The Red Cloud chief., 1913-11-27

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-
tical certainty that these manuscripts must be
there. but for peculiar reasons very little prog.
ress has been made in searching for them Dur.
ing the years 1874. 1853 and 1859 the German
scholar Tischendorf spent much time exploring
the monastery library.
The monks were then very simple and hos
ptable and quite unfamiliar with the ways OF
the outside world. They allowed Tischendorf to
do az 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 as tho "Co.
dex Sinaiticus." BY some scholars 1t Is dated as
early AZ the fourth century, and In that case II
10 the Oldest practically complete manuscript of
the Bible. II consists Of most of the Old Testa.
snent. all the New Testament and "the Epistle
Of Barnabas"
This wonderful collection OF manuscripts Tisch.
endorf carried away without saying word to
the monks. There are doubtless collectors today
who would give $1,000,000 for these manuscripts
When the monks slowly realized that they had
been robbed Of one OF the most precious pos
sessions in tho religious world. they became very
angry. and their anger lasted a long time.
For years travellers who visited the outOfthe-
world monastery reported that the monks were
surly and inhospitable and would not afford a
reasonable opportunity for an examination of
that the monks were iusng their manuscripts
In . deporable manner. using them as stands
for cooking utensils and flower pots
Finally. in 1884, two brilliant Englishwomen--
Mrs. Smith Lewis and Mrs. Gibson--succeeded
In winning the confidence Of the monks and se-
cured permission to make an examination Of the
library. Their search was richly rewarded for
they discovered a fourth century palimpsest
manuscript Of st. Paul's Gospel In Syriac This
10 probably the Oldest known Bible manuscript,
NNdn nil
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 superhcialy all that II contained
would require the labors OF considerable star
OF trained workers. Although the monks gave
facilities to the two women. they were not will.
Ing to admit any considerable body OF investiga.
tors to the monastery. In view of their bitter
experience OF earlier years
Tho present movement aims to overcome the
OBJECTIONS OF the monks in q friendly manner
Th~ Snaitic 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
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 6yvtac copy OF st. Luke's gospel found by
the two English women and at present consti.
tuting ths oldest known Bible manuscript con.
ains evidence that II was translated from a
ureek orisinal In the library.