Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-03-22

by the constitution of the Bible Society
every one had to translate the Greek terms
for baptism, as his conscience dictated
has been entertained by ersry translator
otthe Scriptures whom know in this parl
of India, most indeed have exercised thai
right. The excellent Henry Martyr
| (whose Hindustani version Of the New
Testament, was the fist executed by a
minister of our denomination,) translated
NOT trans erred-the word, both in the
Hlndustani and Persian. So did Mr..
Thomson, an Episcopalian clergyman,
and Secretary to the Calcutta Bible So
clely, in his Arabic version; and so has
done Mr.. Bowley. Church Of England
Missionary, in his Hindu version; yea,
strange to say, since the Bible Society
here declined all aid to our Bengalee YER
sion Qhough otherwise ANXIOUS to make
use Of it) because We felt it our duty to
translate the word by immerse," they
have issued large edition of one of the
Hindu>tan gospels with the word trans
lated by "'odsh," according 10 the views
Of our Pedobaptist brethren. | mention
this, not to blame the whole of the Com
mittee for many of them were ignorant of
it; but to show the right which Mr..
Bromley, who revised the sheets, felt ne
had, if he chose, to translate the word.
The American Bible Society, have
ever understood, was formed on the same
principles as the British and Foreign
Bible Society. Like it, it has doubtless
issued thousands of German and other
Testaments, with the word translated by
immerse," and as in the former case
many of its translators have felt themselves
at full liberty to translate the word accor-
| had therefore certainly imagined, that
its managers would have most cheerful
" allowed the Baptists to express in
such copies of the Scri ptures, as they re-
quired for distribution, their own views
of the question, leaving it to Pedobaptist
transIators, in the versions they required
to give what Interpretation of the original
word their conscienccs dictated to be rig ht.
But this, l see, is not allowed. A de-
parture from the original course, as un-
derstood by many, with regard to foreign
distribution is now determined on by the
great majority Be it so-but surely
justice requires that all parties should ap-
prove the change, or that when such
principle is established, those who do not
approve of it, should be furnished with
their full compliments Of funds that they
may be enabled to carry on the work alone.
While l would not for a moment imagine
the decision Of the managers to be dictated
by any but the purest motives, yet it is
certalnl y open to severe animadversion,
The present is but the commencement Of
a scene of lnterferences with the con-
sciences oftransIators, which will eventu-
ally divide this noble specimen of Chris
tian union, into fragments as numerous as
there are denominations. This is a cause
for deep regret, and on this account | de-
pIore the step now taken. On denomlna-
tional grounds it gives me not the least
anxiety. l fully believe it will! be over
ruled for good. AS one of your worthy
correspondents states: 1.-The American
Baptis;s are able to give the heather the
Scriptures translated in every language in
the world :" and | trust, that with the
hope hereafter OF uniting the English
Ba ptsts in the glorious work, they will
at once make the attempt No one feels
more delight than myself in union with
other denominations, when it does not in
terfcre with duty, but when, as in this
case, our body is forbidden, unless we pur-
sue also separate measures, to exhibit, in
the Scriptures translated by ourselves
what we fully believe to be 1.-The truth as
it is in Jesus, - we have no alternative
Our Pedobaptist friends themselves must
expect from us, as conscientious men,
that we should act in accordance with our
principle; and will venerate the seIf-de-
NAL and zeal so consonant with our char
acter as faithful servants OF Christ, which
distinct exertions will elicit. | trust,
therefore, you will all unite in making the
effort, and may great success attend it.
! Yours, &c. WIN. II. PEARcE.