the "Crucify Hlm!" Then I heard scourge on Christ. the sound of splitting flesh when When Pilo returned and heard I came to the outer prison yard. bis father had condemned Jesus Even in my faint, somethiiig of to deatb, he fell and was dead. myseif saw, very clearly, Jesus, Nor did I wish him to live, for bound to a pillar and standing in neyer could my child have for- a red pool of His own blood. And given his father, for he loved Pretorius, one of our body-guard, Jesus very deeply. whose broken hand Jesus had Then Herod, for whose fear once beabed, now scourged Hlm Pontius h a d delivered Jesus, the hardest. spoke against Pontius privately to And now they put a crown of Caesar and had bis own cousin tborns on His head and pressed it appointed at Jerusalem. And down, and the eyes bulged. And Pilate was iudged and sentenced tbey wrapped Hlm in an old fine by the Senate at Rome unjustly, robe of Pontius's own. And Pon- for there were false witnesses, tius staggered even in the judg- and be suffered greatby in this, ment-seat, and said like a dead for, until be falsely judged the man: Christ. he had been very upright. "Wby, I find no fault in Him." With bis bonor, be lost bis friends. And be washed bis hands in the His lands at Rome were taken, silver-gilt basin and sought every and he had at the last no penny, which way increasingly to save but must walk like a slave. His Jesus. But tbey would not release library was scattered. Gnawed Him even for the custom of their with remorse, Pilate sees in me Passover, but preferred some rob- the witness to bis crime, and ber, whose name bas now left everywbere we feel the eyes of me. And now a runner brought the Christians burning into us, as a scroll with the secret seal of did those éyes of Christ. At their Herod saying, "Have done quick- meetings they tell the ife of Jesus ly with ahi prisoners this night, and have a sentence which for- for to-morrow I set early for ever sentences Pontius. Rome and would speak well of "He suffered under Pontius tbee to Caesar. Do thou set out Pilate." early with me for a bit of the And Pontîus is a scbolar and way, for I have found a new little knows that words live forever. brook and many fine trout." So bis own learning too betrayed And Pontius and Herod bad bim. Now are we driven to this made themseives into friends mountain crag in Galhia, whence that day, one to further the other Eupbonius will bring p this witb Caesar. scroll. Pontius bas become old and ill And wben Pontius said to the and very weak, so he is at last a mob, wbich shrieked, "What shah cbhild. In bis weakness is my I do with this man?" they shouted hope. 0 Fulvia, if only now, as one, "Crucify Him; as you are when every moment presses to Caesar's friend, crucify Hlm!" He bis hast, if now the learned mind delivered Jesus unto tbemn. would cease its doubts, and for- And before Ponthus went afish- get itself in the love of Christ ing witb Herod he wrote this tithe and witb the pitiful heart be heal- for the cross, "Jesus of Nazareth, ed as once was healed my Pibo. King of the Jews." If now be, my busband, who con- Thou, 0 Fulvia, wbo art a demned Jesus for fear of others Christian, need not be told of to death, could without fear go what followed. Thou knowest to bis own judgment by the Son how Jesus Himself dragged His of God. cross to the Hill of Death, and at Ye who pray, pray now for the hast of His agony died upon it, Pontius. and that Mary, His mother, stood with Him to the end, and so look- "If a man couid have half bis ed upon ber son, who had bealed wse ewuddul i my son, and was condemnedle by minesow, nd usandentodath. troubles," said Benjamin Frank- mineown usbad uno de lin. It's no wonder that our wisb- In the fever and long delirium fui tbinking lands us in so much that seized upon Pontiuîî we lived confusion. terribly tbrougb many terrible ____ events. For, at the death of our Jesus, the earth trembled and Why don't the nations get along tdarkness feil upon us, and many, like one big f amily? A humorist .even our centurion, said, "This replies: "Tbe trouble is, tbey do!" 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Pila and Srnedia were there and rnany, many others. And beside tbem were their fathers and mothers and ail of every kind and degree who were joined into a great kindred by the bave of Jesus. And there were those also who bad been bealed in beart and mind as webl as body, and more wbo bad needed no healing, but only the rigbt ta love 1f e itself. And none were idie, but all worked witb the hands or the mi, and bath the bands and faces sang and shane. And ahi were refreshed in their work, for eacb bad f ound tbe outhet of bis peculiar genius. Sa this was a new race. And young and aid, this one tbing lay upon their faces, for in tbe love of Jesus al were as cbildren and witbout fear or greed, but greatby glorified, s0 their unfolding of tbemselves was like a canficle of unceasing beauty. And apart, wrapped in a swolhen, angry chaud, drifted withouf aim rnany others. These were flot as chîldren, but very aged, witb a toil wbicb brougbt tbern always ta work in a circe back ta thesuselves. And tbey cursed this and that, and pursued hust and power and cried in an agony of fear, so their cries re horrible, and their sufferings very greaf. And Pont ius, the philasopher, was among fhern. And bis arrns were worn away fromn entreating Pila fromn afar off ta turn ta birn. And so Panfius cried ouf f0 me. And in my sweat of pity, for Pontius was a just man and very learned, I woke. I ran ta bis bed- chamber, crying, "P o n t i u s, Ponfius, believe. Cease tby phil- osopbies; believe as a iffie child on Jesus." But rny maids laugbed me ta scorn for my nigbt cry and said: "The Governor is in the judg- ment-seat. Tbere is somnewhat there." And now a murmur swelled loudhy from the cify, witb sudden yells. My beart tbrobbed as tho if wouhd burst fromn me. I beard the tread of many feet other than the iron-sbod soidiers upon the rnarble court below leading ta the Preforiurn. I flew ta Pontius., He was seat- ed in the tribunal. I drew aside tbe purple curtain. I saw, 0 Fuvia- I saw Jesus, Pil's Jesus. His bands were tied. The cords cut into His bones, and His face was streaming blood. But in ahi the agony of His body, which was very beaten about, His eyes were fulaf love. Sa He loaked gently upan Ponfius, who was frenzied with doubt now. The crowd pressed about Jesus uncomrnonby, the soidiers, and Scribes and Pharisees, the drunk- en, the lowest of. nigbt rabble. Nor did I see any friend near Jesus. They bad brought Him frarn the priests in the garden, and, kicking, striking Him, had mairned eacb other, as Himsebf. And He bealed rnany. The very demons peered out of their terrible faces. And Pilate was unable ta decide bis sentence, for be was afraid for bis ambition. Now be would ask questions of thern, and now of Jesus. And Ponfius was whit e witb fear. I heard hirn say again, "What is if you ask of me ta do ta this just man? What evii bas He done?" And then be swayed a ittie and said, "Has He not heal- ed some of yau?" Nor then wouhd be look at the eyes of Jesus. Their bigb priesf, Caiaphas, made answer, "We ask the death of this man, for He woubd make Himnself King bere instead of bCaesar." Pontius, ike ane who would in- crease time, asked directly ai iJesus, "Art Tbou the King of the Jews? " And Jesus looked into Pantius deeply as ta open a gap inta bis subtleties. 0 Fulvia, that look ai 1the blaod-stained Christ! He ask- red nat for beip frorn Pontius ever at this bour when He bad no friend, but rather saught ta find the healing way fa His own judge. 7 He said, "Dost thou ask this of ) thine own self, or dust anotber self speak for tbee?" 1 And Pont lus turned in an agony, for be could not decide, tand tbe roar of the crowd was great. B Then Jesus said f0 Ponflus, as Dif ahane in ail that shrieking mad- J. J. Flett Fuels SATURDAY NOON4 CLOSING Commencing April let next, which le the beginning of the fuel year, our office wiII close at 12 noon each Saturday. 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THURSDAY, MARCH 29th, 1945 PAGE NME ness, "My kingdom is not of this worbd. My kingdorn is the truf b that lies wifbin you as within ahi born into tbis worid. Ta reveal thyseif in trutb arn I corne." Then Pilate leaned forward, anid I thoughf, "Now, now be will deliver Jesus." But the crowd cried suddenly, "He is opposed ta Caesar. Who is friend ta this man is no friend of Caesar." Then I saw fear like a substance, and bard and white, slip aver the face, the bands, the very robes of Ponthus. He looked this way and that, at the guards, tbe crowd, the priests. Then be said dryhy, like a philosopher: "Wbat is trutb?" And stayed not for any answer. At the corridor eading ta the Sanhedrin, I feul befare Pontius an rny knees. "Pontius," I cried, "this is Jesus, Jesus the very Christ, the Son of God. And, Pontius, it is Piio's dear Jesus, He wbo bealed aur boy. Have no part in His death. I bave suffered many tbings in a drearn this nigbt of Hirn. For thine own, for even the sake of ahi those judges in this world wba wilb corne after tbee and judge in Cbrist's narne without fear, for aur cbild, for me, Claudia, tby wif e, Ponthus, save Jesus the Christ." But Pontius's sweat was gray upon bis face. He cauid not de- cide. He said, and staggered, "This is fearful. Now arn I in bell. I can flot stemn this out-