Do the various passion narratives in the New Testament contradict each
other?  To put the arguments on both sides of this issue in perspective,
I have included below two independent eyewitness accounts of an event in
the history of King George V School, Hong Kong (my high school) during the
tenure of a former principal.  I leave readers to compare the two accounts
carefully and to draw their own conclusions about what, if anything, these
accounts suggest about the historical reliability of the New Testament.

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However, his [the Principal, Mr. Sargison's] main target was always the
pupils' toilets.  Whilst morning assembly was in progress, No. 1 of the
minor staff made an inspection and then reported to the Principal on the
condition of the toilets.  When found unsatisfactory, Sargy used to berate
the children at length from the platform the next morning.  However, a
climax was reached in this particular activity when No. 1 reported that a
number of the girls' toilets were blocked up with excessive pieces of toilet
paper.  A personal inspection by Sargy with the senior mistress in
attendance confirmed No. 1's report.  The next morning in assembly Sargy
literally foamed at the mouth with rage and berated the girls for their
disgusting behaviour and complete lack of consideration of taxpayers' money.
Punitive action took the form of the removal of all toilet rolls from the
girls' toilets to the safe-keeping of the School clerk, Mr. Jerry Wong, Mr.
Sin's predecessor.  He was left with the embarrassing task of handing out
three pieces of toilet paper for each visit to the toilets by the girls.  As
for Sargy, he ended his tirade to the girls with this remark, "You girls
should be thoroughly ashamed of yourselves.  Compared with you, the boys at
least know what to do when they go to the toilet!"  This remark brought the
house down with both pupils and staff collapsing with laughter and with
Sargy stalking off the platform bewildered by their amusement.  An apt
sequel to this which brought this rationing of paper to an end was the
arrival on Sargy's home doorstep of a huge carton of toilet rolls on
Christmas Day morning from an anonymous sender.

     --- Excerpt from "Random Happy Memories of K.G.V. School" by
         E.W.D. Gore, in the Central British School/King George V 
         School Golden Jubilee Lion Magazine, Hong Kong.


`This morning,' he [the Head] said at one Assembly, `I had occasion to
inspect the toilet rooms.  All of you know the great importance I attach to
cleanliness, which, of course, is next to godliness.  Imagine my horror then
when I entered the girls' toilets---' he paused for dramatic effect.  We
held our collective breath.  What awful revelation was there to be?
`There,' he said, pausing again as a matter of suspense.  `There---
festooned everywhere---was toilet-paper.  On the windows and doors, on the
walls, in the bowls---everywhere!'  We sat thunderstruck.  Uncomprehending.
Trying to imagine the unimaginable.  `Then I went to the boys' toilet---'
he went on.  `And there---' another dramatic pause.  What next?  We held our
breaths.  We shook our heads.  We looked at each other.  What cosmic truth
was this?  `It is quite clear to me,' the Head went on, `quite clear, that
in this school, when boys go to the toilet they know what to do.  The girls
on the other hand---' he got no further.  His audience had collapsed.  The
school was hooting with laughter.  Impressionable first-formers, seeing
their prefects and staff falling about themselves, started screaming with
mirth.  It took about ten minutes to bring us back to order.  `This is not
meant to be funny,' the Head said, and we were off again.  `Not funny,' he
said, more in sorrow than anger as we wiped our eyes.  `From now on, toilet
paper will be rationed.  The girls may apply to the Senior Mistress as and
when necessary.'  We were too weak to laugh any more, but our earlier mirth
had dealt the Head a mortal blow.  He retired to his study and was hardly
seen for a week.  Then the toilet paper began to arrive through the post.
Rolls and rolls of it addressed to the Head.  It was the end.  He called a
staff meeting and with a strangely hunted look told us that he had applied
for a transfer.

     --- Excerpt from transcript of C. H. Haye's speech in ``Speech Day
         Report,'' King George V School Lion Magazine 1983, Hong Kong.