The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-11-20
Morning Star and Catholic Messenger.
HEw oRLRAHs. SUNDAY, NOvxAGBER %. is7o.


The Catholic World for November has an
article ON "English Translations of the
Bible," which is full of interest for the
Catholic reader. The history given by the
writer of the first TRANSLATION from the Vul-
gate-tfat made by certain members of the
sembled at Douay, among whom DIR. Greg
Dry Martia and DR.. VIM. Allen, afterwards I
D. Cardinal Allen, were Observation-Disclosures
on an important subject that
will be found new to most readers, whether
Catholic OF Protestant;
Gregory Martin, (says the writer) one OF
the original scholars Of St. Johns College,
Oxford where his learning was long remem-
bored, man of rank, ''of extraordinary
1Aodesty and moderation" "the Hebraist, |
of st. Johns College," where for thirteen |
years he and Edmond Campian had been |
the closest and most inseparable friends, |
Gregory Martin, q man singularly htted for
the task, at once set to work to translate
the Bible from the Vulgate into English for
Conscious how much of the power acquired
by the reformation was based on scrlptnrai
perversion, this step reused the jealous
fears of the English government, and steps
were at once taken to break up an i1staeu
ton laboring to supply the English Catho-
Bs with III t ssfgy%sn
working, the authorities Of Douay were IN
duced, In 1873, to expel the English Cathos
lies and the college, which then removed
to Rheims, in France.
Here Dr.. Martin completed his transia-
ton. and his work was revised by william,
afterward Cardinal Allen, Richard Bristow,
and John Reynolds. The notes OF the New
. Testament are generally attributed to Dr.
Bristow, Bristow and Martin being the first
twopriests ordained from the new college, SO
that the work was indeed the first fruits OF
this college and proof OF the lnherenc VI
tality of the church founded oy ot. Angus
tine.
but means were not as readily found to
print the needed work. 1t at last appeared
at Rheims, in 1888.
The writer very clearly shows that the
great object of the reformers, in giving 70
the world their several renderings OF the
Sacred Scriptures, was to make these con-
form to the terms of their new faith. be
says:
Has the term "The Bible" any definite,
recognized meaningf Certainly. For cen
turies before the reformation and down te
the present time, the books now received
a. inspired by the Latin and Oriental
churches have been recognized as the Bio!e
Before the reformation, these formed tht
Bible, and to the vast majority OF Chrls
tiaps these have constantly continued u
he the Bible. As TO what these books are
the Latin Church, the Greek, Armenian
Chaldee. and other Oriental churches, mum
bering over two hundred millions, are
INIT. and have been from time immemo
rial. ..-a
Zee loso The r0fOrmGTS Olt
not chose to accept as the Bible what va
thns received by the Latin and Orie1ts
churches, They wished Biole OF tnes
own, and, az it was to be the oseensiol
1roundwor Of their experimental forms 9
Christianity, they very n ,nnois RIb,s q
therefore understood, but proceeded :
make a Bible for themselves by expurga'
ing this Bible as received by the Christia ,
world for centuries, and thus made BIO
suited>to their scheme. They ehminaeeu
number of books, and what tney consen a.
the "Protestant Bibles" but it ia pervei
sion of all human language to call tnes
books, or any other translation OF then
even ii honestly made, "the Bible muc
49, less the whole Bible"
Rnt how came Protestants to reject SON
If the hooksf The reformation arose
German nations-the last to bow to tho at
thorlty of the Catholic church, the f1rst
reject it, The old heathenism could NJ
break the yoke of Christ. Kings and prince
seeking to be demigods, wished TO % y J,
preme In church and state, to assume
vine rights.
"There In no Law to say such thngs
As are not pleasing 70 tho ears OF kings.
They determined to uninspire it. 10
could Henry VIII, Christian IL, or "
tayas Vasa, or any other OF the primo
who forced their subjects out OF the CaSn
lie church, allow them to regard tho oot
of Machabees 40 inspired There Is
hook moro full of Lessons for the last thr'
centuries, mono which day by day seen
more typical. Antochus assumed 70
head of the church and wished to maj al
notifications in faith and worship, ana 90
book ~condemns him, as though kings ~
no such right. Those who were found WI
booksSbf the Did faith or observed IL we
mt TO death according to the edict
the king, and this book honors tne
as martyrs. How could English mo
archs. consigpipg to destruction eve
book connected with the ancient We
ship, tolerate such picture nc
could Gustavus Vasa, siaughter1ng
brave Dalecarlians, let his followers re-
che martyrdum Of the Machabeo nrothe :
in their Biblesf A priest cries ont,
though all nations obey King Antlochns,
as to- depart every man from the service
the law of his fathers and consent to
commandments, I and my sons ana
4L.a,, ill oLav the law of our father