Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-07-27

AMERICAN BIBLE UNtoN-ImpOrtant More
ment.-The N. Y. Post of saturday, states that,
on Friday, the 23d inst, the Board was convened
at the call of the President, upon the written
requisition of six members The subject for
consideration was brought forward in an able
report from the Committee on Versions. Rev.
II. B. Hackett D. D., a member of the Final
Committee, in the prosecution of his work as
reviser, had become deeply impressed with the
importance of spending six months in Greece
in order to mature his acquaintance with the
Greek language, in which the Now Testament
was originally written, as living tongue. His
views upon this subject was seconded and re-
commended by a number of distinguished
scholars, whose names were embraced in the re.
port, among which were those of Drs. Conant
Sophocles, Caswell, etc
1t is believed that such measure will intro.
duce into the Final Committee an. element of
success hitherto not possessed by anv TeviSor
or translator of the sacred oraces since the
earliest centuries Of the Christian era. The
Septuagint which has aIeputatiOn for exact
ness second only to that Of the inspired He.
brew, and the Latin version by jerome, almost
equally celebrated, were made by persons nc
quainted with the originals as living languages
No version in English was even made with such
an advantage.
The modern Greek differs in some respects
from the ancient, but not in its essential fea-
lures. Its grammatical forms have undergone
certain variations, but these do not affects its
important terms and phrases Indeed, of late
years, it has been steadily returning to the old
standards, even in its grammatical peculiarities.
A scholar, who is familiar with Greek in its
printed forms, and who has for many years been
accustomed to quote it, will, by hearing the con-
slant application of its terms to sojectS of sight
and nsages still existing, acquire vivid percep-
ton of their meaning, and of the distinctions in
their use, which lIeca never obtain from books
This will be ever present to his mind in the bu.
Siness OtreyiSng, and will greatly MD him in
transfusing the real meaning Of the original into
the translation.
DIR. Hackett, in endeavoring to compass so
desirable an object, submits to heavy sacrifices.
He relinquiShes the duties and cmoluments of
his proteSSOrShip for an entire year, to which
the Board of Trustees of the Newton Theolo-
gical Seminary have consented, in view of the
importance of the object TO be attained.
DR.. Hackett will spend the year in the en-
ploy of the Bible Union, and his visit to Greece
will be at its expense, and -the entire results
OF the years labOrs aud acquisitions will accrue
to the benefit of the Union. While he is alb
sent, his whole time and attention will be de-
voted to the enterprise, and he will spare no
pains in prosecuting the work, and uccumula-
tag the requisite preparations for its compile
ton. 1t Is his expectation to return consider
ably before the close of the year, far better
prepared to mature for the press, in conjunction
with the other members Of the Final Committee,
the results of their labors; so that, in the end,
the whole work will be expedited, as well as
improved, in consequence of his visit to Greece
These considerations were fully discussed in
the Board of Managers. The meeting was much
larger than usual.
The Board unanimously agreed to the pro-
position, and, in consequence with DIR. Hackett's
wishes, fixed the first of August for the time
Of his departure, and authorized the Committee
on Versions and the Treasurer to make all mr.
engagements requisite in the case.