The citizen., 1913-11-28

search of the Monastery OF st. Catherine, on
Mount Sinai, where 1t is believed that the Oldest
existing Bible manuscripts are to be found
Discoveries already made indicate with prac-
tcal certainty that these manuscripts must be
there. but for peculiar reasons very little prog
ress has been made in searching for them Dur
Eng the years 1914. 1853 and 1889 the German
scholar Tischendorf spent much time exploring
the monastery library
The monks we're then very simple and hos
pltabe and quite unfamiliar with the ways of
the outside world They allowed Tischendorf to
do as he pleased in the library He used this
liberty with stupendously profitable results to
himself. He discovered the oldest known Greek
manuscript of the Bible. now known the Co
dex Sinaltcus" BY some scholars it is dated as
early as the fourth century and in that case it
is the oldest practically complete manuscript OF
the Bible. 1t consists of most of the Old Testa
ment all the New Testament and the Epistle
OF Barnabas"
This wonderful collection OF manuscripts Tsch
endorf carried away without saying a word to
Che monks. There are doubtless collectors today
who would give 81 100000 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 out-of-the-
world monastery reported that the monks were
eurly and nhUspitable and would not afford a
reasonable opportunity for examination OF
their treasures Many of these visitors reported
Chat the monks we're ill-usng 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. Gibson-succeeded
in winning the confidence OF he monks and Sc
cured permission to make examination of the
library Their search was richly rewarded, for
they discovered q fourth century palimpsest
manuscript of st. Pauls Gospel in Syriac This
Is probably the oldest known Bible manuscript
for the Tischendorf Codex even allowing 1t the
oldest date mentioned, would barely equal it,
Mrs Lewis and Mrs Gibson found that In
order to rut The library in thorough order and
reveal even superfcally all that it contained
would require The labors of a considerable staff
OF trained workers Although the monks gave
facilities TO the two women. they were not will
ing tc admit any considerable body of investiga-
tors to the monastery, in view of their bitter
experience OF earlier years
The present movement aims to overcome the
objections of the monks in a friendly manner
fhe Sinaitc Peninsula is in Egyptian terri
tory When che necessary funds have been col.
lected the assistance of the Egyptian authorities
VIII be sought In carrying on negotiations with
Che monks
Among the most precious manuscripts believed
TO be In the monastery is the original of the
Gospel OF st Luke in the handwriting of the
apostle himself This would be incomparably the
most important Bible manuscript ever discovered
The Syriao copy Of St Luke's gospel found bv
the two English women and at present constI.
tuting the oldest known Bible manuscript con.
tans evidence that it was translated from a
Greek original I'm the library