The herald., 1894-08-19

IBY L. BEHyMR.
THE UNKNOWN LIFE OF JkSUS CHRIST,
by NICHOLAS NAToyITcH, a Russian Irav-
eer, from all ancient manuscript, trans
lated frcm the French and ediitd wlth an
introduc aon ana illustrations by viteh-
and r. Gandhi, B. A. Of Bombay, india
Revised by Prof. 6 L ch.istie, B. A. OF the
unIysrslty Of PaTs fgeshtf ny sIsrs
Chicago. llllno s. For sa hy The A. W.
Berry company. 120 South Spring street.
Cloth edition, 81. Paper edition, 50 cents.
Several weeks ago We received this
wonderful book, and then remarked that
1t would produce much controversy. In
fact tbs discovery of this ancient manu-
script naturally aroused much criticiem
in this country as we'll as abroad. One
famous American divine, fearing the in
fuence of this work On Christianity,
sa.d in his unfair criticism that even
9 monastery where the manuscript
As found existed in the mind OF the
elisccverer; fortunately however, the
publisher OF this edition being native
born Hindu, ana having travelled much
in that country, has bsen able to add,
not only a hne picture OF the very
Himis monastery In which the manu-
script wac found, but many other tine
illustrations OF places visited by nj. Ma
toyitch, while in search OF the manu-
script, including 9 copy OF an inscrip-
ton OH stone slab existing in the mon.
astery. which conmsmorstes the found
ing of the institution. This edition is
by Jar the most correct translation with
an exhaustive and interesting introduce
lion and explanations that has vet
been presented to the American pub
lie. We might say in connection with
this edition that this most wonderful
book ran five editions within a few
months in Paris, and is creating much
comment among the thinking people
the world over. The author in lS77-1S7S
undertook a eeries OF journeys in the
orient Having visited ali the localities,
more or less remarkable, OF the Balkan
peninsula, he crossed the Caucasus
mountains to Central Asia and Persia,
and finally in 1877 started for India TO
become acquainted with the inhabitants,
their manners and custome, the grand
and mysterious archaeology, and the
colossal aud me jeatic nature OF their
country. After visiting many places
and imbibing much Of the tradition and
religion of the country, the author
crossed to Kashmir, 1.-The valley of eter-
nal felicity" and commenced his
wanderings through this mysterious
country until he reached Ladsk and de-
cced to return to Rueeia, through
karakorroum and Chinese Turkestan.
Ia this conrse lay the Buddhist convent
IN which reeides the chief lama. From
him the author ascertained shat there
existed in the archives of Lassa very an
cent memoirs treating OF the lie OF eH us
OF aa1 ha no NJ "a
and that certain great molasteries pos
eesaed copies and translations OF those
chronicles. At Leh the capital of La
dak. the author visited the great mon
aetery Of Hnia, situateG near the city,
and from the chief lama learned that the
monastic library contained some copies
of the manuscript in question. Owing
20 an accidental fall, in which leg was
broken, the author Was forced TO spend
abort time at the Hinlis monastery,
the largest OF its kind. during which
time ha had the honor OF obtaining this
consent of the chief lama to have
brought from the library the manu-
script relating to Jesus Christ, and,
aided by his interpreter, who translated
from the Thibetan language. be care
fully copied the verses as they were read
by the lama. Upon returning from this
series OF extended travels with this i'm
portant discovery OF the age, M. Noto-
itch deaired lhe opinion OF some of the
scholars OF Europe regarding ite pnhli-
cation. He placed his copy of the Bud
dhist manuscript before several cee-
brated ecclesiaatica and philosophers,
including III. Henan, Jules Simon, Car
dlnel Rotelli and others, all OF whom
conceded this discovery to be of great
Ifarh triad howavor 70
oissuade him from publishing it.
Ons cardinal, having great influence
with the pope, objected seriously to the
publication of this version of the Life OF
Jesus, at the same time, however, max
ing tempting proposals to eecure the
copy, expressing his fears OF It's intlu-
ence on the church, as the work throws
new light on Chr!slianity.
1t gives Va not only a clue, but a
clavsr and detailed account of the life
and occupation of Jseus between 13 and
20, OF which the evsngellsfs are silent,
and when were epent in lrdia, study
ing the different important religions OF
that country OF vast, unexpIored litera-
ture ana much misunderstood philoso-
phlea and religions.
The Buddhlat version of the life OF
Jesus gives an interesting account of
how and why Jesus left his home in
Palestine, iourneying in company with q
merchant's caravan to India, of his
moet interesting sermons there, of his
conflict with the Brahmins, and OF his
return through Persia to Jerusalem,
where he at once entered upon his min
iBtry, of which We are already conyer-
SAINT.
The chronicles in question were writ
ten before, during and after Jesus Christ,
but during his eojourn in India, where
he went as a mere pilgrim to study the
Brahmin and Buddhist laws. no special
attention WAS given him. But later,
when the first reports Of these events in
Israel reached India, the chroniclers
after having consigned to writing all they
had heard about the prophet Isea, whom
an oppressed race had followed and who
by order of PLATE had been put to death,
remembered that this same Issa OF
Israelite origin had recently lived and
studied among them and then returned
to his own country. Soon an interest
was created for this man who had go
rapidly grown in importance in their
eyes and they Immediately began to in
quire about his birth, his death and all
she details of his life.
The two manuscripts are written in
the Pail language, and the chroniclers
were Bnddhists belonging to the sect Of
Buddha Gotams, and had been brought
frorp India hout CO1 uaaro ftor ~, ;af