diff options
Diffstat (limited to '29566-8.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 29566-8.txt | 732 |
1 files changed, 732 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/29566-8.txt b/29566-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bf7f26c --- /dev/null +++ b/29566-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,732 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Centurion's Story, by David James Burrell + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Centurion's Story + +Author: David James Burrell + +Release Date: August 1, 2009 [EBook #29566] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CENTURION'S STORY *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +THE +CENTURION'S +STORY + + + +DAVID JAMES BURRELL + + + +AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY +150 NASSAU STREET, NEW YORK + +COPYRIGHT, 1892 and 1911, +By AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY + + + + +THE CENTURION'S STORY + + +I am an old man now; the burden of fourscore years is resting upon me. +But the events of a certain April day in the year 783 A.U.C.--full +half a century ago--are as fresh in my memory as if they had happened +yesterday. + +At that time I was stationed with my Hundred on garrison duty at the +Castle of Antonia, in Jerusalem. I had been ordered to take charge of +the execution of a malefactor who had just been sentenced to death. +Accordingly, on the morning of the day mentioned, I selected twelve +of my men, such as were hardened to bloody deeds, and with them I +proceeded to the Prætorium. All was hurry and excitement there. As +it was the time of the Jewish Passover, the city was thronged with +strangers. A multitude of people had assembled and were clamoring for +the death of this man. On our arrival he was brought forth. He proved +to be that Prophet of Nazareth whose oracular wisdom and wonder-working +power had been everywhere noised abroad. I had heard much about him. + +He claimed to be the Messiah for whose advent the Jews had been looking +from time immemorial; and his disciples believed it. They called him by +such well-known Messianic titles as "Son of Man," "Son of David" and +"Son of God." He spoke of himself as "the only-begotten Son of God," +declaring that he had been "in the bosom of the Father before the world +was," and that he was now manifest in human form to expiate the world's +sin. This was regarded by the religious leaders as rank blasphemy and +they clamored for his death. He was tried before the Roman court, which +refused to consider the charge, inasmuch as it involved a religious +question not lying within its jurisdiction; but the prisoner, being +turned over to the Sanhedrin, was found worthy of death for "making +himself equal with God." + +I remember him well as he appeared that day. From what I had heard I +was prepared to see a hard-faced impostor or a fanatic with frenzy in +his eyes. He was a man of middle stature, with a face of striking +beauty and benignity, eyes of mingled light and warmth, and auburn hair +falling over his shoulders. It was not strange that he looked pale and +haggard; for he had passed through three judicial ordeals since the +last sunset, besides being scourged with the _flagellum horrible_ and +exposed to the rude buffeting of the midnight guard. He had been +clothed in the cast-off purple of the Roman procurator and wore a +derisive crown of thorns. But, as he issued from the Hall of Judgment, +such was his commanding presence that the multitude was hushed and +separated to make way. + +The cross, constructed of transverse beams of sycamore, was brought and +laid upon his shoulders. About his neck was suspended a titulum on +which was inscribed, _Jesu Nazaret, Rex Judæorum_. I was told that +the Jewish leaders had objected to his being called their King; but +Pilate, by whose orders the titulum was prepared, was for some reason +insistent and answered them shortly, "What I have written, I have +written." It was easy to see, however, that they bitterly resented it. + +At the accustomed signal my quaternions fell into the line and the +procession moved on. I rode before, clearing the way. The people +thronged the narrow streets, crying more and more loudly as we +proceeded, "_Staurosate! Staurosate!_ Crucify him!" + +The Nazarene, weak from long vigils and suffering, bowed low under his +burden. A woman in the company, by name Veronica, pressed near and +wiped the dust and blood from his haggard face. It was reported that +the napkin when withdrawn bore the impress of his face, marred, but +divinely beautiful. Whether this be true or not I cannot say. + +As the multitude surged onward toward the Jaffa gate, a cobbler named +Ahasuerus, as if moved by a malignant spirit, thrust his foot before +the prisoner, who stumbled thereat and fell. In punishment for that +cruel deed he is said to be still a wanderer upon the earth with no +rest for his weary feet. This, too, is a mere legend; but certainly I +have found, even in the grim business of a soldier, that retribution +like a fury pursues all pitiless men. + +We passed through the Jaffa gate and entered upon the steep road +leading to the place of execution. The sun flamed down upon us; we were +enveloped in a cloud of dust. The prisoner at length, overborne by his +cross, fell beneath it. We seized upon an Ethiopian who chanced to be +in the throng and placed the burden upon him. Strange to tell, he +assumed it without a murmur; insomuch that by many he was suspected of +being a secret follower of Jesus. + +As we surged on with din and uproar a group of women standing by the +wayside rent the air with shrill lamentations, on hearing which Jesus +said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but for yourselves and +your children; for behold the days come when they shall say to the +mountains, Fall on us! and to the hills, Cover us!" It was a weird +prophecy, and ere a generation passed it was to the letter fulfilled. +There were those in that company who lived to see the Holy City +compassed about by a forest of hostile spears. Its inhabitants were +brought low by famine and pestilence, insomuch that the eyes of mothers +rested hungrily on the white flesh of their own children. On the +surrounding heights crosses were reared, on which hundreds of Jewish +captives died the shameful death. Despair fell upon all. And in those +days there were not a few who called to mind the ominous words of the +Nazarene, "Weep not for me, but for yourselves and for your children +after you!" + +The road we journeyed has since been known as Via Dolorosa. It led to +the round knoll called Golgotha, from its resemblance to a skull. As we +drew nigh we perceived two crosses, already reared, on which two +thieves of Barabbas' band had been suspended in agony for some hours. +Their twisted bodies stood out grimly against the sky. Our prisoner, as +an added mark of obloquy, was to be crucified between them. + +Our spears and standards were lowered, and Jesus, being stripped of his +outer garments, was laid prostrate upon his cross. A soldier approached +with hammer and spikes, at sight of whom the frenzied multitude ceased +their revilings for the moment and pressed near. The prisoner preserved +his calm demeanor. A stupefying draught was offered him; but he refused +it, apparently preferring to look death calmly in the face. He +stretched out his hands; the hammer fell. + +At the sight of blood the mob broke forth again, crying, "_Staurosate!_" +But not a word escaped the sufferer. As the nails tore through the +quivering flesh his eyes closed and his lips moved as if he were +holding communion with some invisible One. Then with a great wrench the +cross was lifted into the socket prepared for it. + +At this moment the first word escaped him. With a look of reproach and +an appealing glance to heaven, he cried, "Father, forgive them; they +know not what they do!" It was as if he were covering our heads with a +shield of prayer. In this he did but practise his own rule of charity +and doctrine of forgiveness, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse +you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully +use you." + +His prayer, however, seemed but to rouse anew the fury of his enemies. +They cried out in mockery, "Come down! come down from thy cross. Thou +that boastest of destroying the Temple and rebuilding it in three days, +save thyself!" The priests and rabbis, standing by, joined in the +mockery, saying, "Aha, he saved others, himself he cannot save! Let him +come down if he be the Messiah, the chosen of God!" My soldiers +meanwhile disputed as to the apportionment of his garments; I noted the +rattling of dice in the brazen helmet wherein they were casting lots +for his seamless robe. + +The thieves on either hand joined for a time in the mockery; but +presently a change came over the one upon the right, whose name was +Dysmas. + +This man, like his fellow, had belonged to a notorious band of robbers +who infested the road to Jericho. His life had been passed in bloody +work; but the patient demeanor of Jesus touched his heart and convinced +him that He was indeed the veritable Son of God. The other thief joined +in the mockery, but Dysmas remonstrated with him, saying, "Dost thou +not even fear God? We indeed are condemned justly, receiving the due +reward of our deeds; but this man hath done nothing amiss." Then +presently, turning his pain-racked eyes toward Jesus, he entreated, +"Lord, remember me when thou comest in thy kingdom!" The Nazarene +straightway turned upon him a look of compassionate love, saying, +"To-day thou shalt be with me in paradise!" + +An hour later this robber's head sank upon his breast; but in death his +face wore a look of indescribable peace. The time came when the word of +pardon addressed to this man was a message of hope and comfort to other +great sinners. He who saved Dysmas in the article of death, plucking +him from the edge of the abyss, was thenceforth believed by His +followers to be able to save even unto the uttermost all who would come +unto Him. + +Not far from the cross stood a company of women wringing their hands in +helpless grief. Among them was the mother of Jesus. When her infant son +had been brought to the Jewish Temple, an old priest took him from his +mother's arms and prophesied, "This child is set for the fall and rise +of many in Israel"; then looking upon the mother, he said: "A sword +shall pass through thine own soul also." At this moment his word was +fulfilled; the iron entered her soul. Her dying Son beheld her, and, +with his eyes directing her to one who was known as his favorite +disciple, he said, "Woman, behold thy Son!" and this disciple thereupon +bore her fainting away. + +It was now noon, clear, scorching, Syrian noon. But a singular mist was +gathering before the sun. Shadows fell from the heights of Moab; and as +they deepened more and more the gleam on shield and helmet faded out. +Night rose from the ravines, surging upward in dark billows, +overwhelming all. A strange pallor rested on all faces. + +It was night, an Egyptian night at high noon! What meant it? Manifestly +this was no eclipse, for the paschal moon was then at its full. The +Jews had ofttimes clamored for a sign, a sign whereby they might test +this sufferer's Messianic claim. Had the sign come? Was nature now +sympathizing with her Lord? Were these shadows the trappings of a +universal woe? Was God manifesting his wrath against sin? Or was this +darkness a stupendous figure of the position in which the dying +Nazarene stood with respect to the deliverance of the race from sin? + +Once in a Jewish synagogue I heard a rabbi read from the scroll of +Isaiah a prophecy concerning the Messiah; that he was to be "wounded +for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities; that by his +stripes we might be healed." It was predicted that when this Messiah +came he should, bearing the world's burden of sin, go into the outer +darkness in expiatory pain. Was it at this awful moment that he carried +that burden into the region of the lost? Did he just then descend into +hell for us? + +Hark! a cry from his fever-parched lips, piercing the silence and the +darkness, "_Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?_ My God, my God, why hast Thou +forsaken me?" Save for that terrific cry of anguish the silence was +unbroken for three mortal hours. + +I have known other victims of the cross to vent their rage in impotent +wrath, to spit their hate like asps, to harangue the crowd with +helpless protestations, or to beg for the death-stroke; but this Jesus +preserved a majestic silence. The people also seemed wrapped in a weird +terror. Naught was heard but the rattling of armor as some soldier +jostled his comrade, or the sobbing of women or the dropping of blood. +Thus until the ninth hour of the day. + +It was now the time of the evening sacrifice, and the darkness began +slowly to lift. Then the Nazarene uttered his only word of complaint: +"I thirst." Whereupon a strange thing happened. One of my soldiers, +trained in the arena and in gladiatorial contests--a man who had never +been known to spare a foe, delighting in the sack of cities, looking on +unmoved when children were dashed against the stones--this man dipped a +sponge in the sour wine which was provided for the guard, and would +have raised it to the sufferer's lips. But the Jews cried out, "Let be, +let be! Let us see if Eli will come to help him!" For a moment the +soldier hesitated, even joined in the cry; then giving way to the more +merciful promptings of his heart, lifted the sponge and assuaged the +thirst of the dying man. It was the only deed of kindness I noted on +Golgotha that day. In return for it the Nazarene cast upon his +benefactor such a look of gratitude that he was ever after a different +man. His nature seemed to be transformed by it. + +Then Jesus cried with a loud voice, "_Tetelestai!_ It is finished!" Did +this signify that his pain was over? Well might he, after such anguish, +utter a sigh of relief. Or was it that his mission was accomplished? So +have I seen a laborer turn homeward from his day's work with pleasant +anticipation of rest. So have I seen a wayfarer quicken his footsteps +as, at eventide, he came in sight of the village lights. So have I seen +a soldier, weary with the stress of conflict and wounded unto death, +bear the standard aloft as he climbed the parapet and with his last +voice shouted for victory! + +And then the last word. It was spoken softly, as if from the threshold +of the other world, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit!" Then, +as he yielded up the ghost, a look of surpassing peace fell upon his +upturned face, which lingered even after death had put its rigid seal +upon it. Thus he fell on sleep. I have ofttimes since been reminded of +that look when I have seen an infant lulled in its mother's arms, or +when, walking through a Christian cemetery, I have noted upon the +tombstones of martyrs the word "_Dormit_: He sleeps." + +The supernatural darkness had now given way to a calm twilight. The sky +was covered far toward the zenith with a golden splendor crossed with +bars of crimson light. It looked as if heaven's gates were opened; and +one gazing through could almost seem to see the flitting of superhuman +shapes and hear far-away voices calling, "Lift up your heads, O ye +gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory +shall come in!" + +At that moment the earth rumbled under my feet; a shudder seemed to +pass through nature. It was said that as the high priest was kindling +the lamps in the Holy Place of the Temple, in connection with the +evening sacrifice, the great veil hanging before the Holy of Holies was +rent from the top to the bottom as if by an unseen hand. This happened +at the instant when the Nazarene yielded up his spirit, and his +followers are wont to say that when he passed from earth to resume his +heavenly glory a new and living way was opened up for penitent sinners +into the Holiest of All. + +The execution being over, the people slowly dispersed to their homes. +Twilight settled down on Golgotha. A group of wailing women lingered +for a while, then went their way. Against the sky stood forth the three +crosses. On the uplifted face of Dysmas the moonlight showed the look +of ineffable peace that had settled upon it. The face of the other +robber was fallen upon his breast. In the midst Jesus looked upward, +dead but triumphant! Long and steadfastly I gazed upon him. The events +of the day crowded fast upon my mind and my conviction deepened that +this was no impostor, no fanatic, no common man. My conscience was sore +smitten; my heart was inexpressibly touched by the memory of the things +which I had seen; and, with scarcely an intention, I said aloud, but +softly, "Verily, this was a righteous man." + +Then I reined my horse and rode down the hill. The lights were kindling +in Jerusalem; the beacon on the Castle of Antonia was beginning to +glow. At a little distance I drew rein and looked back at Golgotha. His +cross was there outlined against the sky. I felt myself in the grip of +a mighty passion of doubt and wonder! Who was he? Who was he? I would +go back and see! + +I dismounted beneath his cross and gazed upward, unmindful of the +strange looks which my soldiers cast upon me. Tears came to my eyes, +old campaigner though I was, tears of grief, of penitence, of dawning +faith. I knelt; I prostrated myself before the Christ who hung dead on +that accursed tree. I rose again and saw him. Dead? Nay, +living!--living evermore in the glory which he had with the Father +before the world was! The truth went surging irresistibly through my +soul; until at length, able to restrain myself no longer, I cried, +caring not though the world heard me, "Verily, this was the Son of +God!" + + * * * * * + +I am old now, and the end draws near. For half a century I have loved +and served Him. I have known trials and sorrows not a few, but His +presence has upheld me. The promise he gave his disciples the night +before his death has been my mainstay: "Lo, I am with you alway!" In +the faith of that promise I have seen men and women die with the light +of heaven on their faces, heroic amid the flames, triumphant before the +lion's eyes. I have heard them once and again protesting with their +last breath, "_Christianus sum!_ I am a Christian!" + +I, too, am a Christian, and humbly proud of it. The cross in my time +has been transformed from an emblem of shame into a symbol of triumph. +And the Christ who suffered upon it has been made unto me wisdom and +righteousness and sanctification and redemption. He is my first, my +last, my midst and all in all. I have learned somewhat of the meaning +of his life and death and glorious resurrection. Many wonderful hopes +have I; but the best is this, that I--the soldier who had charge of his +crucifixion--may yet behold his face in peace; that I, who bowed that +night with broken heart beneath his cross, may some day look upon the +King in his beauty and fall before him, crying, "My Lord and my God!" + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Centurion's Story, by David James Burrell + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CENTURION'S STORY *** + +***** This file should be named 29566-8.txt or 29566-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/5/6/29566/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |