The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-07-22
81. PAIL'S PICTURE
Medallion of Him Found In
Rome in 1916
is TO BE AUTH 'ENTICATED
And Photographs of It Placed
on Sale Everywhere.

Il
Ill. has In his possession ~one Of the most
unique and valuable curio $ in the world
This Is a medallion portrait OF the Apos-
tie Paul taken from life,
Mr.. Given was In New York last week
and allowed the World to make photo
| graphs OF this interesting relic. which
is now for the first time made public.
Lovers of antiquities, as well as al
persons interested in the history of Christ
and his followers. will greet this aston
ishing discovery with the greatest inter-
est.
The medallion has been submitted 70 the
| wisest authorities on the subject OF an
tiquities, who have pronounced It un-
doubtedly genuine and the work of some
artist who probably modelled 1t from life.
This is the only lil1esess of any Of the
| apostles in existence
The medallion measures three and a
quarter inches and Is made of some COM
position harder than cast iron. It was
moulded with such skill that every line and
letter Is distinct. The head of the apos-
tie on the medallion is about two inches
long and is raised third of an inch
above the surface.
Around the head are inscribed the
words. Vas electionisA Paulus Apos-
tolus.'' which translated, mean THE
Chosen Vessel. Paul the Apostle" this
being the term that Paul uses when
speaking of himself in the Scriptures.
On the reverse side Of the medallion is
a Latin inscription, the translation read
ing blessed by the most high God is
this one from out the sources of Israel,
being a child of Benjamin and a master
mind"
This interesting relic was picked up In
the Catacombs OF Rome in the year 1886
by Mr.. Henderson. who was an American
tourist, watching some excavation then
being done by the government. Careless
ly picking up a heavy piece of earth.
which appeared to be a conglomerate
mass OF sand and dirt Mr.. Henderson be-
gan knocking of little bits until at last
the medallion was disclosed.
The lucky finder of the relic brought
1t home and gave 1t TO the Ohio Wesleyan
University, at Delaware, o. 1t was after
wards presented to Mr.. Given's father.
the pastor Of st. Paul's church. rs a re-
ward for a very difficult piece OF transla-
ton with Mr.. Given had succeeded in
making to the extreme satisfaction OF the
faculty.
]. F. Given. IN a letter to the World,
describes the means he has taken TO es-
'tablish the authenticity of the relic and
his plans In regard to the future.
To the Editor OF the Sunday World:
In allowing the history and pictures Of
the medallion head of the Apostle Paul
now in my possession to be published, /
am but carrying out, somewhat sooner
than I expected. plan which have had
in mind ever since realized the general
interest which a curio of this importance
must excite.
1 intend after securing testimony from
the Pope and from various scientific au-
thorities in regard to the value and his
toric as we'll as religious interest Of the
medallion, to place the curio on exhibition
in some place where all who wish may
see IT,; also to offer for sale photographs
OF the relic.
BY means Of your valuable, paper, how
ever, am enabled to give some advanced
notes in regard to this most interesting
curiosity.
The medallion, in its morocco case, lay
on the table in my home and was fire.
quently shown to friends as an antiquity
and as a prize which my father obtained
on account OF his skill as linguist, but
1 think none OF US realized the value
which our possession undoubtedly would
have to the world at large.
II was not until 1 attended . lecture,
some thirty years after the medallion
came into the family that the importance
TO the curio was made apparent to me.
The subject OF the lecture was saul OF
Tarsus," delivered by George r. wend-
ling.
l knew that my medallion must have
been made OF the apostle after his con-
version. as the inscription Is Paul and
not saul" the former name being given
70 him after he became one Of Christs
followers. The lecturer told how Saul
Travelled toward Damascus to prosecute
the little handful OF people who we're fol-
lowing the Christ. and how Saul in turn
became converted and received his new
name.
All this history revived my Interest In
the portrait and at once took means
to have the antiquity and authenticity
Of he medallion established.
/ sent II to the Smithsonian Institution
for an examination and vas told that
the picture was made prior 10 the twelfth
century. as was proved by the metal and
by the workmanship OF the carving. and
that there was every reason % believe
that II was made directly from life. There
is nothing OF the kind In the Smithsonian
institution, nor IN the British Mnseum.
where 1 also sent the medallion. Upon
investigation / find that there Il nothing
Of ike nature in the Metropolitan Museum
here in New York. nor in the Vatican AZ
Rome.
Bishop Hale OF Illinois made &c trans
lation OF the Inscription on the medallion.
which conceded exactly With those made
By my father. The Bishop was greatly tn
tereSted in studying the features o. the
grand old man. 81. Paul
Students In archaeology AID Biblical
history will De interested IN the photo
graphs 90 the medallion which in;snd
TO have made
IN short time I expect 90 go 20 Rome
and present the euro in person . the
Pope for bis endorsement
The leading scisatists cs orr country
are watching the reception given 10 the
MEDALLION By other archeoIogisS with
the creates: Interest.
49, hrs~ 60 - 20. 80 Il
eEs Of TIE Word the Arst p1olsc appear