Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-01-17
FOR TaE ESeurRgR.

the Bible are So radically defective, and a.
bounding with so many palpable tlundcrs, ~
TO demand aReiC, correct, and impartial trans
iation, In order to crafty the enlightened and
Inquiring mind of the American people For
the present, we shall only rccite one of the
numerous and still sacred blunders, To he found
IN our English translation. See Exodus and
I'll" And il came to pass, because the mid
wives feared God, that he made them houses y
Instead of the ,ranslator's making the Lord to
build houses for midwvcs, as the text and
sense evidently meant, il should read, and he
maze them name IA Israel.
Ii is well known, that the temper and geni-
us oil the American people, prompt them To
examine aud reason on things for themselves :.
and il is believed that many, on discoyerin,,
absurditles at the threshold ola volume deem
ed sacred, imbibc untavorable prejudiccs and
decline any further Investigations altogether
Nor can u be expected that the nation gene
rally, VIII much longer relish translations
made with all the caution, cunning and preju-
d'ccS, devised by the thousands of years of
unlon, between Church and .Sirte-duling
which, the supremacy and superiority of kings
ana priests, were early and carefully implant-
ed In the infant mind.
Indeed, hitherto, we have had but little
cause to hope for Il better translation of that
volume. For the union and supremacy of
church and state, have been so strong, and
so firmly linked together by their mutual in
terests, that there remained no foothod in the
then known world, ON which an inquring and
liberal minded man might avow, and enjoy
his own opinions. All the nations of the earth
(eNcepting some savage tribes) were fast lock-
ell IN the arms of monarchies or aristocracies :
for neither Holland nor the celebrated Swiss
~ r a.
al republics. Nor was it until after the disco
very of America, and the final establishments
OF the American republics, that the mind of
man in that part of the globe, became eman-
clpated from the CALLING chains of monarchy
and the priesthood.
Man is the same in every clime-wHATEv-
Err EDUCATION MAKES HIM. Not one in a
Thousand, ever acquires strength of mind suf-
hcient, to venture to look beyond the horizon
prescribed, first by ignorant nurses, aud next
by sectarlan prejudices. In America alone
he begins TO feel himself sufficiently strong,
10 rely more upon his own reason, and ven
lures TO point out errors, though held sacred
for ages.
1t is Notifying fact, that all our notions
OF mngnifcence and grandeur, are derived
through false medium, arising from faulty
education, Ia remnant of priestcraft not vet
eradicated) for kings and priests in every age
have successfully instilled into the minds of the
vulgar, as well as the higher classes, that the
t'nsetled gathering pugeantry exhibited in the
courts and palaces of princes and prelates,
were samples of that of HEAVEN And hence
we have imhibed such ridiculous and dnti-re-
publican notions, as have led us to believe,
that every thing GRAND, GLoRIoUs s. MAGNI-
FICENT, must of course he traced to the pala-
lnn f,,Jo .
nothing has q greater tendency to establish
such impressions, than the faulty trnnSLations
OF the Bible, which never lose sight of one
object, which is, to maintain the ascendancy
and superiority ofprinces and priests.
Although most learned, as likewise well in =
formed men admit, the necessity Cor better
translation OF the scriptures, than any we
nave yet there are many obstacles to our at
tanning either correct, or an impartial one,
by any ordinary means. For no one, except
very learned men, are qualified for such an
undertaking and most of our learned men are
either SectdrianS, or free-MinkerS and it is
needless to observe that the former from the
bias of education and prejudice are even less
qualified than the latter, to produce an Impair
tlat translation How then shall we obtain
one, better adapted to the genius of our PEG.
pie, and the spirit ofour government
The subject is of high national importance
lnasmuch as il not only affects the education
OF our youth, but likewise demands, that w,
should receive the biunderS ofmen, as the ain
SEPARATIONS of God J" We would therefore res
pectiully suggest the prOpriety of Congress-
approprlating few thousand dollars as a pre-
MUM or reward for the best translation O
the Bible. But the greatest difficulty would
be to decide upon the merits the respective
| NnPlyc off, 81 L.
compllshed by the appointment of a board
of liberal minded men for that particular pur
pose The transatOrs ought to be instructed
to abide by the letter ofthe original text ge
nerally but in every instance where the Oh
nous sense would be HEAD, LEADER, CHIEF
PRINCIPAL, GENERAL, COMMANDER, GOVERN
OR, PRESIDENT or PRESIDING OFFICER, &c
&c. &c. to give the preference to those ap
pcllatons, over Emperor, King, Prince, Duke
&c. &c. Thrones might be rendered CHAIR.
OF STATE SctpfreS, BADGES of COMMAND
crolCnS, ROYAL BAUBLEs palaces, FINI
HOUSES courts, ASSEMBLIES, &c. Precau
tons OF this nature, would soon instil into Tn,
minds of cur tender youth, more correct idea
respecting men and things, than those the,
now lmblbe and that at so early an age, a
to forbid all hopes of ever Graduating them.
NESTOR.
am aware that congress has no power to pas
any law TeLdttrc 10 religion do propose il Il
such but merely as an act worthy OF the most yau
able historical record extanI-Such translation
would be worthy of place in the national library
NOTE BIZ THE EDITORS.
The writer Of the preceding communication Ia
1 appealed 20 the liberty OF the press and we Weld
this appeal by giving him place in this paper-Bt
se must protest against his projectorhe interference
OF Congress III any shape whatsoever, with the sui
iect of religion lf the present translation OF m
scriptures be faulty one, must look to the ente
prislng spirit Of individuals for 81 bener-We do Nc
profess ourselves qualified Judge Of the correctne
OF the present translation but surely none can !
considered accurate which does not strictly COZ
form to the iext--whout assimilatng the ancie
forms Of expression 10 our own IDEAS