The New York herald., 1876-01-03
MASONIC TEMPLE.

MONCURE D. CONWAY ON THE NEW TESTAMENT
The Masonic Temple, corner OF Sixth avenue and
Twenty third street, was crowded yesterday morning
by persons OF hearing Moncure d Conway on
''The New Testament" he began by describing ms
FIRST impressions when visiting the great library at St
Petersburg He said that the walls built up with
books and volumes Of modern lore guarded
by the national officers but not closely to forbid
strangers TO them. All free the student
but that which Mr. Conway sought and desired much to
cased over and watched with the jealous
care. II was that old manuscript OF the New
Testament which had been discovered by fs
ehendorr in his search after the best and truest
text Of the New Testament II had been found in
convent on Mount Sinai aud as ii appeared beneath its
glass covering the custody Of tho Empires officials
II yellow with age, and altogether suggestive OF the
great in which the scholars OF to-day well as
Tischendorf held IT, An Empire stood guard over it,
and there something pleasant withal in this,
illustrative OF the eag-rness OF the world arrive at
the truth touching the history Of Christ His teach
ngs Hero tho preacher entered into elaborate de-
scrpton OF ST. Catherne's Convent and the superst
tons which invested her memory with the monumental
house where this old manuscript discovered In the
Holy Land. superstition, said Mr.. Conway 'fs the
homage paid by ignOrance 10 truth" Lingering the
thought here bcgotten the speaker speculaed the
series OF events that must have led to the
conceamen Of the cherished manuscript in the build
ing erected the site Of what vulgary believed To
have been that Of ST. Catharines TO heaven
War, STRIFE and religious turmoil undoubtedly must
have made some devout soul possessed Of the documen
tal history OF Chriss earth conceal there
for preservation It's discovery glorious reward
for Tischendorf his attempt TO purify the the
Scriptures The New Testament had no such intrinsic
value itself as that which has warranted its
ton into $50 different languages and its distribution at
many millions cost Had the Moors been successful
IN their efforts 70 establish themselves in Spain Mr..
Conway had no doubt that the Koran would have
been in every American household instead OF Bible
IS
seruon, and leaving this thought the speaker
touched upon the present freedom in ali
else actually other than religion where although coer-
cion no longer existed even freedom in his regard
pad been 9bssned oF qs BY ogr oretathers p regard
20 inves gallon and exploration the inclination vet
remained TO asten beliefs and faiths upon aspira-
tons and pious frauds OF fifty generations Then fol
loNcu MI Oohways treatment OF the character and |
accuracy OF the present versions OF the New Iesa-
menL He condemned in round terms the corruption |
IN translation OF tins part OF the Scripture by the
priesthood when as class IN the Dark Middle aud |
earlier pes, . monOpozed books and learning Here,
too, he declared that changes made the adapa-
ton Of the ideas intended 10 be conveyed by the |
original writers Of the New Testament to suit the pur.
poses OF the priests and 70 to them Influences
never meant by the authors Illustrative OF these |
corrupuoIs lac related how on one occasion not |
20 very remote clergyman travelling In q |
railway car In England with countryman got |
no controversy with the latter about the Trinity and
supporting us doctrine quoted to the rustic that text
from John relative TO the three heavenly witnesses
said the countryman TO him, Didn't you know sir,
that the text you have just mentioned is spurious t
"Ncs replied the clergyman, 'but DIDN'T know that
you DID, This said hr Conway is the sort Of spirit
which actuated the translaOrs Of the New Testament
N all former ages Translations made by
bishops who introduced theories relative TO Christ |
sucn as the Incarnation and Deity, which were only |
imported TO speak, TO gain the popular heart The
speaker remarked that the idea OF the incarnation had
peculiar hold upon the world Of tnat day from the |
traditions concerning Zoroaser and others who bad
been accredited with superhuman love for
mankind by being invested with previous godlike
istcnce which they had left 10 down W mans
level 10 him Then the speaker undertook
his for believing that Christ instead OF having
been poor and socially speaking literae man.
in reality one OF the upper classes, whose parents
able TO bring Him long journey to Jerusaum and give
Him such education rendered Him lt be chosen
by the elders in the Temple TO illustrate the Scriptures
they then existed TO the assembaCe That Christ
should have lost aftcrward HIS property, station and
standing only what might have been expected. IL
the fate OF nearly all reyoutonst All that related
in the New Testament OF to-day, TO the divinity and
Incarnation OF Chrst-Mr Conway attributed
rather TO theological doxtcrity than 70 acc-
cave OF az Westminster Abbey wondering how
they could have overlooked such DR.. David
son, OF the best Hebrew scholars in their pro
nounced desire revise the Scriptures New Testa
ment The immense advantage OF having an expert
scholar IN this work Mr. Conway commented upon,
saying that such would DO more toward settling
for points than all the books OF controversy
printed. The speakers address full OF pointed
sarcasms against supcrsttOus belief In miracles and
be said that the apostle Paul really the only
writer who was anything like contemporary TO Christ
that had not even mentioned tue OF their ever
having been worked Mr. Conway's estimate OF
Christ that lie a superb soul who was the
direct Toe OF the dogmas and supersttons Of priest
crait-ay, even those OF tho pricsterall OF today.