The Raymer enterprise., 1913-11-27

search OF the Monastery of St Catherine, on
Mount Sinai, where It is believed that the Oldest
existing Bible manuscripts are to be found
Discoveries already made indicate with prac
tiCa 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 Tischendorr spent much time exploring
the monastery library.
The monks then very simple and hos.
pitabe 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 as the "Co.
dex Sinaitcus." BY some scholars II Is dated as
early as the fourth century, and in that case It
is the oldest practically complete manuscript OF
the Bible. II consists OF most OF the Old Testa.
mcnt, 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 si,00O0O0 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 were
surly and inhospltable. and would not afford a
reasonable opportunity for an examination OF
their treasures, Many OF these visitors reported
that the monks were illusIng their manuscripts
In n deplorable manner using them as stands
for cooking utensils and flower pots
Finally. in 1894, two brilliant Engshwomen-
Mrs. Smith Lewis and Mrs, Gibson-succeeded
In winning the confidence Of the monks and So.
cured permission to make an examination OF the
library Their search was richly rewarded for
they discovered n fourth century pnlImpsest
manuscript Of st. Paul's Gospel in Syriac This
Is probably the Oldest known Bible manuscript
for the Tischendorf CodeN, even allowing 1t the
Oldest date mentioned would barely equal IT,
Mrs Lewis and Mrs. Gibson found that I'm
order to put the library In thorough order and
reveal even supericiay all that It contained
would require the labors OF a considerable stafr
OF trained workers Although the monks gave
facilities to the two women they were not will.
Ing to admit any considerable body OF investlga.
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 friendly manner
The Sinaitic Peninsula Is now IN Egyptian terri.
tory When the necessary funds have been col.
'ected the assistance OF the Egyptian authorities
VIII 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 over discovered
The syriac copy OF St. Luke's gospel found by
the two English women and at present consti.
tuting the Oldest known Bible manuscript con.
tains evidence that Il was translated from n
Greek original In the library.