The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-10-22
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READING THE SCRIPTURES.
BY John g. HART, LID.


No writings, IL well read, are so impressive,
none are so capable of high elocutionary effect,
rs the Holy Scriptures. Yet of all books that
are publicly read for the edifcation OF the peo-
pie, none ordinarily is read so badly as the
Bible. 1t is not merely that public readers fail
10 give to the words the fulness of power and
beauty that is in them. 1t is not merely that
the reading lacks rhetorical elegance and finish,
and that Holy Writ as uttered by such persons
ceases to charm and captivate. The bare
meaning even is not rendered. The Scriptures
are often read as one would read a formula in
an unknown tongue, whose alphabet and pro-
nunciation he had mastered, but without hav-
ing the slightest idea of what the words meant,
or whether they had any meaning. They are
often read with entire perversion OF the
meaning.
10 is no part of my present purpose to lay
down rules for reading, Yet do wish to say to
superintendents, and to all who are required to
dead the devotions of others, Give earnest heed
10 this matter. You may never learn to give to
the Scriptures the melting power which they
had when coming from the lips of DR.. Mason or
Elizabeth Fry. You may not have the natural
gifts of voice and intellect, or the opportunities
of culture, which these eminent persons had
But there is certain degree of excellence which
you may attain. There are certain faults OF
manner which you may avoid, and which
you surely will avoid if you desire ear
nestly and truly to give effectiveness
to this part of your public duties.
Study beforehand the passage you intend to
read at the opening. 1t is no easy matter to
find out exactly what is meant, and all that is
meant, by the written word of another. We are
accustomed in everyday intercourse to leave
a great deal of our meaning to be expressed and
supplemented by the tone of the voice and by
significant gestures and looks. When only the
voiceless, inanimate words are before us, it re-
quires for their full comprehension not merely
practic ed skill in verbal and grammatical ana
lysis, but often much historical knowledge and
always vigorous imagination to bring the ORR
ginal circumstances fully and wildly before
the mind. In the passage, John Xxx, 16,
for instance, when Jesus turns and says
MARY" it is evidently in that voice of familiar
tenderness which says, by its very tone, "Do
you not know me ?" Mary's "Rabboni' is in
like manner an expression of surprised, joyful
recognition. A mere study of the words does
not bring out the meaning. Imagination must
work The scene must stand clearly out before
the minds eye. Then only will the voice do its
Office as a true interpreter of this most beautiful
passage. Who that ever heard that almost
despairing wall with which the venerable DR..
Archib Nd Alexander used to utter the cry,
'iEloi, eloi, lama sdbnctbdnir but felt that he
had received new revelation of the meaning
of that mysterious utterance? 1t was not that
Or. Alexander understood Hebrew better than
thousands of others have done. 1t was because
he had meditated upon the subject until he ha d
the whole dreadful scene fully before him.