The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-07-21
The Wandering jew.

One of the most remarkable fictions ever
accepted by the people, is that of the Wan
dering Jew. Its basis rests upon false in
depreciation of the words of Scripture ::
There are some of them standing here who
shall not taste death until they see the Son
of Man coming in his Kingdom" 1t was
the belief of many that this prophecy was
literally fulfilled in the person of Jew
who was wandering over the earth, and was
to continue to wander till the end of time.
The first mention of the mystical parsonage
is found in the chronicle of Matthew Paris,
who states that in l22S an Archbishop of
Greater Armenia having visited the Abbey
of ST. Adams while on pilgrimage to the
shrines Of England, was asked whether he
had ever heard or seen of certain Joseph,
who was present when our Lord suffered,
who spoke to him and was still alive, wan
dering upon the face of the earth. A knight
IN his retinue answering, said that his lord
well knew the man, that he had eaten at the
Archbishops table, and was often seen and
| conversed with by him. The Archbishop
went on to relate that as the Jews were drag
ging our Lord to be crucifed, Catarphilus,
| one of the porters in the service of PLATE,
struck him, saying in mockery,," ,,"Go quicker /;
why do you loter?' And Christ, looking
back on him with Il stern countenance, said,
81 am going, and you will wait until I re-
turn" As our Lord had said, Catarphilus
il still ,vaitinp II;s raturn IL ,,,,, .. .L ID.
time Of our Lords death, thirty years of
age, and when he comes to the age of one
hundred he returns to the same age he was
when Christ suffered. After the ascension
Of our Lord, Catarphilu, WAS baptized by
Ananias and was named Joseph. lie dwelt
in Armenia and other Eastern countries
passing his time with the preates of the
Church, Il man of holy conversation, of few
words aud circumspect behavior, never speak
ing except to Bishops and religious, aud re-
lating the events which took place when
our Lord died, and in the lives of the Apos-
ties.
The next mention of the Wandering Jew
we find in 1905 in Bohemia, where a poor
weaver named Kokot, in great perplexity to
find treasure hidden by his grandfathe.
some sixty years before, was shown by the
jew where to find it, he having been present
when it was hidden. About the same time
mention is made of the mysterious person.
age in the East, but the most circumstantial
account of him is that given by DR.. Paul
Won Etzen, afterwards Bishop of Schleswig,
who says that in 1917 che observed tall
man with his hair hanging over his shoul-
ders, standing barefoot during the sermon
over against the pulpit, listening with the
deepest attention to the discourse, and when
ever the name of Jesus was mentioned, bow.
ing himself profoundly and humbly, signing
and beating his breast. He had no other
clothing in the bitter cold of the winter, ex.
cept a pair of hose which were in tatters
about his feet, and a coat with girdle which
reached to his feet, aud his general appear
anee was that ofa man of fifty years" The
doctor was struck by the mans appearance,
and inquired about him. lie found that he
was unknown to any one. People had seen
him in all parts of Europe, but knew him
not. On questioning him, the doctor learned
that he was jew hy birth, by name Ahas.
uerus, by trade shoemaker; that he had
been present at the cruciixion, and had lived
ever since, travelling through the world. lie
related all the details of the crucifxion, and
gave accounts of the changes ia the Govern