The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-06-17
RECENT PUBLICATIONS

The UNKNOWN LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST.
Some months ago there was flashed
across the wires from Europe the story
that Nicholas Notovitch had discovered a
life of Jesus Christ in the monastery of
Himis. in the Ladak, Tibet. The origi-
nal manuscript from which the Himis roll
was copied is said 10 be jealousy guarded in
the famous Buddhist monastery of Lassa,
and 10 antedate The four gospels. The
story of course excited wide interest and
was critically discussed In all the great
papers and magazines. Karl Blind in the
New Free Press, Vienna. con sidered it at
great length and declared that nobody
has a right to question the authenticity OF
the discovery" And yet multitMes will
question it. Conclusions Of the above
nature reached as TO the age and authen-
ITCHY of a manuscript, never seen, known
only through copy. rest on very insecure
foundations. The present volume con-
tains the account Of the jour
ney of Notovitch into Thibet and
the finding of the manuscript.
full translation of ''The Life of Saint Issa,
the Best Of the Sons of Men," and an
epitome wherein are considered the re-
semhlances and contradictions between
this Buddhist version and the Old and
New Testaments. The journey itself is
interesting. but contains nothing that can
not be found in other writer's The first
mention of the Life Of Issa" was made 10
NotOytch by lama OF the monastery of
MOulbeck, who spoke TO him of ''yOur ter
restrial Dalai Lama" the Pope, and lisa
the chosen one, great prophet, one OF the
first after the twenty-five Buddhas." The
original manuscript OF lssa'S life, accord
Ing to the lama, was written in India and
Nepal. and in some of the larger converts
were to be found copies made by the lamas
during their stay at LaSSa, and afterwaTd
presented 20 their converts. The Life of
Issa" consists of q series Of verses, sOme
times connected, at other times uncon-
nected. ard containing many resem-
blances to the Scripture nara
tiveS. when 1Ssa had attained the
age of 13-when an lsraelile should take
wife-it was then that he claDdestineIy
left his fathers house, went out of Jeru-
salem and, in company with some mer-
chants, travelled toward Sindh, that he
might perfect himself in the divine word
and study the laws of the great Buddba."
1t will take positive arguments 10 substi-
tute this reading for the Scripture version,
and SO far proofs are wanting. The re-
Semblance between the teachings of Christ
and OF BudGha can be accounted for in
more satisfactory and scientific ways than
by sending Christ TO study in India, and
the general belief Of the early Christians
about the hidden life of Christ. from his
being found in the temple to the opening
of his public life, rests on better founda
tiOns than the above statement. 1t is
curious that Able Hue, who investigated
Ihibet as IL was never before and never
since has been Investigated, makes no
mention of such beliefs or books among
the monasteries. The look, however, is
worth reading, on account OF the new posi- |
ton it assumes. but 1t brings with il no |
external or internal proof of the early
origin or Authenticity of the manuscript |
lChicago: Rand, McNally q Co. For sale |
at the bookstores.