Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-09-23
LITERARY FRAUDS EXPOSED.
Alleged Translation of Early Jewish
Records.

Records.
The State Department has become the
medium of exposure of persistent liter
airy fraud, thus broadening its already ex-
tensive field of usefulness.
In 1884 there appeared a curious volume,
published for the author" Rev. W. D.
Mahan of Bonneville, Mo-, entitled Arch
geological Writings of the Sanhedrin and
Talmuds of the Jews 1t purported to be
based upon ancient parchments and
scrolls at Constantinople and the Vati-
can. 1t was further said to be the record
made by the enemies of Jesus of Naza-
reth in his day" 1t was scarcely neces-
sary to add, was done on the title page,
that this was the most Interesting history
ever read by man'-that is, if authentic.
1t contained about twenty-five pages Of
transformation respecting the Talmud,
some letters of vindication, and an argu-
ment to prove that Constantine had fifty
copies of the Scriptures written and bound
and that of course he (Rev. Mahan) had
seen one of these copies in ConStantinople.
The rest of the $50 pages of the volume are
made up of material of about equal au-
then ticity with this.
In 1887, came from the press of the Chris
tan Publishing Company of st. Louis, a
similar volume from the pen of the same
author, now purporting to be translated
from manuscripts in Constantinople and
the records of the senatorial documents
taken from the Vatican in Rome; being the
official documents made in these courts in
the days of Jesus Christ This time,
however, 1t is said to be translated by
'Drs. Mcintosh and Twyman." and only
compiled by the Rev. Mahan and certain
Elder j. w. Damon. 1t is made up of the
same questionable materials as the volume
n entioned above but also contains certain
extracts from the Ante-Nicene Fathers"
Not satisfied with the two volumes al
ready published, there appeared IN 1895,
no Df IA 49, or
Company, Dalton, Ga, "A Wonderful
Book" entitled Caesars Court" Il was
also said to embrace the same records
that issued in 1884, and of course was the
most interesting history published" 1t
contained ten of the same chapters as the
previous volumes, with sundry additions
in the way of testimonials as to the char
acter of the author and to the authenticity
of the facts he relates.
But the end is not yet. A volume ap-
peared in 1896, published by the Antigua
rian Book Company of Philadelphia, en-
titled The Archko Volume" This time,
though the Rev. Mahan is the proprietor
Of the copyright, his name does not appear
upon the title page, but the documents"
which are the same as appear in the pre-
cedng volumes, are said to be translated
by "Drs. Mcintosh and Twyman of the
Antiquarian Lodge, Genoa, Italy"
The publications now attained to the dig
rity of receiving official attention in Con-
stantinople. 1t seems that the Antiquarian
BOOK company became suspicious, SO lhey
wrote to our minister in Constantinople,
making inquiries respecting the authentic
ity of the documents" which were said
to have been found in the library of the
Mosque of st. Sophia. DIR. Angel sought
Information, of course, from the minister
of public instruction. DR.. Angel writes In
a dispatch to the Secretary of State: He
called in some of his most scholarly SUBJ
ordinates. and together they investigated
the catalogue of the library Of St. Sophia
No titles resembling those given in the
Archko volume appeared in the catalogue"
The minister of public instruction prom
ised to have further search made. which
he did. with the result, as. he stated in his
report to Minister Angel, that neither
the copy of any Bible ordered by Emperor
Constantine, nor any report of Gamaliel or
conversation of the parents of Jesus, nor
any report of Caiphas = on the cruel
fxion of Jesus does exist in the library of
st. Sophia nor any other of the libraries"