Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-07-09
Replies TO Article
on the Virgin Mary

on the virgin MARY
Editor Journal-It is warm weather to I've
threshing over old straws, but the published at
tack upon the Virgin Mary by an Atlanta min
lister may have a tendency to lead astray un
stable minds. and deserves as full answer anu
refutation as the subject makes vital 10 tnod-
sands of your readers who look TO Him as guide
This minister professeC to have a new "iS-
covery, and flsunts in the faces Of his hearers
the bold statement that the proof is at hand
to dispeI the myth Of the virgin BIRTH anu
when we are anxiously waiting for fair ann
scholarly humiliation Of the divinity we are
told that I'VE have today historical testimon!
showing that this phrase, Joseph oegat Jesus,
was part of the original gospel text. ~ ~
then he proceeds to enlighten an audlence tuS'
he knows, well does not, perhaps, know tut
Aleph from the Mss, nor the slightest thlhs
about how we got our Bible, with the statement
that ian English scholar, Mrs. Lewis, JUS
covered 'Syriac manuscript in the nohasteI'
of St. Catherine in Mt. Sinai. This Is palm
pest, he tells them. but it has been decipneTe H
by two English scholars, Bensley ana b'A
kitt," and that they have found that II ecu
tairs a straightforward account Of the geneea-
ton of Jesus. Now this point is the only one
giving the discourse a right to a column or an
inch Of a respectable daily, and 1t requires no
more than a few words to rule 1t out OF court
as a serious and honest conviction. IN tue
first place, who is Mrs. Lewis? And VINO are
Penson and Burkitt?" pid any one P Snfor rnS
Where is Duluth? Does any man know MS
wonderful new metropolis Of the westE III, Did
any Of the audience know OF these oeaE
painstaking scholars that had made such ne"
and valuable discovery
All those tears Of JOY shed by the great
German in the monastery Of ST. Catherine when
he found the really complete manuscript OF Tie
Bible were wasted, and Mrs. Lewis has undone
the work Of all the translators OF the Cantereux
Bibles Oh why did she not come on the stage
OF action earlier TO render unnecessary
all all those ten years of wasted labors! 'Jh'
shades of Claiming, why did Benson and Bur
kitt'' not do this service for the erring world
Of palnstak!ng scholarship and give US tue
light before this?
bugged, and when will buncombe cease TO nave
its sway?
When we were eagerly asking fish to be
given this stonei When wished TO see a
real with the ancient uncials OF the
Greek monks, why should we be let down 10
earth with The statement about Mrs. Lewis!
II the minister had stayed in the Methodist
church, think what he would have lost, ana
think what would have been lost to the world
Of scholarship He would never have drunk
from the fountain of knowledge known as Mrs.
Lewis" and the world would never have been
refreshed with this life giving waterl
What debt the scholarship Of the church
owes to the Methodist conference for liberating
the minister he could give full vent TO ms
powers of research! If he had not located
we could have had this wonderful new
discovery. And, then, what pity that we
had been kept in ignorance about this piece
Of learning even for several years, for he tells
us that "a few years ago" it was known.
Why did you wait long, my FRIEND to bring
us this message of salvation? Oh, that the
undiscovered gems of genius might break forth
earlier In the intellectual night Of the times!
Bring us more OF this, oh, preacher! Let us
know more OF this wonderful fountain from
which You have drunk such deep draughts.
When you really get into the church history
Of the future, do not fail to carry copies of
the works of Mfrs. Lewis and Benson and
Burkitt" with you to enlighten all coming gen
erations about the erring times Of orthodox.
and show the Tight that failed to the people
that sit In darkness and at last when Jesus
comes in power and great glory and all Of His
holy angels with Him, meet Him and ask Him
why He left us so in the dark. when he knew
He was an imposter. Glide Him with His
age-lOng deception, and say to the assembled
multitudee, the nations, tongues and kindred on
the earth who standing before His throne,
that ''Mpu Lewis discovered the fraud about
His birth In the twentieth century, and Ben
son and Burktt" were ready to testify against
the great cloud of witnesses" who hail Him
Lord Of all!
Tell your congregation next Sunday that Won
have the actual papers to show and then tele-
phone a reporter that you have some more
"coFy" and give US the benefit of seeing II in
print; or II II be not convenient to find the
chapter and the verse, then tell them with
tears in your eyes that you have made stage
play at the expense of the honor of your Lord
and theirs, and that for the sake Of sensation
you were led, during the dull vacation time, TO
now repent. and ask the forgiveness Tin priutI
of all the readers of the paper whose intelli-
gencc you affronted with that story about Mrs.
Lewis" and Benson and Burkitt."
crew E. r. PENDLETON.
CoyipRton Ga