THE SHROUD OF CHRIST.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 17, Issue 92, 24 November 1903, Page 7

THE SHROUD OF CHRIST.

In the following paragraphs will be found a description of what is probably the most valuable piece of old linen in the world To every Christian it will certainly be the most interesting, for it is the shroud of Christ.

A book has just been published giving a detailed description and the result of a scientific examination of what is believed by many to be the real shroud in which the body of

Christ was folded without washing j after having boon hurriedly taken j down from the cross. On the one I hand it is dillicull, to believe that , such a relic could have lasted so long ; on the other we know that in the mummy tombs linen cloths have been found four times or even up to ten times as old as this cloth would be if genuine. Besides, this shroud was " prepared "—that is, it was steeped in and saturated with myrrh and aloes In a word, it is quite possible that, so far as age was concerned, the shroud might be genuine. We will now give the briefest des- i cription of the shroud itself. This j relic, which is now at Turin, has j been in the possession of the Royal House of Savoy since 1353. Since that time its history is known ; prior to that time there are no records. In appearance the shroud is/a , piece of age-discoloured linen. It j still bears traces of having been i long ago saturated with myrrh aloes. So far there is nothing very , remarkable. CHRIST'S PHOTOGRAPH. But in 1898 this sheet was photo- i graphed by a Frenchman. The nega- j tive revealed the'outline of a human | body, presumably that of Christ. Clots of blood and wounds appear where they should appear from the Gospel narratives. The very features of Christ (a much better and more t majestic portrait than any known) j have been revealed. What does science, never to be imposed upon, say about this piece of old linen ? This, that if the body of Christ had been placed ;in this shroud without washing and covered as it would be, with sweat and wounds, this outline would have been formed by the ainmoniacal emanations from the pores of the ( skin. THE DILEMMA. Now, it is argued that this hidden ] picture could-not haye been artificially produced, because photography is a modern invention, and that, | therefore, no mediaeval painter or relic-manufacturer who knew nothing of the camera could have produced a picture capable of deceiving those who possess the camera.

The-reader will now see how interesting the question is which this sheet of linen (not in itself worth

sixpence) raises. For, on the other hand, it must be remembered (and this the wrjter of the book, though a Frenchman and a scientist, seems to have forgotten) that scholars then knew many things which in their wisdom they ' thought it well to keep to themselves. Thus it is well known and should always be remembered that many discoveries m'ade to-day are merely rediscoveries—that many inventions are only reinventions. Nay, more, this linen shroud may

have been prepared long ago in such a manner as to deceive posterity: On the other hand, as we have before remarked, it may be quite genuine. It is an open question, and one of the most interesting that has occurred for many years. (844.) A.