The New York herald., 1868-11-11
THE LONG ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

The Rev. Thomas J. Conant, d. d., read an in
teresting paper last evening before the Long Island
Historical Society," at the Packer Institute on ''The
Oldest Manuscript OF the Holy Scriptures" The
reverend gentleman was introduced by the chair
man. Judge Greenwood He commenced by remark
ing how little account, comparatively speaking, was
made by historians OF the influence OF the Bibie In
moulding the character Of the people and In thus
shaping the civil institutions and controlling the
administration Of government Ever since John
Wycline, during the long period Of his public
activity down to its close, in 1880, drew
from the teachings Of the Bible the doctrine
OF the essential equality OF all men and OF
their right to selfgovernment and bequeathed these
teachings to the nation IN his translation OF the
Holy Scriptures, the leaven has been ceaselessly
working In the popular mind. The seed so long
since sown by him had, he said, partially reached
on our own soil. He proposed to give brief &C.
count OF some OF the most important of the ancient
documents and OF their present condition and from
this to show the obligation now reAing upon Chris
tendon to employ any possible means TO per-
petuate as well as to bring them more
generally within the reach Of Biblical scholars in all
countries. These ancient manuscripts had come
down to us in such numbers that we were able to
correct occasional errors OF transcription. Several
versions were early made into 0cher languages--0f
the Old Testament from the third century before
the Christian and onward; Of the New Testament
in the generations Immediately succeeding that OF
the Aposes-and 80 closely literal as to indicate the
very words, and even order OF the words. in the
Greek text from which they were made. These
widely distant from each other, thus exclud-
ing the possibility or collusion or even OF
intercourse among their authors; also the
writings OF the Christian Fathers rom the age OF the
Apostles onward. These show the text Of the Holy
Scriptures as they read 1t In their time. The writ
ngs Of the Apostles were made up In great part from
quotations from the Holy Scriptures, some OF them
copies OF the New Testament had all perished Its text
could be recovered from these ancient writings.
The manuscripts Of the first three centuries, owing to
causes, were lost to u.s. How, them were we to con-
meet the text OF the now existing manuscripts with
that Of the autographs OF the sacred writings.
on tins point ne an remarked r that At closely Sy
into the Latin and Syrac languages in the last half
OF the second century, but q little more than fifty
years from the completion OF the New Testament.
No writings OF antiquity had come down to US so
fully accredited by such variety OF independent
and unquestionable testimonies our sacred Scrip
lures. The ancient manuscripts OF che New Testa-
parchment or vellum the latter being the finest kind
OF parchment. The reverend gentleman then pro-
cceded to describe the different kinds OF parch-
ment The one mostly used in the earlier
papyrus, marsh reed growing abHndantly In
Egypt. The thin layers or membranes composing
the stalk Of this reed were carefully detached with
were laid side by side to the required width, and
these were covered by others placed transversely
over them, and the two layers were cemented and
ss was formed R conan t to de-
scribe the manner In which the ancient writers pre-
pared their manuscripts A reed was mostly used
for quill, and the ink was more Ike paint: They
did not write the running hand like wc did, but
formed each letter separately. His hearers could
therefore appreciate the labor In writing book In
this manner. The lecturer then closed and on mo-
ton OF Dr. Buddington vote OF thanks was ten.
dered him.