New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-12-12
ABSTRACT OF TIE ARGUMENT or wa. W. NILES


ABSTRACT OF TIE ARGUMENT OF wM. W. NILES,
IL GENERAL TERN Eev. II, 1884
II your Honors please though this case comes up
IN this way it is undoubtedly of more interest to the
public miBd-of interest to greater number OF peo-
pe-than any case that has been before your honors
for yeare. Ii does not merely involve millions OF
money-the temporal interests OF nen, which may
be pros perous to-day and adverse to-norrow-but 1t
il case involving their dearest interests and their
desrest hopes, and extending not only through al
time but through eternity Ii is therefore, subject
of regret that these parties, who are thousands
Though but two or three plaintiffs and defendants
upon the record equally Interested In THIS contro-
yersy had not ADLER advocate than myself secured
10 defend them. As, however they haye seen 1T TO
intrust their interests to me- AID TO me alone have
only 10 do the best can for them, and then leave II
for your Honors better judgment and your better cru
diion to make up whatever fail TO attain and to Sc
cure TO them whatever rights they have. la order
that on may understand this controversy, will give
a few Introductory details; because, though prlma-
rly this is question as TO the right 10 publish
letter into the contents of which We are prevented,
by the manner IN which we come before hs tourt,
from giving any insight yet Its final results are quite
different. 1t IT, therefore, proper that should give
You brief outline Of this controversy thai you may
understand the ultimate rights involved IN It, In the
fret place. there was, as you well know, tue Amerl-
can Bible Society, for long time in e1lsterc &c, In
which all denomDa cooperated sending out mis-
sionares to all parts Of the world who, Of course,
employed in the translation OF the Bible INTO the
Languages Of the several people 10 whom they went TO
preach the truth. Among them was one celebrated,
not only for his devotion but for his learning and hs
zeal-that was Mr.. JUDsoS, in India. In making
translation into the Brmese language, ne saw Mt TO
translate the word b0pti-0 into word Ia their lam
puaee corresponding TO word immerse, be-
cause that was his private feeling and opinion. That
came the knowledge Of the Society which had seat
him there and of course at once the Question arose
whether he should be sustained in that action or not
The Society was divded-part were for sustaining
him. Many questions arose; but, suffice II 10 say,
that GU. Of them arose the American and Foreign
Bible Society claiming to sustain Judson 10 ms trans
lston etc, but having no reference TO the Engiish
vasion.
This whole thing arises out Of Mr. Juisons trsnsla-
ton Of that word but we have no connection with
any one word, and that is the reason ! wish to ex-
plain. The attack which has been made upoa US by
The American and Foreign Bible Society hss been az
endesvor TO persuade the world that We were quarrel
ing merely about the word bapnEe but this not So
This controversy being very bitter one, and likely
to break up the whole harmony OF the b'oie ehort,
which God people deemed doing great work
for the world certain leading men in both Societies.
and some belonging TO neither met together, and az
ter due alton determined that II was possible
there might be errors in the popular translation OF the
Bible in many respects. They knew, although them.
selves assured that the truth of God uniform and
was truth from the beginning TO the ena and consist
,pt throughout that thousands OF men had been
driven into nfdey, by apparent inconsistencies IN
aware also that the gusge, especially IN this coun
try has very much changed from that used IN the tune
Of King Jamss when this common version was msde
They knew that some words had become obsolete,
and the common occupation OF Others hai changed
40 that the common people, who are not capable OF
following up the Language from its origin, we're mis-,
led They deemed IT, from these considerations, and
many Others which were fully discussed, vastly I'm
portspt that careful revision Of the common Eng-
iish vei on Of The Bible should be made-not with
regard TO any word any Get of words, but with re-
gsrd 10 this change in the language, and IN consider
alton Of the preudices existing al the time OF ths
translation of King James and also OF the progress Vi
the human mind And they knew that, notwith-tand
ing Gods truth 10 the came yesterday, to-day, and
forever yet men sid not know il al IN al lis bearings
and therefore, say, they determined upon apPon'
ing large number OF the finest scholars OF the age
10 make this rev ision Of the common English version
Of the Bible-naking il with reference 10 every trans
Istion that was ever made and with reference 10 tue
views a every learned Biblical scholar tns' eVsf
wrote or ever expressed his opinion; making SIMPLY
with reference giving The whole truth and nothins
but the trutheivpg wha, God had revealed 10 man 10
such simple and pure English or other language INTO
which il mi ght be translated that the common people
should have no difficulty fes difhoulues ss pos
sible in reading and understanding II. lnese men
Won, Honors will perfectly well understand, were
among the first men in this City, State and country
Having determined that, they thus orIgInated tha
American Bible Union; and having chosen tner re-
yisiouists tLey gave them their only lnsIucuohs II
the following words; .L,,,
,xpre-sed II 70 those vho understood the oEnr
an. RIM. ,hey we're written be tIsns.tsd ~
,pe pdins vorcs and phrass % fsf hey can =
tongue Of those for whom the vernon
S.I The com EnSlsh version ssf Dc IA ne
If re,isp scd al urreeesssry interference via ne