The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-13

It's coming produced vast literature on
both sides OF the Atlantis. Christian
scholars everywhere have recognized mis-
and giving mos. valuable light on church
as the oldes. church manual going bach
to the early part Of the second century
life, as well as showing the large liberty
allowed in the mode of Christian baptism.
In connection with this MSS. was found
the complete Episiles of Clemens. The
first epistle as is we'll known. was diseov-
cred in the same folios with the Alexan-
dria MSS. but here was brought to light
the second episiie, thus completing the
letters of this important church father.
These letters seem 10 have been cher
ished almost as much as the canonical
writings. Eusehius identifies Clemens as
the friend of 81. Paul. and speaking OF the
first epissle, declares. We are aware that
this epistle has been publicly read in very
many churches. both In old times and also
In our own day. As to the second epis,le
Its authenticity may be questioned. but
evidence is abundant TO show that il was
homily 10 be Eead in the churches. and
may be assigned TO the early part OF the
second certury.
We next have TO notice the finding OF
the Gospe. of Peter and the Apocalypse of
Peter. This discovery was made by the
French archaeological Mission IN Cairo
in 1856. In the grave OF a monk In an
ancient cemetery a, Akhmin, the ancient
Panopolis. Upper Egypt, was found a
parchment containing the Gospel of Peter
and a fragment of the Apocalypse of Pc
ter. together with a fragment of the book
of Enoch. In Greek. The Gospel OF Peter
was published in 1882, under the care Of
Mr.. Bouriant. in the memoirs OF the
French Archaeological Mission at Cairo
This parchment Codex. which Is now in
the museum at Gizeh, is assigned 10 A
date between the sixth and twelfth CEN
turtles. Harnack assigns the gospel TO the
first quarter of the second century. Pre-
vious to this discovery all that had been
known Of this gospel was illusions by
Scraps. Bishop of Antich. Origen Fuse
bus and Theodoret. IL differs In many inn
pcrtant details from the canonical gospels.
but corroborates them in general. Har-
mack. in .'Texte ind Untersuchungen,"
has given n critical examination or its
peculIarities
One of the most romantic histories Is
that OF the recovery of the text OF Ia
tian's Diatessaron. or Harmony of the
-Four Gospels. The reconstruction OF the
text from ancient authorities is a monu-
ment Of Zahn's brilliant scholarship, but
it was not unit, 1855 that We came into
possession of the connected text Itself.
The Arabic text was published ut Rome
in ISIS from MSS. brought; from the East
by Joseph Assermani In i1la. When the
visitor apostolic of the Catholic Copts
was In Rome In isss and was informed OF
the Vatican MSS. he told OF another Ms.
OF which he knew. and which he was In
strumental in sending TO the Borgan mu-
scum. The latter MS. Is complete. con-
tanning $50 folios The Importance of the
Diatessaron Of Tatian. which must have
been composed in the second century. cam
not be overestimated. In that II bears
Upon the date and formation of the can
onical gospels. giving unequivoeal testi-
mony TO the early date of the Gospel Of
Johr.
Another surprise greeted the Christian
world when. IN 1889. Prof. ]. Rendel Har-
ris of Cambridge. discovered in the IL
brary of tho Convent Of st. Catherine. on
Mount Sinai. the Syrian version OF the
Apology of Arlstides the philosopher.
Arlstides and Quadratus had been men
toned by the Fathers as early apologists
OF the church. and II had been stated that
both had presented apologies 10 the En-
peror Hadran on his first visit 10 Athens.
G25-issp.
In 1878 the Armenian monks al Venice
published Latin translation OF an Ar
menian fragment which Renan pro-
nouneed spurious because II contained the
illogical terms q a later date. but this was