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1907.
NOT EXCITED OVER C. L. FREER'S FIND

LOCAL MINISTERS DO NOT BELIEVE IT TEACHES ANYTHING THAT IS NEW.

Will Take Years to Settle Theological Value of Alleged Addition to the Bible

The announcement from Chicago by Prof. Henry A. Sanders, of the University of Michigan, that Charles L. Freer had come into possession of very early manuscripts of the bible containing a new saying of Christ caused more or less talk among the clergy of Detroit, but the general opinion seems to be that the saying will not give rise to the controversy which Mr. Freer expects. Prof. Sanders made the announcement to Archeological institute now in session in Chicago and stated that the manuscript is in Greek. The new saying, Prof. Sanders states, should follow the 14th verse of the 16th chapter of Mark, which treats of the appearance of Christ before 11 of the apostles following his death. Prof. Sanders' translation is as follows:

And they answered saying that this age of unrighteousness and unbelief is under the power of Satan, who does not permit the things which are made unpure by the (evil) spirits to comprehend the truth of God and his power. For this reason, "reveal thy righteousness now," they say to Christ, and Christ said to them: "The limit of the years of the power of Satan has been fulfilled, but other terrible things are at hand, and I was delivered unto death on behalf of those who sinned in order that they may return to the truth and sin no more, to the end that they may inherit the spiritual, indestructible, glory of righteousness which is in heaven." 

Rev. Edward H. Pence, after he had read the account of Mr. Freer's discovery, remarked that he would wait about a decade before he pasted the new saying of Christ in his bible. 

Matter for Textual Critics.

"The decisions as to the authenticity of this possible addition to Mark," he said, "is a matter for textual critics. That branch of criticism is a highly specialized and technical branch of learning. I do not suppose that there is a man in Detroit who is qualified for that kind of work. Beginning with the original manuscripts the gospels were translated into several languages and copies were made. There is a vast body of manuscript in those languages and the textual critic examines all of them, noting their agreements and disagreements, and by their comparisons they are able to select what is most probably true. I believe that work has been so well done that the bible as we have it today is correct in every substantial matter.

"If this discovery should prove true I still do not see that it can have any effect upon current religious belief. I see nothing in it which seems to contradict the bible as we have it and what is said in that verse is said elsewhere in the bible. 

Rev. Michael Stritch, S. J., of Detroit, examined the new saying with interest when it was called to his attention. 

No Cause for Excitement.

"I do not see anything to get excited about," he said. "Manuscripts, or fragments of them are found now and then the Catholic Church does not teach that the bible as it was compiled by the councils of the church comprises all of written revelation. What is in the bible is the word of God, but the church admits that there may be lost manuscripts of equal authority.

"This discovery may cause a great deal more concern among some non-Catholics than it will in the Catholic church, as it was instituted by Christ, is a living revelation, and the church teaches some things that are not taught in the bible. You can see from that why we might welcome additions to the bible as furnishing cumulative proof of the truth of our teaching. We are confident that nothing ever will or can be discovered that will shake those teachings.

"I do not see that the verse adds anything to what is already in the bible. The sentence where it says 'The limit of the years of the power of Satan has been fulfilled' does not contradict the teaching of the church. It means that the power of Satan was ended over those who choose to accept Christ."

Rev. Lee S. McCollester hesitated to place any value on the new saying without knowing more about it. From the statement given out by Prof. Sanders to the effect that the new saying follows the fourteenth verse he could not determine whether the manuscript was divided into verses or not. If it is so divided, it points to a much later origin of the manuscripts than would be indicated if it were not divided into verses.

"Egypt is full of fraudulent mummies and curios made in France," he said. "Mr. Freer is a student of such matters and could hardly be fooled, but it will take a great deal of careful study to determine what the significance of the find is."

As in the case of his Catholic and Presbyterian brethren, Mr. McCollester could not see that the saying would add to the knowledge of the teachings of Christ or that it would disturb the doctrines of theology.

How First Was Made.

In speaking of the discovery of the ancient biblical manuscript Charles L. Freer said:

"The way in which I came to find this important manuscript would be to long a story to tell, but it would be a very interesting one. I did not find it on the street, nor in a museum, but in a little Egyptian shop where I was hunting for treasures in pottery. It is considered advisable to keep the location of this little shop a secret, as it is quite possible that there are more treasures of a like nature where where this came from.

"I consider this one of the most important discoveries that has ever been made and it is not possible to forecast the influence that it will exert all over the world. Of course only the mere surface of the ground has been scratched by Prof. Sanders as yet, and it will take three years at least to complete the translations of the pages and to decide in just what periods they belong. We now believe that, making a rough estimate, they will be found to belong from the third to the seventh century.

"This is no matter for flippant newspaper stories nor for newspaper discussions, but is a subject that should be handled with the utmost reverence and dignity. We expect that the matter will be first given to the archaeological journals and that the entire substance of the manuscript will be given to the world and managed with the same dignity that characterizes the production of scientific discoveries in Europe. The subject of the bible should not be handled with anything but dignity and the sayings of Jesus with anything but the utmost reverence. 

"I expect that the one additional verse in Matthew in which Christ says that sin will be destroyed from the earth will provoke most intense discussion all over the world wherever the word of the Savior is held in respect. As for the authenticity of the manuscripts there is simply no question, and it is probable that the exact date of their production will be fixed by archaeological experts."


NEW SAYING OF CHRIST IS FOUND

Lost Fragment Belongs to Sixteenth Chapter of St. Mark.

CHICAGO, Deec. 31-The Daily News today says:

"A new saying of Christ, lost to the world for thirteen centuries and found in Egypt, was given to the world for the first time today by Professor Henry Sanders of the University of Michigan.

The long lost fragment belongs in the sixteenth chapter of the gospel of St. Mark and follows the fourteenth verse. It relates to the story of Christ's appearance, following His death, to eleven of His apostles in Jerusalem. 

With the new verse the Bible reads thus:

"Mark 16:14. And they answered, saying that this age of unrighteousness and unbelief is under the power of Satan, who does not permit the things which are made impure by the (evil) spirits, to comprehend the truth of God and His power. For this reason, 'Reveal Thy righteousness now,' they said to Christ, and Christ said to them:

"The limit of the years of the power of Satan has been fulfilled, but other terrible things are at hand, and I was delivered unto death on behalf of those who sinned in order that they may return to the truth and sin no more, to the end that they may inherit the spiritual indestructible glory of righteousness which is in heaven."

Charles L. Freer of Detroit, Art collector, student, traveler, has in his possession unopened volumes which constitute a great addition to biblical lore. The vellum pages, buried for centuries, are being translated as rapidly as possible by Professor Sanders.

The story of their discovery is still unknown to the world, and will be made public only when the results of Professor Sanders' research are published which may be two or three years hence.

The fragile leaves were once bound in book form. Opening them and joining the broken fragments is a delicate task. All the spare time for nearly a year has been spent by Professor Sanders at Mr. Freer's home, putting together the bits of vellum and reading the inschriptions, dimmed by burial in Egyptian sands for more than a thousand years.

After the leaves are cautiously pried apart they are placed between sheets of glass and photographed. The covers of one of the books bear the portraits of the four apostles, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Mr. Freer's manuscripts are the first bearing so directly on the history of Christ's life to be brought to this country. They antedate by several centuries many of the writings used in the present scriptures.

Professor Sanders' revelation of the newly discovered quotation from Jesus is the first published intimation of the finding of the manuscript.

Speaking of these discoveries, Mr. Freer said:

"The fragments of hundreds of pages of manuscript, written in Greek on vellum, are locked in my vault. Their significance and possibilities are limitless. Their effect on the Christian religion cannot be estimated.

"The verse made public before the archeological institute in Chicago is only a very small part of the contents of the books. Professor Sanders has just started his investigations and what will be brought forth is beyond conjecture."


News Dec 31st

Says Freer's Find Is Probably of Little Value.

To the Editor:  The highly interesting ancient manuscript brought from Egypt by Mr. Charles Freer and submitted to Prof. Sanders and the learned gentlemen of the archaeological department of the University of Chicago may be all that it purports to be-a "lost fragment" of the gospel of the Apostle Mark-or it may be something of far less value.  Hence it will be well to await the verdict, not only of a few more expert archeologists, but of a few thoroughly informed theologians-for the question of the value of this manuscript is one to be ultimately determined not by archeology but by theology.

All who are acquainted with Christian church history are aware that toward the end of the first century of the Christian era there arose, particularly in Egypt, many sects.  Some of them had peculiar ideas and were accused of adding to and taking from the sacred records for the purpose of giving the support of written authority to their distinctive doctrines.

Among the Egyptian sects was that of the Gnostics, and the charge of tampering with the gospels was made against them.  Fragments recovered heretofore have been found to disagree in very important particulars with the accepted canon of scripture.  The verse of the Freer manuscript given out has a Gnostic sound, so to speak.  It is possible, even probable, that it is a genuine Gnostic fragment, since its tenor agrees with Gnostic ideas as they have been handed down.  If Mr Freer has secured a Gnostic document, he has not added anything to the canon of scripture, nor found anything which will alter religious beliefs in any degree.  He has simply made a discovery, probably at large cost, which is chiefly of interest and value to the curious antiquarians.

JOHN B. GOOD, M.D.


NEW VERSE OF BIBLE IS DUG UP FROM SANDS

Archaeologists at the U. of C. Are Told of Discovery of Sayings of Christ.

PART OF ST. MARK'S GOSPEL.

Scientist Tells Where It Should Be Inserted and Explains Why It Was Omitted from Book.

WORDS ATTRIBUTED TO JESUS IN NEW DISCOVERY.

"The limit of the years of the power of Satan has been fulfilled, but other terrible things are at hand and I was delivered unto death on behalf of those who sinned in order that they may return to the truth and sin no more, to the end that they may inherit the spiritual, indestructible glory of righteousness (which) is in heaven."

A new saying of Christ lost to the world for thirteen centuries and found in Egypt, was given to the world for the first time to-day by Prof. Henry A. Sanders of the University of Michigan, addressing the members of the Archaeological Insitute, now in session at the University of Chicago. the fragment is part of an old bible dating back to before the Moslem conquest of Egypt in the seventh century and on its face so authentic as to disarm hostile criticism.

The long-lost fragment belongs in the sixteenth chapter of the gospel of St. Mark and follows the fourteenth verse. It relates to the story of Christ's appearance, following his death, to eleven of his apostles who were gathered together in a room in Jerusalem. Its harmony with the context is regarded as perfect, coming in to soften an abrupt transition from criticism to fervent exhortation.

How New Text Fits In.

With the new verse, which is designated as Mark 16:14 a, the bible reads thus:

Mark 16:14 "Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen."

NEW VERSE.

Mark 16:14 a: "And they answered saying that this age of unrighteousness and unbelief is under the power of Satan, who does not permit the things which are made impure by the (evil) spirits to comprehend the truth of God (and) his power. For this reason, 'Reveal they righteousness now,' they said to Christ, and Christ said to them: 'The limit of the years of the power of Satan has been fulfilled, but other terrible things are at hand and I was delivered unto death on behalf of those who sinned in order that they may return to the truth and sin no more, to end that they may inherit the spiritual indestructible glory of righteousness (which) is in heaven.'"

Mark 16:15: "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."

Talks of New Verse.

In discussing the new verse Prof. Sanders said: "This newly discovered paragraph was known to St. Jerome, and the first few lines of it are cited in Latin translation. It has long been claimed that Mark 16:8-20, was a later addition to the gospel, thought to have been borrowed from some other unknown gospel near the end of the second century. This new manuscript probably presents the original form of that part of the lost gospel, which, mutilated, was added to Mark. The reason for the omission is quite apparent, as the new verse contains the statement that the destruction of sin in the world is near at hand. This idea is found in the epistles of Peter and Paul, but the four gospels do not have it and it is avoided by the later church writers."

Contains Part of Lord's Prayer.

"The newly found bible also contains what is known as the liturgical ending of the Lord's prayer, reading: 'For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,'" continued Mr. Sanders.

The section of the manuscript containing the saying of Christ was reproduced, in the original Greek, on a stereopticon slide and read to the audience first in Greek and then in English by the professor, who related a part of the history of its discovery.

The text was found, he said, by Charles L. Freer, a Detroit man who makes freight cars and who was traveling in Egypt in search of additions to his art collections. At the time Mr. Freer secured the manuscript the British museum was after it and offers also were in from other persons. Both before and after purchase, the text was examined by Greek scholars of note, who pronounced it undoubtedly authentic. The text as a whole consists of four parts, to be known to the world henceforth as manuscripts I., II., III. and IV.

Genesis and Numbers Missing.

"Manuscript I. contains Deuteronomy and Joshua." said Prof. sanders. "Genesis to Numbers, which it once contained, are missing. It is next to the oldest of the four manuscripts and present and exceptionally accurate text of this portion of the Septuagint.

Gossips Are an Entirity.

"Manuscript II. contains the psalms. It is the oldest manuscript of the four and is badly decayed. Manuscript III. contains the four gospels entire. it was probably written in the fifth or sixth century and contains many interesting variant readings. 

"Manuscript IV. is only a decayed fragment. It once contained Acts and the Epistles, but not Revelations. It is an older and better manuscript than the four gospels and its readings will be of great value to the text wherever they can be deciphered.

"In conjunction with Mr. Freer's art collection, the manuscripts have been examined by government experts, who pronounce them genuine."

Talks of Discovery.

Prof. Shaller Mathews of the University of Chicago said: 

"I cannot say anything of the value of the discovery until I have had an opportunity to investigate it. It is a scientific discovery and I know nothing of its authenticity or value until further investigation is made."


[[stamp]] TORONTO, CANADA
JAN 1 1908 [[/stamp]]

WORDS OF CHRIST, LONG LOST, FOUND

New Verse of St. M Ancient Bi

GEORE B 
Met. Ant
11 East 
Nassau, Ful 
Ann Ste

DATE SEVENTH CENTURY

Text Refers to Christ's Appearance to Disciples and He tells the Passing of Sin.

Special to The Mail and Empire Over Our Own Leased Wires.

Chicago, Dec. 31 - What is believed to be a new saying of Christ, lost to the world for thirteen centuries and found recently in Egypt, was made public for the first time by Prof. Henry A. Sanders, of the University of Michigan, addressing the members of the Archaeological Institute, now in session at the University of Chicago. The fragment is part of an old Bible dating back to before the Moslem conquest of Egypt in the seventh century. 

The fragment belongs in the sixteenth chapter of the Gospel of St. Mark and follows the fourteenth verse. It relates to the story of Christ's appearance, following His death, to eleven of His apostles who were gathered together in a room in Jerusalem. Its harmony with the context is regarded as perfect, coming in to soften an abrupt transition from criticism to fervent exhortation. 

In the present text, the Bible reads thus: Mark xvi., 14: "Afterward He appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen Him after He was risen."

The New Verse.

The new verse, which is designated as 14A, reads:

"And they answered, saying that this age of unrighteousness and unbelief is under the power of Satan, who does not permit the things which are made impure by the (evil) spirits, to comprehend the truth of God and His power. For this reason, 'Reveal Thy righteousness now,' they said to Christ, and Christ said to them:
"The limit of the years of the power of Satan has been fulfilled, but other terrible things are at hand, and I was delivered unto death on behalf of those who sinned in order that they may return to the truth and sin no more, to the end that they may inherit the spiritual indestructible glory of righteousness (which) is in Heaven."

Mark xvi., 5, goes on: "And He said unto them, go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."

In discussing the new verse Prof. Sanders said: "This newly discovered paragraph was known to St. Jerome, and the first few lines of it are cited in Latin translation. It has long been claimed that Mark xvi., 8-20, was a later addition to the gospel, thought to have been borrowed from some other unknown Gospel near the end of the second century. 

Part of the Lost Gospel.

"This new manuscript probably presents the original form of that part of the lost gospel, which mutilated, was added to Mark. The reason for the omission is quite apparent, as the new verse contains the statement that the destruction of sin in the world is near at hand. This idea is found in the epistles of Peter and Paul, but the four gospels do not have it and it is avoided by the later Church writers."

"The newly found Bible also contains what is known as the liturgical ending of the Lord's Prayer, reading: 'For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory." 

The section of the manuscript containing the saying of Christ was reproduced, in the original Greek, on a stereopticon slide and read to the audience first in Greek and then in English by the professor, who related a part of the history and its discovery.

British Museum After It.

The text was found, he said, by Charles L. Freer, a Detroit man who was traveling in Egypt in search of additions to his art collections. At the time Mr. Freer secured the manuscript the British museum was after it and offers also were in from other persons. Both before and after purchase, the text was examined by Greek scholars of note, who pronounced it undoubtedly authentic. The text as a whole consists of four parts, to be known to the world hence-forth as manuscripts I., II., III, and IV.

Pronounced Genuine.

"Manuscript IV. is only a decayed fragment. It once contained Acts and the Epistles, but not Revelations. It is an older and better manuscript than the four Gospels and its readings will be of great value to the text wherever they can be deciphered.

"In conjunction with Mr. Freer's art collection the manuscripts have been examined by Government experts, who pronounce them genuine."


NEW LIGHT ON BIBLE

Saying of Christ Only a Small Part of Volumes In Vellum.

Detroit, Dec. 31. - In connection with the report from Chicago that a new saying of Christ had ben discovered, it is stated here that the passage quoted is a translation from a Greek volume in the possession of Charles L. Freer, art collector, student and traveler of this city, which, with others secured by him, is expected to constitute a most important addition to biblical lore.  The vellum pages, buried for centuries, are being translated as rapidly as possible by Professor Sanders.

The fragile leaves were once bound in book form.  Opening them and joining the broken fragments is a delicate task.  All of his spare time for nearly a year has been spent by Professor Sanders at Mr. Freer's home, putting together the bits of vellum and reading the inscriptions, dimmed by burial in Egyptian sands for more than 1,000 years.  After the leaves are cautiously pried apart they are placed between sheets of glass and photographed.  

The covers of one of the books bear the portraits of the Apostles Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Mr. Freer's manuscripts are the first bearing so directly on the history of Christ's life to be brought to this country.  They antedate by several centuries many of the writings used in the present Scriptures.

Professor Sanders' revelation of the newly discovered quotation from Jesus is the first published intimation of the finding of the manuscript.  Speaking of these discoveries, Mr. Freer Said:

"The fragments of hundreds of pages of manuscript, written in Greek on vellum, are locked in my vault.  Their significance and possibilities are limitless.  Their effect on the Christian religion cannot be estimated.

"The verse made public before the Archeological Institute in Chicago is only a small part of the contents of the books.  Professor Sanders has just started his investigations and what will be brought forth is beyond conjecture." 


BIBLE ERRORS TO BE CORRECTED BY NEWLY FOUND MANUSCRIPTS

Valuable Writings Locked Up in Detroit Safety Vault Supply Lost Parts.

DISCOVERIES OF SAVANTS

Parchments Dug Up in Egypt Better Preserved Than Alexandria Vellums.

DETROIT, Jan. 4. - Locked up in a vault in this city and carefully tempered by an atmosphere artificially charged to represent the warm and dry climate of the plains of ancient Egypt, in whose sands it reposed for centuries, is what is believed to be the most precious set of manuscripts ever brought to this side of the world.

To every believer in the Christian faith in the world this manuscript has a personal and intimate value.  To every Biblical student of the world its discovery is a new and precious miracle.  In fact the manuscript is one of the greatest of modern miracles, for in it the gentle Christ speaks again - speaks in words lost and forgotten for thirteen hundred years.

About the genuineness of the manuscript there must be a doubt, even in the minds of devoted students, as there would be doubt concerning any modern miracle until the weight of testimony established its trueness.

But not a student, nor archaeological authority who has been permitted to view and glance through the precious manuscript has any lingering doubt that he has been permitted to behold a Bible of Greek text, authentically copied within two or three centuries after the period of Christ and miraculously preserved, not only from the fiery furnaces to which the Moslem hordes consigned the world's greatest collection of manuscripts when the wonderful library at Alexandria was stripped, and its contents destroyed, but from the ravages of time itself in the treasure casket of Egypt's sand.

Owned by Art Collector.

At the present time the manuscript of the Bible owned by Charles L. Freer, a noted art collector and expert in Oriental potteries, lacquers, etc., of this city, is believed to be second to none in existence.  It appears to be more perfect in preservation and completeness than the famous manuscript, the true arch and body of the modern Bible.  The latter manuscript is the most precious possession of the British Museum, and has been the text for the study of generations of the foremost Bible students.

It is not in its comparison and the observation of variants in the two texts that the Freer manuscripts find their greatest value, but in the fact that they will supplement the Alexandria manuscripts, will supply missing words and even the fragments of text lost from the Alexandria manuscripts.

In this, with the genuineness of the Freer manuscripts established, they will demand, perhaps, a revised version of the present day Bible.  If not they will at least furnish a text that cannot fail to interest every student and reader of the Bible as a comparative volume which exalts the Bible and adds to its wonderful history.

As yet the manuscripts here in Detroit have only been scanned.  Placed in the hands of Professor H. A Sanders, a noted archaeologist, paleographist and student of the Bible, he quickly searched in the best preserved of the tomes for a passage on St. Mark's Gospel, which has been a subject of interest for hundreds of years to Biblical students, to find if missing paragraphs spoken of by St. Jerome were there.  

To his great amazement and delight, he found them, and he burned to make his discoveries known to fellow archaeologists and Bible students without investigating further.  He readily gained Mr. Freer's consent to give what is believed to be an authentic record of a saying of Christ, new because it had been lost more than thirteen hundred years, to the Archaeological Society, and thus it was that the existence of this very remarkable manuscript became known to the world.

It will be months, and probably years, before the manuscript in its entirety will be given to the world.  To Bible students that period of time seems as but a day when it is revealed that it was two centuries after the Alexandria manuscript had passed into the hands of the English king, before its entire version was put into print, and even then it was criticised as faulty.

So far as the manuscripts have been examined it has been discovered that the text of the four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, is complete.  The Alexandria manuscripts, which, like the Freer manuscripts, are believed to have been saved from the Alexandria library before its books were given out to be destroyed, are wanting in the whole of Matthew's Gospel up to chapter xxv., 6, and from John vi., 55, to viii., 52.

These deficiencies are supplied in

The Septuagint, or Alexandria version of the Old Testament, has been regarded as doubtful in the form in which it has been preserved as to the Psalms.  The Septuagint of the Freer manuscripts containing the Psalms is in not such a good state of preservation as much of the rest of the manuscripts, but it is believed that with care every line of the Psalms may be traced.

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