Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-11-18

way: "This book is work of fiction from
beginning TO end. Even the facts thai
are interviewer, are grotesquely and nc
doubt purposely misstated. :"
Further explanation is necessary. The
"Archko Volume" was published by the
Antiquarian Book Company of Phila
delphia, first in 1887, and reprinted in
1896, according to the dates of the copy
right lines. 1t is impossible to find copy
in any library or bookshop in the city noi
is the antiquarian Book Company" in g
publishers or business directory, norupon
the mail lists of the Post Office authori,
ties.
The copy secured by the Press after
long search is the one reviewed and criti-
cized by Professor McCaLe, with notes IN
tie blank pages which have been quo
ted
Now, this narrative pretends to be a
transcript of the acts of Plate as found In
the records of Tiberius Caesar, Scholars
have torn it to pieces on internal evidence
in the Philadelphia Press. If it is the
translation of an ancient manuscript in the
first place it is undoubtedly a forgery OF
the Middle ages or even later times. TAX
ing the alternative, that it is fiction faori-
Gated from whole cloth, according to Pro
fessor McCabe, date prior to 1887 must
be assigned.
A companion to "Pilate's Report to
Caesar or the Arrest, Trial and CrucidX-
ion of Jesus" in tie "Archko Volume"
with this latest sensation in the way of
discovery and translation, shows an exact
identity, word for word, paragraph by
paragraph.
So the document or alleged transcript,
whichever it be, appeared in England just
ten years ago. The reprinted story fol-
lows the "Arcnko Volume" QSSO, line by
line, but omits the conclusion of the origi-
nal. It's pity that the rest of this fisci-
mating romance was not reprinted in the
startling disclosure of decade after. The
report goes on:
OMITTED PART OF THE STORY.
''When the great excitement arose about
the sepulchre being empty l felt deeper
solicitude than ever. l sent for Malcus,
who told me he had placed his lieutenant
Ben Isham, with one hundred soldiers
around the sepulchre. He told me that
Isham and the soldiers were very much
alarmed at what had occurred there that
morning. sent for this man Ishan, who
related to me, as near as l can recolect,
the following Gil cumstances:
''He said that at about the beginning OF
the fourth watch they saw soft and beau
tiful light over the sepulchre. He at first
thought that the women had come to en-
balm the body of Jesus as was their Gus
tom, but he could not see how they had
gotten through the guards. While these
thoughts were passing through his mind,
behold the whole place was lighted up,
and there seemed to be crowds of the dead
in their grave clothes.
Gail seemed to be shouting and filled
with ecstacy, while all around and above
was tbe most beautiful music he had ever
heard; and the whole air seemed to be full
of voices praising God. Atthis time there
seemed to be reeling and swimming Of
the earth, so that he turned SO sick and
faint that ne could not stand on his feet.
l asked him in what condition he was
when he came to himself. He said he
was lying on the ground with his face
down. l asked him if his dizziness might
not have come from being wakened uE
and getting up too suddenly. He said he
was not and had not been asleep all night,
as the penalty was death for him to sleep
on duty.
81 asked him if he had been questioned
by the priests. He said he had. They
wanted him to say it was an earthquake
and that they were asleep, and offered hin
money to say that The disciples came and
stole Jesus; but he saw no disciples; he
did not know the body was gone until lie
vas told. l asked him what was the pri
vate opinion of those priests he had con
versed with. He said that some Of then
thought that Jesus was no man, that lie
was not human being; that lie was moi
the son Of Mary; that He was not the same
that was said to be born of the Virgin il
Bethlehem; that the same person had beer
on the earth before with Abraham and Lo
and at many times and places.
SIT seema to me, that if the Jewish the
DRY be true these conclusions are correct
for they are in accord with this Mans life
as is Known and testified by both friend
and foes, for the e!ementswere no more il
His hands thant the city lay in the hands 0
the potter. He could convert water int
wine; He could change death intolife, dis
ease into health; He could calm the seas
still the storms, call up fish with silve
coin in its mouth.
'Now, I say, if He could do all thes
things, which He did, and many more, 81
the Jews all testify, and it was doing these
things that created the enmity again.
Him. He was not charged with violating
any law, and al! these facts are known tt
thousands, as well by His foes as by Hi
friends. am almost ready to say as di,
Mantnlas at the Cross. tTrnlY. this was tin