The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-02-07
Detroit Collector Will Give
Ancient Manuscripts to
Smithsonian.
PAGES TRANSLATED
AND PHOTOGRAPHED
Throws New Light on Many Pas
sages ii Bible-Most Valu-
able in Country.

The most valuable ancient Biblical
manuscripts i'm America, owned By
charles j.. Freer. the famous collector
OF Detroit, Mich. eventually are 10 be-
come the property Of the Smithsonian
institution. This interesting bit Of infor-
nation is made known In VVssbinafo4,
by Prof. Francis W. Kelsey. profess,r
Of archaeology in the University If
Michigan, who With Prof. Sanders. a
noted Greek authority. has been er.-
gagged for year past in translatinz
and photographiug the pages.
Mr.. Freer but a few months ago COM
Dleted the details OF the transfer 10
the Smithsonian Institution OF his colIec-
ton Of Whistler paintings, which is the
largest and most valuable in the world.
II has been estimated as worth s3O00,O09
The value Of the Biblical manuscripts
In terms Of money is uncertasa ., but it
is safe 10 say that Mr.. Freer would not
sell them for any price. They COW re-
pose IN safe in his Detroit mansion.
Many New Versions.
1--WE have found many new verses
which are not contained 6nathe revised
version Of the Bible, and I'm but few OF
the earliest editions. said Prof. KELSEY
certain that the manuscripts are the
most ancient and valuable that are
owned in America and among the most
valuable in the world.
We are assured from the manner OF
Greek writing used as to their probable
cate. Mr.. treer bought them in Egypt
from small dealer in relics and curios
Tor the ridicuiOusly small sum OF SIS.
The dealer Of course. did not know
what they were nor their value, and for
that matter neither did Mr.. Freer, who
IS not Greek student. He simply
bought them because OF their apparent
great age, and the exquisite ttldings.
and II was not until Prof. Sanders and
1 got hold OF them that their value vas
known.
Immediately search was made for
more books OF the same sort among Tho
dealers in the same vicinity, and Mr..
Freer was lucky enough TO pick up o.
third volume.
Is Ardu0us Task.
.'Translatng and photographinz the
pages IS an extremely arduOus and SLOW
task IL seems that Tor a few centuries
they must have lain in some damp
place as many OF the leaves have ad-
Eered to each other. The printing is
all done by hand, Of course, and is a
work OF art. It must have taken one
man ten years 10 do it, as ever. page
is beautifully embellished.
I'VE do not anticipate finding any
tnIng that VIII upset any of the tenets
of the Christian religion. but We hone
that we may find some missing verses
which shall serve to clear up some
mOOted questions among theolOgfans.
Generally speaking our work will be
most valuable IN providing further
proof Of the great Biblical truths.
1T has been arranged THAI all the
leading aTchaeloSists Of the country
shall pass upon the Photographic plates
OF the pages and the TRANSACTIONS made
10y us TO assure the utmost correctness
possible before the general public IS
let into whatever secrets the pages con
tain. L believe Il is the plan TO print
reproductions Of the pages I'm TIE
archaeological magazines, which. Of
course. circulate only among those
versed In the science