, 1879-02-23
r5p History Of Church-Pews---Their
0rigin--When They Game
into General Use.
r,patapee and Contrition Must Precede
Belief as an Evidence Of
Conversion.
e;n1u!ar Inconsistencies on the
Part Of Some Who Oppose
Sunday Papers.
Ganeral Notes, Personals, sunday
small-Talk, Services To-
Day.

Smau-Talk, Services 10
Day.
BIBLE REVISION.
,,rcop coxE ON THE TRUE VALUE OF THE
EMESDAT1ONS.
HrrrA1.o, Feb. 9.-7o the EditoT OF u'e 1'e"
3,,.r Tribune: Paragraphs in newspapers
or. riy:nr US from time to time, 1ne "e1eot1le
,rtrrma;iop that the COMPANY Of hesas'oh1sts
WI; sooa finish their 1abor5 anil publish tne1f
eroendatious of the English version OF holy
Scripture. Their work has been "atcneo Win
,,a.t f,,1 Int anxious interest, and the publca-
tim snon 10 appear wili command extraordinary
o,trntifu. Not onlv critical scrutiny but great
an, unt of popu1ar interest is sure to be 2Tak-
cncd in t1,e questions that will naturally arise
M viii INQUIRE ~ as to the merit Of the pro.
-,osct} amendments aud the necessity Of popu-
la7izlpg them; ard {2) then the grave practical
,,rcs;joa must be met, whether our Common
E,,]isA Bible would not, after all, be better
without 1hem in giew Of the facts that IL trivial
,1,ry can be spared, while it serious, they must
raise more difficulties than they will settle.
Cvacclng that the merits Of this work vii! be
c1eSt, considered as the work OF expert COM
rc.tators aud critics, there will be many Who
wi! peyc. consent to the Incorporation OF their
new cloth as 4 patch on the old garment.
.CIoth of gold" cannot be- so nlended by
.sc;o1h Of trieze," but their work will deserve
md receive dae honor notwithstanding. Twill
pc most welcome contribution to English lit
nature and to sacred learning.
To avoid 2ll religious animosities, trust it
psy be practically considered from standpoint
purely literary. Our English Bible is the first
classic OF the language, and every scholar is
Gcr;ly interested in preserving its identity. 10
illustrate the question, then, we may take the
seyeud classic OF the English tonguc-the plays
Q: Shakespeare. How grateful We should be to q
cJ.apauy OF experts for any light on the text or
neari.:8 Of the poet; but who would import
tLtir suggestions into the received text, until ut
least whole generation having passed away,
he test of time and not the mere literary lash
ions of a day might seem to justify the adop-
1'cn OF here and there few obvious improve
clen1s! .....
Isl: wise to be less patient with reference 70
tl;r B:oic7 Can we afford to subject its vcncra-
lie t.ycs to less careful aud pa'I1staklnG proc.
cs5 :L.n we could tolerate III the enendatlon OF
Shakespeare: Is it not perlpus to disturb that
lo;.E. confidence lu this noble version which Is
nns; tc only bond OF absolute uuitY among the
Cnr> tiH5 Vi divers namcs who are everywhere
G!t1. 1.1s:u!. the English language throughout the
world! And is il not somewhat startling TO DC
informed that clIorts are already in progress
wcl are designed to insure tllr speedy accept
Icr: VI Tile yet unpublished work for practical
alterations OF the Common English Biblcl
hal learned from several quarters that an
effort uouu be maize to commit the large re-
sources and venerable responsibility OF Tue
81 alltrkan Bible Society " to . formal patron
aye OF lnr Revision, and to corresponding
amendment OF its publications. This appeared
me Incredible on many accounts, but es-
pcv::ly in view OF its constitution, and OF the
ingenious course of the Society in retracing its
s,.ss, when once in its history it was found to
laye forgotten its constitutional restrictions.
! was, therefore, inclined to disregard such IN
tu:aticns as false alarm. But I now write
, rEder considerable coucern. because have ot-
served Indications which, il not contradictea,
would seen to confirm the rumors.
In res 'ee:ab}c newspapers report Of q late
meeting III tllc ..Church OF the Disciples.'' in
New }urk, find that Il reverend gentleman OF
cEllnrDt position Was introduced as " president
Q. :!.e American Bible Revision Committee -
WHO proteedcd to give 'san Interesting sketch
q tie PROGRESS OF the work in his country.''
The character and worth Of this gentleman aud
ol oilers reported Us present at the meeting
rsye dignity anu attach responsibility to pro
ttcdInY5 which haye the patronage OF their
s21ncs- 1t was with surprise, therefore, that
re21 The following remark, which fell from the
reverend lecturer, aud which shows, at least,
s7e'! in advance Of the long-expected work. He
tsrepor1cl 10 have said: 'tlt will be necessary
th4t tic American Bible Society Should alter its
ea4sItfion i'll or&c7 to publish the proposed
SoEk. but this Will in no way tend to delay its
p@uicston."
The constitution OF this Society, so far at
ie2t Tire yeracalar is concerned, restricts its
operations to the one sim pie but vast undertak-
n OF circulating the Common English Bible
Iilon@ Our countrymcu. The fears OF bishop
-ks- nt1Sf$ %HsAN
lsun the first, IN the ground that the handnlald
mlsh1 in tine become the mistress, and even un-
ce7tase 10 impose new versions or editorial i'm
Fovetnent ucon the public, were always met
W ths coast s.uttoaot 7roris'on, and by the assur-
sace thai fupd5 intrusted to its care must &c
co:alngly be forever held Sacred to this one ex-
c!usiYc object The great responsibility OF the
eoael} and its usefulness for long course OF
Ieas5 Gaye berottcu an unparalleled confidence
hlts fidelity to this constitution. Nobody has
yea willing to believe that such soclety cou1o
=: ~ made USE Of to promote any critical iash1on
as@ever praiscworthy, conflicting with the sole
pl.pose 1vr which the Society vas created, and
i View OF which it has been SO largely en-
toFed BY Christian munidcence. Can II
" Sefegardcd, then, as OF no Importance 10 tns
sa!ety itself, AMI to the pacelt nolds ~ puo'e
es.eelD, tAat the intimation hare quoted should
appear, in such circumstances and with no lndl-
sSson from any quarter that It is, as trnsI.
xtol]y without foundation in any scheme o1
se1on entertained OF countenanced BY the so
cety itself!
IL: "a Hlssng this inquiry, while do not court
iie.etc1ty, am unwilling to avoid responslollts.
-. euEle!orc 1ncIosc my address, ana peg you 70
~ Sith reference to it as seems best from your
t, Gaa point Of view as Journalist am respect
1uy yours, 4. c. G.
DR. scHAFF's REPLY TO TIE BISHOP.
NEW ioRE, Feb. 15-Io the Editor oT the Ne7'
!osS Tribune: In your esteemed paper OF TO-
Sas lind au article of Bishop Coke on b'olc
ae'iS:o2, i'll which he makes inc rcsponsiole ior
newspaper report Of 4 speech recently oel'
t;1 s:ed W request before the Manhattan Associa
Iou Of Congregational Ministers. Permit me,
pp;.s1ielore, to state, in behalf OF the Amer1can
o:ole Revision Committee, the following tacts !:
w. lhe American Bible Society his no otlc'al
oolnectlon W with the Bible revision now gong
<'.,. W., anu can nave none under its present con-
1huuou 1ha which restricts it to the circulation OF
~ ~ authorized version OF King James, as lar as
English Bible is concerned.
p;t1.. -. Tue QUESTION as to what the Amer1can
ia o'e society ma do at some 1uturc time VIII d
e revised reyisionis premature, and not worth
discussing now.
:, ~ ~ lLe publication Of the revised version is
r. a'e na'ids Of the English University presses