Burgon's Damning Facts 4 The Last Twelve Verses of Mark

The Revision Revised, page 36:

(A) We may now proceed with our examination of their work, beginning--as Dr. Roberts (one of the Revisionists) does, when explaining the method and results of their labours--with what we hold to be the gravest blot of all, viz. the marks of serious suspicion which we find set against the last Twelve verses of S. Mark's Gospel. Well may the learned Presbyterian anticipate that--

'The reader will be struck by the appearance which this long paragraph presents in the Revised Version. Although inserted, it is marked off by a considerable space from the rest of the Gospel. A note is also placed in the margin containing a brief explanation of this.'

A very brief 'explanation' certainly: for the note explains nothing. Allusion is made to the following words--

'The two oldest Greek manuscripts, and some other authorities, omit from ver. 9 to the end. Some other authorities have a different ending to the Gospel.'

But now,--For the use of whom has this piece of information been volunteered? Not for learned readers certainly: it being familiarly known to all, that codices B [Vaticanus]and Aleph [Sinaiticus] alone of manuscripts (to their own effectual condemnation) omit these 12 verses. But then scholars know something more about the matter. They also know that these 12 verses have been made the subject of a separate treatise extending to upwards of 300 pages,--which treatise has now been before the world for a full decade of years, and for the best of reasons has never yet been answered. Its object, stated in its title-page, was to vindicate against recent critical objectors, and to establish 'the last Twelve Verses' of S. Mark's Gospel.* Moreover, competent judges at once admitted that the author had succeeded in doing what he undertook to do. Can it then be right (we respectfully enquire) still to insinuate into unlearned minds distrust of twelve consecutive verses of the everlasting Gospel, which have yet been demonstrated to be as trustworthy as any other verses which can be named?

The question arises,--But how did it come to pass that such evil counsels were allowed to prevail in the Jerusalem Chamber?