The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-02-10

a curious mixture of manuscripts in
Syraic, Greek, Arabian, Latin and Tur-
kish.
The first document was a parchment
about eighteen inches long and ten
inches wide. Here follows modern,
free translation of the record:
Johannes II. Fysician, of Damascus,
Died I24
Son of Johannes /, who was a son of
John. called by the Christians The
Baptizer." Johannes II directs his son
and descendants to continue this record
so that the name and family of johann
mes may ever be perpetuated. for that
name bears relation to Christ, whom all
men revere"
Johannes XI, of Beraea, died 762.
Under this head a story is told of an
incident in his life.
In the year 706. when Johannes was
eighteen years old (being under the
Calf Walled, the MOslem troops, under
Moslema, passed through a small town
short distance from Beraea, where Jo-
hannes. was then living Yusef. a Mos
lem captain. demanded that the inhabi-
tants embrace the faith or pay trib
ute They all declined to renounce the
Christian faith, or declared that they
had no money This enraged Yusef.
and he ordered a general massacre of
the Christians. At this extremity one
of them, knowing the descent of JO-
hannes, bethought himself of the in
junction of Mahomet to his followers to
Venerate Christ as a prophet who had
come before him to prepare the way,
just as John the Baptist had prepared
the way for Christ. He sought Yusef
and appealed to him, shrewdly playing
on his fanaticism.
MosIem Captain Frustrated Himself.
Faithful follower of the great proph-
ct. know that there is living in our
midst a descendant of the family of
Christ. You know the high esteem in
which the prophet held him, and hope
for His sake you will spare the poor
people of this WALLACE. The prophet
would have done likewise"
The good captain never questioned the
statement, neither did he ask for any
proof, but answered in a guileless fash
ion:
1T gives me great pleasure to hear
this. and I want to meet this great
man, and do him honor. Guide me to
him"
Johannes was seated irb his doorway
as they approached. Without further
ceremony the Moslem captain prostrat-
ed himself before the young man, who
at first did not grasp the meaning of
his conduct, especially as he had just
heard of the order for the massacre.
Rising the captain spoke:
Great and noble Johannes, descend
ant of Christ. the favored one of the
prophet command my services. l am
here to obey. and to protect you and
your friends"
''Since you will grant a favor, let il
be to restrain your soldiers from pillage
and massacre"
Granted, and 1 win Furthermore beg
you to accept trifling gift from me as
a token of my veneration and esteem for
one so exalted, yet so humble as your
self. My soldiers will attend you"
A short time after departure of the
devout Moslem there were brought TO
Johannes many costly presents. among
them a crucifiX of pure gold. He knew
that they were the spoils of war, but
could not well decline them. The cru
cifix has been preserved in the family
ever since.
Johannes XVIII, of Kalah Shubbah,
son of Johanna III,
Died 1928.
In 1898. while Jobannes XVIII was
living at the mountain fortress of
Kalah Shubbah, a French crusader
was brought before Zaiyad, the gov
3rnOr ana COlnlndiiuSI- 1tt ildu DCEn
captured before Antioch, and was TO
be held for a ransom, being richly
dressed and supposed to be wealthy.
Zaiyad had known Johannes from
the time he was appointed governor
by the calf, and had a high regard
for the young Christian. Often he
sought his advice. Johannes happened
to be at the castle when the prisoner
was brought in. The governor, find
ing that he could not speak mis- IAN
guage turned him over to Johannes,
who aged to make himself under
stood in Syrian which the Freedman
had learned during his stay before
Antioch.
Johannes Acted as Interpreter.
Johannes questioned him regarding
his country and the circumstances of
his capture, and learned that the
Frenchman was not a rich man, and
that the rich apparel he had worn at
the time of his capture was only booty
Johannes became deeply interested in
the story of the crusaders rs told by
the stranger, and would have talked
much longer. but Zaiyad, impatient
at his inability to join in the con-
versatiOn. told him to take the pms
oner in charge. The two became good
friends There were many Christians
at Kalah Shubbah, for the governor
was no bigot. but permitted all fis