The record-union., 1895-04-17
GOSPELS IN SYRIAC
Biblical Manuscripts Which DR.. Harris
of Cambridge Discovered.

Biblical Manuscripts Which DR.. Harris
of Cambridge Discovered.
The discovery recently made by DR.. J.
Rendel Harris, the distinguished Biblical
scholar of Cambridge University, Eng
land, OF new version of the gospels in
SyrIac while on 4 visit two years ago to
Mount Sinai, Is considered to be the most
valuable made IN Biblical research for
several years past.
The codex OF old Syriac gospels was
first found by DIR. Harris at the Convent
OF st. Katharine, on The top OF Mount
SINAI the Iudlug plS q being noteworthy
OF Itself on account of the historic con-
nectlon OF the mount with early Biblical
! history. The Convent of st. Katharine
was III the sixth century turned into
fortress by Justinian, and as the smaller
nelghborlng converts fell into decay their
documents were doubtless transferred to
the fortified convent for safe-keeping
which may account for the finding of the
Syrlac manuscripts there.
with wealth. of Biblical treasures
careIessIy arranged along shelves III the
convent or stored away for centuries in
OLD chests, the privilege OF unearthing
those which have proved of such value
fell to DR.. Harris. He found by his in
Vestlgatlon that documents of inestimaDie
value TO the world were within the an
cIent walls, ana his report led to a visit 10
the convent III February, 1892, by two
English women famous for their work in
BlOIe study, Agnes smith Lewis and
Mrs. James Y. Gibson, who, DR.. Harris
modeStly says, are entitled TO all the
credit OF the discovery.
The gospels discovered were, it is be-
Ileyed, written not laler than the fifth
century and as most OF the translatiOns
OF the gospels into English are of Greek
origin, this Syriac version is expected to
clear up many cloudy points.
The two women students gained the
confidence of the monks and wero per-
mitted To make photographs OF all the
pages OF manuscript, which, from their
appearance and condition, had not been
parused by human eyes for centuries.
y second expedition was made in 1893
when DR.. Harris, the late DR.. Bensley.
Professor Of Aramiac in the University
OF cambridge, and +. {. Burkitt accom-
panied the party for tho purpose OF trans
latlng the documents which DR.. Harris
had originally brought to light
Syriac, more properly called Christian
AramIac, was the first language into
which the New Testament was trans
lated. 1he language Is thought 10 be the
vernacular of Mesopotamia, the cradle of
Abraham's family.
There can he no doubt" SAYS DR.. Har-
rls, THAT 1t was also the language of
Palestine in the time of Christ-the Ian
guage in which He addressed the multi
tude The Araniac Christians adopted
the name of SyrianS because they did not
wish TO be cOntounded with "A rnlaia,' the
heathen, and the country of Araln was
thenceforth known as Syria.
Probably the first specimen of liter
ature which they possessed was trans
! lation of the Old Testament which was
read in their synagogues. Syriac liter
! ature can now show no work OF original
genius and is priced only Tor the lignt IT
casts upon the history of the New Testa-
ment."
| DR.. Harris is q man OF middle age. with
a striking personality. He is wsll known
III Baltimore, having been several wears
ago member OF the Johus Hopkins
| Faculty an associate OF Profasso,.
| Gildersleeve. Sun.