Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1875-11-25
The STORY OF THE WANDER
ING JEW.

lNd JEW.
There are probably persons in every
courtry in Europe, although no CON-
plete Dation or sect, who still believe in
the Wandering Jew, the Undying One
who wanders century after century over
the earth's surface, yearning for death
that never comes. Myths live long in
the rustic mind after they have been dis
earded by men Of the world and steady
thinkers. This is one Of them, and,
like most of the others, its origin is lost
in obscurity, although traceable with
much probability to religious feeling,
or TO mistaken apprehension of Scrip
turai passages. f--
Rich collections Of manuscripts have
been carefully examined by competent
men, to ascertain the most distant date
to which these legends or myths can be
traced. The oldest document at pres
ent known on the subject was written
about $50 years ago, in the reign OF
Henry III. The Book of the Chronicle
Of St. Adams Abbey contains the fol-
lowing narrative, as tf a cotemporary
event. One day the Patriarch Or Arch
bishop Of Armenia arrived at the abbey
with small retinue, including IN in
-terpretei, who could make the Pa
triarch and theabbot Ineligible to each
other. He bad visited most of the
celebrated shrines and holy places in
England, and had now come to see the
shrine Of st. Aiban. Hospitality en-
tertained for many days, the Patriarch
had much conversation with the abbot
and the monks. He was asked, among
other things. whether he had seen or
heard aught Of Joseph, a mysterious
being, who was reruted TO have lived
ever since the early days of Christiani-
ty. The Patriarch replied that he had
not only heard of this Undying One,
but had been visited 10y him in Arme-
MIA. The story told by the Wanderer
vas a solemn one. On the day of the
crucifxion, Castaphilus (another name
borne by Joseph), a porter in Pontius
Pilates house, struck Jesus on the
back with his hand, and bade him
mockingly to move on more quickly
A severe but MYSTERIOUS reproof was
administered 10 him in reply: II am
going, and YOU will wait till my return.
Castaphilus lived on century after CEN
apparently no older than at first. He
became holy and religious man, mar.
rating to bishops and divines events
which be had witnessed i'll the apostolic
DAYS. de was always serious, accepted
nothing but food and raiment from bis
entertainers, and looked out anxiously
for the Last day.
Search appears to have been made in
vain for any mention Of the Wanderel
during the fourteenth or fifteenth cen.
turies; but quite early in the sixteenth
We hear Of Wandering Jew who as
sisted . weaver. named kokot. to dis.
cover in Bohemia a treasure which al
ancestor Of the weaver was reported {,
have hidden. The Jew is discribet
- appearing like man 20 years o.
age.
A few years aftsrward the seen.
shifts, and according to another legent
the Stranger makes his appearance il
Arabia. When the city Of Elvans wa.
captured, Fahuilnh and 500 hcrsemer
pitched their tents In the evening be.
tween the mountains. When repeating
his prayer to Allah and Mohammed
5 Eadhilah heard all his words echoed
Demanding who was doing this, Fs9
kilah saw approaching him q venerable
man like dervish, with staff in hand
: The Stronger stated that he catne b,
= command of Jesus, who had left min
20 live upon earth till the second ad
vent. So far the legend; why the PIP
partition appeared TO follower Of Islam
3 not made clear. psH
About the middle of the same cen
tury the Wandering Jew cropped ul
In Hamburg. Bishop Eitxen narrate,
that, when young man, be saw at
church in that city tall barefoot pill
grim, with hair banging over his shoul
ders, standing opposite TO the pulpi;
listening inteutly TO the sermon, sor
rowfully and sighing, and often smitinI
his breast. A rumor spread that b
was the same mysterious person tha
had recently been seen in England
-F~ncs, Italy, Hungary. Persias- Spain
Poland, Muscovy, Lapland. Sweden
Denmark. and Scotland Biahop Eisse
sought him out, and asked him man
questions. The Stranger replied tha
10 was o Jew, Ahasuerus by name,
shoemaker, at Jerusalem; that he ha'
been present al the crucifxion; that b
had lived ever since, travelling in variou
parts of the world. Questioned furth
sr. he declared that he had egar
aed Jesus as q deceiver and hereto