Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-11-25
TESTIMONY OF Archaeology,

An important discovery has been
made In Egypt in the district sur
rounding Heraoleopolis, the treasure
house Of Egyptian psychologists
We find an account Of Il IN the Literary
Digest, copied from the Munich Allge'
meine Zeitung
The find consists Of temple archives
long hidden in the ruins Of a sanctuary
built by King usertesen II. They In
clude letters and official documents OF
various kinds. Among the information
thus conveyed Is this; that in the six
tecnth day Of the eighth calendar
month Of the seventh year Of King
Usertesen III, the early ascension Of the
Cog star would take place. This
astronomical statement is clue TO
Egyptian chronology Of those early
ages. It forms a basis on which to cal
culate the beginning and end Of the
preceding era Of Egyptian kings.
According to careful calculations 1t
has been found that the common COM
putatlons Of psychologists relating to
the historical period covered by a large
part Of the Pentateuch have been err
roneous. Psychologists have main
tanned that the settling Of Israel In
Egypt and the exodus took place long
before the time indicated in the sacred
narrative, and this has formed one OF
the grounds Of objection to It's historical
accuracy. The archeologlsts, TO be sure,
have not agreed among them
selves as 20 the exact date, one placing
the period referred to as late as 2laO b.
c.. and another as early as SSl5' ana
others selecting various dates between
these two, but they have been unanl-
nous in characterizing the Mosaic
chronology as erroneous Now this
latest find is said TO prove conclusiVely
that the Biblical and Egyptian chronol-
ogies are in perfect accord, with DIFF
ference Of only fifty years. The new
calculations fix the beginning OF that
period between the years 1895 and 1893
b. c., and the Mosaic record is thereby
vlndlcated.
The account In the Allgemeine Zeit-
ung says that on these premises, the
entire early history OF Israel, including
the period Of the Patriarchs, assumes a
quite natural place among the ups ana
downs OF that age. From this readjust-
ment Of the Egyptian chronology It ap-
pears that the mysterious Hyksos'
or Shepherd kings, came to Egypt
shortly before the advent Of the Israeli
ties The Pheniclan power was extend
ing at this time In all directions, traces
OF their conquests having been found In
Babylon. in Egypt in northern Africa.
and in Europe. The early history Of the
Hebrews falls naturally within this
general upheaval. and there can no
longer be any doubt that the Mosaic
account has been placed IN a clear, his
torical light The Importance Of the
discovery In this age Of higher criticism
can hardly be overestimated.
In the long contest on scientific
ground about the authenticity Of the
sacred Scriptures the defenders Of that
volume have always come out victor
ious Apparently irreconcilable state
ments have on investigation been
found 20 be in perfect harmony with
facts. This is true Of the Bible, and it
Is no less true Of the Book Of Mormon
as far as this scientific test has been
applied 10 It. American archaeology Is
young compared to that Of the coun'
tries in which Biblical history was en-
acted. But as far as It has penetrated
the mysteries Of this continent It has
only confirmed that much misunder-
stood record. As high an authority on
this subject as Plongeon has not hesi-
tated to say, that as far as he knew,
there was nothing in the Book Of Nor
mon contradictory OF any known fact
relating TO ancient America. This Is
strong proof Of the authenticity Of
that sacred volume. II is a complete
RECITATION OF the long ago exploded sur
mise that It owes It's origin to the sick
~ fancies Of romancers. The Penta-
touch might as well, Notwithstanding
the evidence OF archaeology, be as
crlbed to authors Of fiction.