The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-12
OLDEST WISDOM IN
"ODES OF SOLOMON"
Dr. Rcndel Harris Explains
Great Value Of Manuscripts
He Found.
TRANSLATION NOT READY
Document Ranks Closely in
Date and Quality With
New Testament.
TRANSLATION NOT READY

LONDON. April 3.--Dr Rendcl Harris,
whose valuable gift of the codes of Solo
mon" to the Rylands Library NJ Msnches-
ter was recently cabled to TIE Sun. con-
tributes to the Manchester 0udrdian an
article descriptive of the precious ind.
Now that the manuscript OF the Odes
OF Solomon has definitely passed out OF
my possession and such protection and
insurance As could give II into the safer
and more permanent trust of the Rylznds
Library ! have been asked whether I
would like to give some idea OF tho value
OF the treasure which has now become =
part OF the wealth OF the city. believe
that what Is wanted Is not any technical
| q iscussor OF such problems az assoc ate
themselves with every new discovery,
| questions OF text and Of authorship and
of date and OF sources OF composition and
the like but just few words for the
benefit OF those who may not have been
| aware that Christian document OF a
very high value has been recovered.
an this little book. ~ my Judgment 10
| correct, we have for the first time re-
| covered book of hymns OF the early
Christian community. and these hymns
| are marked by an the characteristics
which we are accustomed 10 associate
with the time OF that great spiritual re-
early Christian church. That is to say,
they constitute a key TO primitive Chris
| tan expert nee. much in the same way
| as the rediscovery OF the Olney hymns
| or volume OF early Methodist hymns or
| or ST Bernard's Latin hymns-supposin
| any or all OF these TO be lcst-would fur
| nish the clue TO the understanding Of what
! really went on at the Methodist revival
| in England or In the great monastic re-
| vivals OF the Middle Ages
| To a thovghtfui mind the great prob
lem OF the odes Ia not the question OF
| authorship. nor the question of a possible
| Jewish original. but the question As 10
| how a community which was as inspired
| and inspiring as these songs show Il to
| have been could have ever lapsed into the
| half-heathenism Of medieval Christia nifty
| or the worse than heather dulness Of
| much that passes under the name of
Christian In later days.
Il am sorry have not yet got q proper
vers'fcation OF these odes In modern Eng
! lish. Its opening stanxas have q well
known parallel In the Christian hymn
oocss II may quote one verse. perhaps
| the Following would be good parallel:
In darkest shades II Thou appear
| Ny dswninE IL begun,
Thou art my souls sweet morning star.
! And Thou my rising sun.
| ut ought not 20 be difficult TO translate
| such an ode as the 18th OF Solomon into
a Christian hymn--in which case our re-
hglous enrichment would soon be appar-
ent. My own students are busily engaged
in the work OF translation-I sometimes
try my own pen upon them. but hitherto.
and for myself. with only mol,-a,e sue
cess
There need he no hesitation now, I
think, In saying that the little book In It's
first form cannot be later than 1870 :. d,
and may be earlier. II may. for instance,
be earlier than my other great discovery.
the Apology OF Aristides. and perhaps as
early as the decadent but very valuable
Teaching Of the Apostles. OF which
had the honor TO make the fac-simile
edition. In any case, 4, ranks so closely
in date and In quality with the New Tes-
lament writings that when we read them,
or when we sing them II We are 30 priv
LEGGED, we are In the aureole OF the frst
| and great confession"