Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-08-09
O. S. MURRAY, EDITOR AND pRopRrrroR.

translation, because this cannot with sue
cess be assailed but the spirit of their con.
situations will not admit them to give such
an advantage to the Baptist denomination,
Their constitutions require them to circu-
late in the English language the common
English version; and they enormously in
fer that the English version with all its er-
rors, was designed to be the standard for
foreign tongues, Eat least so far that all the
religious denominations represented in their
societies can consistently use tnem." This
sweeping resolution of the American Bible
Society, if regarded, will exclude all For
eign versions whatever. For it cannot be
supposed that any Foreign version does in
all respects conform, in The principles of its
translation, TO the common English version,
Neither the managers nor any one else, not
acquainted with the language, into which
the translation is made, is qualified to Judge.
And who shall assume the prerooa,ive Of
judging for all the denominations whether
they can consistently use version? All
the versions made by Baptist missionaries
differ from the English, at least i'll this, that
BaptiZo and its cognates are translated,
whereas in the English they are not so
translated that an English scholar from an
English dictionary can learn their meaning.
The rule of these Bible Societies, for the
same reason that it excludes all Baptist YER
sions, excludes that of Luther and other YER
sions into the German, Danish, Swedish,
and other languages of modern Europe, as
we'll as all the ancient versions.
In confirmation OF these statements, the
following extracts from the report of the
A. F. B. S. are adduced:
The immediate causes which led to the
formation of the American and Foreign BIZ
bic Society, refer chiefly to the recent acts
of the American Bible Society, in conse-
quence of letter from Mr.. Pearce Of Cal
cutta, inquiring whether aid could be OBJ
tanned In printing the Bengafee Scriptures,
translated on the principle adopted by the
American Baptist Missionaries in Burmah.
This document, forwarded by Mr.. Packard,
Of Philadelphia, to John c. Brigham, Cor
responding Secretary of the American
Bible Society, was by him submitted 10 the
Board of Managers on the 9th of August
1875 and was by them referred to a com
mittee, who reported that it would be iner-
pedient to recommend appropriations, IN
til the Board should settle principle in re-
lation to the translation Of the Greek word
bdptizo: In this report the Board of the
American Bible Society concurred, and
again referred the subject to special com
mittee Of seven; who, on the first oil October
reported, in substance, " that il is lne.rpedl-
ent to appropriate funds belonging to the
American Bible Society in aid Of translat-
ing or distributing the Bengalee New Tes-
lament, or any other version, containing
translations Of the Greek words bGptLzO,
BAPTISM, and their cognateS." A counter
report was presented by Spencer H. Cone,
tone Of the committee, and the whole sub
ject was postponed until the next regular
meeting Of the board, on the 5th of Novem-
ber On that day the consideration OF the
subject was resumed, and after full dis
cussion, and various resolutions, none OF
which prevailed, the whole subject was
again referred to the same committee OF
seven, majority of whom on the 18Th OF the
same month, once more presented their re-
port, which was followed by counter re-
port from the minority.
At this, and also at the adjourned meet
! ings on the Sd Of December, 1888, and on
the 4th OF February, 1886, the whole subJect
was again discussed; and on the I'm OF
February, 1886, after several motions 10
| Law il on the table, to postpone, and 20 give
the subject into the hands of new com
mittee, the report of the majority, virtually
refusing TO grant that aid UhiCh the bdP-
tist missionaries solicited, rGS tndttV
passed, by a majority Of sirteen.
This act Of the Board Of the American
Bible Society is probably unprecedented,
unless we look for its counterpart ID tne
doings of the Calcutta Bible Society, and OF
the committee of the British and Foreign
Bible Society in 1888, when, as IN the
present instance, the Baptist missionaries
i in India were denied further aid in printing
the Bible, unless they would submit to con-
ditions which they could not but regard as
derogatory to mental independence, and re-
curing them TO compromise the truth, IN ac-
! commodation to expediency."
The Board Of Managers Of the American Bible
Society, on the 18th Of February, 1886, passed
the following resolution:
" Resolved, That in appropratng money ior
the translating, printing, or distribution OF the
sacred Scriptures in foreign languages, the Mana
gers feel at liberty TO encourage only such YER
sions as conform in the principle of their transIH
ton TO the common English version; at least &c
far as that all the religious denominations repre-,
sented in this Society, can consistently use and
circulate said versions in their several schools and
communities"
BUEMAH.-To this country your. Board
l Of Managers look with mingled emotions Of
sympathy and hope. Long and aTd1ous
have been the labors Of our beloved Judson
and his associates, but great has been the
blessing Of God upon the work OF then
I hands. About one thousand souls have