New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-07
THE DUBLIN BIBLE-BURNING

In speaking the other day of the proposed new
English version of the Scriptures, we had occasion
TO notice the strong tendency of the English mind
to overlook the fact that our English Bible Is a
translation and to accept it as itself the very re-
ycaled will of God. A striking illustration OF
this tendency is afforded by the late Irish Bible
burning prosecutions, to which also We have had
occasion to allude and the final proceedings in
which have since come to hand
The Bible burning which gave occasion to these
prosecutions originated in the zeal of some pous
Catholic ecclesiastics against irreligous books-a
topic as to which certain members of that church
have at all times displayed more zeal than knowl-
edge or discrimination. By the influence of this
zeal, the Rev. vladimir Petcherine foreign priest
but long domiciled in Ireland, was led to make a
ceremonious and public bonfire in his chapel yard
of a quantity of books contributed by his penitents
and among these books, it would seem, were sew
eral copies of the English Bible, the burning of
which having come to the notice of some no less
jealous Professionals caused great hue aud cry,
and gave occasion to the prosecutions referred to-
The charge of Judge Champion, under which the
as the Bible was a part of the law of England, TO
treat il with contempt, or 10 show contempt for II
by burning il, is under the law of England, an
indictabe ofense He also charged that where
the disposition and intention existed thus to throw
contempt upon the Bible it made no difference
whether it was the original that was burnt or a
version, or what that version might be- But the
Judge utterly failed to perceive or at least TO make
distinction absolutely essential to the case be-
tw cen an intention TO show contempt for the Holy
Scriptures and mere intention to express con-
tempt for particular version of those Scriptures
as incorrect inadequate, or not sanctioned by the
proper ecclesiastical authorities.
The indictments found upon this charge show a
still greater lack of discrimination and confusion
of ideas OF the one found against the principal
offender the English papers give the following
abstract
The ind.dmcnt charged in the f.st coun. that the
traver.cr. disregardng the laws and religion of the
realm, aud dcl ising and intending to bring the Holy
Scripture OF God IN the authorized yersiOn ia the
English language. appointed to be read in churchc-
aud generally received by her Majesty. subjects pro-
f sing the religion Of tie United Church OF England
and Ireland by law established, into dsrcglTd
hatred and contempt among The people Of the | nlted
Kingdom, on the 9Th OF November. ut King.tOwn, by
causing certain printed copy Of ,aid Scriptures, IN
the authorised version &C.. consisting Of the Old and
New Tcsamcn ts Of Say Tor. 70 be- contemporary
burned. proaney and IN the pre- OF diyeI- of her
NJ jc..y subject and With WOW TO the destruction
OF said copy did and procure 20 be thrown, and
did cast and throw said copy into certain firc until
n wa burned. to the high G4-p.easuge Of Almighty
God aud TIE great dircpeot, d.-c.cdt and dishoror
ofthc religion established by law. There were seven
other counts. one Of which charged the tayer.er with
iu,cGJi to br ~ tae United ChgFlhe, Of England