The Washington times., 1921-09-04


yersIty Of Berlin, and the greatest
living scholar In the Coptic lang.
uage and literature. and DR.. Her
man Grapow. tho Egpytologist1
II ERLIN. Sept. 3.--Above ten
n years ago the scientific world
as well as the theolcgians were
startled by the discovery OF the now
famous Benan letters. which prom
ised to reveal in different light the
heretofore unknown youthfui ms
tory OF the founder Of Christianity.
The text of the Benaf letters con-
firmed hitherto vague saspicions;
what theosophists, occultists. anthro-
posophists and other heretical vision
aries had for centuries mysteriousiy
hinted and wished. appeared to nave
found documentary confirmation.
According to the alleged docu'
ments, Jesus had been tutored In the
esoteric wisdom Of Egypt, and hke
all other mortal beings. had passed
through course Of training. culture
and development. .-E
These heretics thus accounted FOR
the saviour's extraordinary intellec-
tuai endowments. His lofty leader
shin. They claim that Jesus could
not have attained or acquired these
qualities In His normal home In the
little town of Nazareth, a. the son
of q carpenter. t..-
UPSET ALL TRADITIONS.
The alleged discovery of such a
precious document as the so-caiied
Benan letters was bound to destroy
and discord the hitherto accepted
views Of the personal biography OF
the Nazarene. 1t threatened to revo-
.lutionize and destroy q sacred tradf-
ton two thousand years old.
The Benan letters became . sub
iect OF controversy among theo-
logians. With all It's erroneous pre-
nnises and conclusions this condition
was due to the shrewdness and un.
explainable good fortune Of q here
tofore unknown novelist. His full
name In Earnest Elder Won der
Planitz. This obsure novelist re-
wrote the youthful biography OF
Jesus in i've volumes. entitled:
"A CHILDHOOD FRIEND OF
JESUS; LETTERS OF THE EGYP-
TIAN PHYSICIAN BENAN, DAT
ING FROM THE TIME OF DO
MITIAN; FROM THE ORIGINAL
GREEK TEXT AND THE LATER
CoPTIC TRANSLATION"
In these five volumes Won der
Planitz proclaimed to the world the
remarkable result OF his study.
based on the new discovery!
Planitz ascribed the source Of his
remarkable document to an Egyp-
tian priest-physician. Benan OF
Memphis. Benan, according to Won
der Planitz, wrote these letters to
his friend Straton. Straton was q
rhetorician, and was formerly
private secretary Of the Emperor
Tiberius.
According to Won der Planitz. Stra-
ton gives an extensive account OF
these letters and his reason for pre-
serving his friend Benan's letters to
him, regarding the origin Of the
Christian doctrine and Of his own
personal association with the imme-
diate followers Of Jesus
Beginning with the Star Of Bethle-
hem and the birth Of Jesus CMatt.
2l) the Benan account says:
"A certain Putiphra, an astrono-
mer In charge Of the observatory In
Anu-Heliopolis, was commissioned
by Ranebscru. the High Priest OF
the Temple Of Heliopolis, to observe
the Star Of Sirius. in Apriu the land
Of the Hebrews).
"Putiphra travelled to Palestine.
and, on the first Of Mesori. discov'
cred the star in the identical place
and hour, when and where'the child
was born. The parents Of the child.
on Putiphra's suggestion, entrusted
It to his care and 1t was brought to
Anu.
"Putiphra returned with the child
Jesus and submitted his report Of
his discovery of the Star Of Mesori.
which is now known as the Star Of
Bethlehem. ,, ....
"Ranebchru, the High Priest Of
Heliopolis, brought up the child with
the greatest care. He prophesied
the future greatness Of the infant
and later entrusted 1t to the care OF
.Pinehas. the High Priest Of the Jew
ish Onias Temple. 1855.
CITES A ROMANCE" g..
"pinehas, the Hebrew High
Priest, tutored the boy in Hebrew
religion and literature. At the age
OF twelve there was q desire In the
breast Of the child to see His native
land and His mother. Neither
Ranebchru nor Pinehas discour-
aged the boy from visiting Naza-
reth. Instead. they assisted Him