The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1913-11-28

search of the Monastery of St Catherine. on
Mount Sinai whore it lis believed that the Oldest
existing Bible manuscripts are TO be found
Discoveries already made indicate with prac-
teal certainty that these manuscripts must be
there but for peculiar reasons very little prog
ress has been made I'm searching for them. Dur
ing the years lS4i. 1858 and 1859 the German
scholar TisChendorf spent much time exploring
the monastery library
The monks were then very simple and hos.
ptable aud quite unfamiliar with the ways OF
the outside world. They allowed Tischendorf TO
DO as he pleased I'm the library. He used this
liberty with stupendously profitable results to
himself He discovered the oldest known Greek
manuscript OF the Bible. now known tho GO
dex Sinaiticus." by some scholars IL is dated
early as the fourth century and In that case It
ia the oldest practically complete manuscript OF
the Bible. II consists OF most of the Old Testa-
ment. all the New Testament and "the Epistle
OF Barnabas"
This wonderful collection Of manuscripts Tisch-
sndorf carried away without saying word TO
the monks There are doubtless collectors today
who would give 81 600 600 for these manuscripts.
When the monks slowly realized that they had
been robbed Of one OF the most precious pos
sessions in the religious world, they became very
angry. and their anger lasted long time.
For years travellers who visited the outofthe-
world monastery reported that the monks
surly and iuhospitable, and would not afford
reasonable opportunity for an examination Of
their treasures Many OF these visitors reported
that the monks were illusng their manuscripts
In deporable manner. using them as stands
for cooking utensils and flower pots
Finally. In 1894 two brilliant Englishwomen-
Mrs Smith Lewis and Mrs. Gbson-succeeded
I'm winning the confidence OF the monks and Sc
cured permission to make an examination Of the
library. Their search was richly rewarded. for
they discovered fourth century pampsest
manuscript OF St Paul's Gospel in Syriac. This
is probably the oldest known Bible manuscript
for the Tischendorf CodeN. even allowing II the
oldest date mentioned. would barely equal It,
Mrs. Lewis and Mrs Gibson found that in
order to put the library in thorough order and
reveal even superhcially all that II contained
would require the labors OF a considerable stan
or trained workers. Although the monks gave
facilities 20 the two women. they were not Will
Ing 20 admit any considerable body Of investiga
tors TO the monastery, In view OF their bitter
experience OF earlier years
The present movement aims 10 overcome the
objections OF the monks i'm friendly manner.
The Sinaitic Peninsula is now in Egyptian terri
tory When the necessary funds have been col.
lected the assistance OF the Egyptian authorities
will be sought in carrying on negotiations with
the monks.
Among the most precious manuscripts believed
90 be In me monastery is the original OF the
Gospel OF St Luke in the handwriting OF the
apostle himself This would be incomparaby the
most important Bible manuscript ever discovered
The Syriac copy OF 81. Lukes gospel found by
tuting the Oldest known Bible manuscript con.
Greek original in the library.