The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-08-05
straightforward
Last WIZ and Testament
of the Saviour Found.

discovery Of which was first made pub
lie at the Congress Of ArchaeoIogists
held at Rome Professor AIarucchi and
Professor Lanciani are two Of the emf
nent authorities who have examined this
document and written about it While
Il rs not a will or testament in the
sense Of disposing Of property, il is a
long series Of instructions Regarding
the conduct of the Church; these instrc-
tons being supposed 70 have been de-
lvered orally by Christ after the resur-
rection-
In support Of the theory that this ex-
traordinary find is genuine, ii is pointed
out that there are many references 10
such a document in Biblical tradition.
In the National Library at Paris is a
fragment which has been regarded as
part Of a similar work, while libraries
IN Syria possess other fragments. None
Of these fragments was sufficiently long
to do more than indicate that the original
was q lengthy document inspired directly
by the Saviour.
The writing or debating OF such q doc
ument has been recently advanced as
enc Of the reasons for Christ's stay upon
earth between the time Of the Resurrec-
ton and the Ascension. What would be
more natural has been asked. than that
He should wish TO leave behind Him de-
tailed, specific instructions as to the car
rying on Of His work? OF the first i'm
portance was the organization Of the
Church and the formulation Of rules for
It's government.
II is precisely Of material Of this char
acter that the great bulk Of the newly
discovered document is made up As
thus far translated. It does not contain
any Of those brilliant ringing sentences
associated with the authentic utterances
OF the Saviour Uuon the contrary, It
seems TO have been intended not for the
populace. but for the priests. telling them
exactly how the government Of the
Church should be conducted.
That this document will at once take
its place among the Apocrypha is the
general opinion Of Biblical students, while
there are not a few among them who
claim that its authenticity has already
been proved to their satisfaction.
The discovery Of this astonishing doc
unent was recently made in MesOpota-
mia by no less a parsonage than Ignatius
Rahmani, Patriarch of the Catholics in
Syria To his unbounded surprise and
delight, this distinguished ecclesiastic
found in one of the most out Of the way
places in the world an ancient Syrian
parchment bearing the strange title, ''Win
DR. Testament Of Our Lord Jesus Christ
1 The Patriarch. whose see is at Antioch.
had gone TO spend some time at Mosul,
a quaint town, situated opposite and
Knowing that curious relics OF the past
have been found there he passed many
hours in exploring old ruins AMI looking
over old manuscripts, ever on the search
for one OF those treasures which all arch
aeologists dream Of finding and which
so few are fortunate enough to discover.
For days his quest was fruitless, for
though it appears that he unearthed a
manuscriptor twoof more than ephemeral
interest TO scholars. he discovered moth
ing OF great value until one evening when
his eye CHANGED to fall on the imposing
ioo'rfr- document with the s rian tits
showing that it purported to contain the
Will OF final instructions of Jesus.
This parchment was bulky and well
preserved. It had evidently lain forgot
ten Tor centuries IN the old monastic
building where it has now at last been
unearthed The Patriarch, who is
noted archeologist, as well as an eminet
Biblical scholar. recognized its exceed |
ing value at once. and straightway took |
possession Of il with the intention of ex-
aiming it thoroughly, and then Of trans |
latinE II into Latin the translated version /
to appear beside the original Syrian in /
parallel columns. The reason why he |
recognized its value at a glance was be- |
cause he knew that tradition pointed to |
the existence Of such a document.
Furthermore, he knew that there was 1
one fragment in the National Library at /
Paris and two or three others in the |
libraries Of Syria. The complete work, 1
however was now in his hands. It con-
sisted of the following parts:
First. discourse OF the Saviour to I
the Apostles regarding the end OF the
world.
Second. a discourse about ecclesiastical
raRons.
Third. instructions in regard to the
Of the Church and precise
in regard 10 the material.
form and ornaments OF the buildings.
Fourth. rules in regard to the Episco-
-
patton Of bishops and the mode Of life
10 be observed by them.
Fifth. regulations in regard TO the
Internal evidence shows, II is asserted.
hat the instructions recorded herein were
delivered by Christ 70 the apostles soon
litter He arose from The tomb. and pre-
-umablv near Emmaus. where. as the
Bible tells US, He was seen by two Of
-Its dfsciplss. At the close Of the docu-
nent a statement appears to the effect
hat this. Christ's viii or last testament,
Vas delivered BY Him viva vooe and was
.aken down in writing BY the apostles,
Matthew. Peter and John. after which
: was distributed from Jerusalem
through the various Countries BY several
.sclDles.a among them being Silas Nagnus
md AQuila. all Of whom acquired a good
Y reputation by their zeal in spreading
he Christian faith
A q result Of their labors. II Is known
hat the document was translated into
Santic The presumption IS that it vas
so rendered into many other languages.
raat the tongue in which Il was origin
lly written was the Greek seems evident
nd the Patriarch Rahmsni says that it
vas translated into Syrian in the year
81 Of our era
That the viii or testament IS Of great
ge its references 70 the liturgy and TO
ertsin prophets Clearly indicate. Fur
hermore. from the Instructions in it in
egard to the Communion, scholars who
ave examined it are satisfied that Il
atas back 20 the age before TerruIIian,
iEce at that time the Communion was
administered by the bishops. whereas be-
ore that time it was administered II