New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-02-15
BIBLE REVISION.
ALETTER FROM BISHOP COKE.
TRUE VALUE OF THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES VIII
pv THE posrTIoy OF THE AMERICAN BIBLE

DR. THE POSITION OF THE AMERICAN p'""
SOCIETY TOWARD THE REvIsIoNI
TO the EdftOr OF The tribune
Sir; Paragraphs in our newspapers are CIV
ing us from time to time tho welcome lhlor'ha' W."
that the company of RevIsiOnists VIII soon mus"
their labors and publish their emenoat'ohS Va '"o
English version of Holy Scripture. lhoT worn ""'
been watched with respectful but ANXIOUS ih'cio'',
and the publication soon to appear VIII eo"n'''i'1
extraordinary attention. Not Only cri''c'' S'iu,''
hut Great amount of popular interest is sure to be
awakened in the questions thai VIII ha,'""li'
arise An will ipouIre o. as to the merit of the pro-
osod oopdtnoots and the necessity of popularizing
them and on then the grave practical question
must bo met whether our Common English BioIe
would not after ALL he better without them, IN we"
Of be facts that If trivial they can be spared Who
if serious they must raise more difficulties IMAM 'n''
will settle. =, =,
Concedinp that the merits Of this work VIII De
crcot considered as the work " expert comments"
tors and critics. there Will be many who VIII never
consent to the incorporation of theT new cloth az
match on the old garment "Cloth OF goid" cannot
he so mended by" cloth of frezc,' but their WORK
will deserve and receive due honor notwlthstahd-
ing 1t will be most welcome contribution 10
English literature and to sacred learning
To nv, lid all religious animosIties trust 1T NAV
no practically considered from standpoint purely
literary. Our English Bible is the first classic OF
fine language and every scholar is deeply interested
in preserving its identity. To illustrate the qneS
tion then, we may take the second classic OF inc
English tongue-the plays Of Shakespeare ITO"
grateful we should DO to a company OF experts lol
any light on the text or meaning OF the poe'i pu'
who would import their suggestions mo the re-
ceved text until at least whole generation having
passed away, the test of time and not the nero nt
orarv fashions of a day. might seem TO justify the
odoption of here and there few obvious improve
mentsi
Is il wise TO be less patient with reference 10 inc
RibIeY Can we afford TO subject its venerable pages
70 . less careful and painstakng process than we
conld tolerate in the cmendation Of Shakespeare
7, # not perilous to disturb that loving confidence
IN This noble version which IS now the only bono
Of absolute unity among the Christians Of divers
namcs who are every where dtfusing the Engllsh
1ongpaye throughout the wOrldi And ~ 1t not
somewhat startling 10 be informed that efforts are
already I'm progress which are designed to ensure
the speedy acceptance of the yet unpublished work
for practical alterations Of the Common English
Bibef
had learned from several quarters that an effort
UouIJ be made to commit the large resources ana
venerable responsibility of the American bioIe
Society" 10 formal patronage OF the REVISION
and =, q correspluding amendment of its publca-
fiops This appeared TO me Incredible, on many
accounts. but especially IN view Of It's
constitution. and Of the ingenious course
of the Society In retracing ia steps,
when once IN its history IL was found TO
have forgotten its constitutional restrictions l
was, therefore, inclined to disregard such int ma
lions as a false alarm. Bat now write under con-
siderable concern, because have observed lHd4ca-
tons. which if not contradlcied, would seem to
confirm the rumUrs.
In arespcctable newspapers report Of late meet
ing1n the Church Of the Disciples" in New-York,
find that a reverend gentleman OF eminent position
WAS introduced as president Of the American Bible
Reyison-C committee" WAC proceeded to give "an
interesting sketch of the progress OF the work III
MS country" The character and worth of this
gentleman and Of others reported present at The
meeting give dignity and attach responsibility to
proceedings which have the patronage OF their
names. IL was with surprise therefore, that read
Tie following remark winch fell from the reverend
lecturer and which shows, at least what is already
entertained as practical idea in advance of the
long expected work He is reported to have SAID :
at will be necessary that the American Bible So
ciety shOuid alter IT. constitution order To publish
The proposed work. but this Will IN no way tend TO
delay it, publication"
The constitution of this Society, So farat least rs
the vcrnacular is concerned restricts lis operations
TO the ono simple bat vast undertaking Of circula-
ting the Common English Bible among our coun-
trymen. The fears Of Bishop Hobart and Others
who objected to the Society. from the first, Oh the
ground that the handmaid might in time become
the mistress and even undertake to impose
now versions or editorial improvements upon
tLe nulIic were ALWAYS met by this con-
sLfational prorision, aud by the assurance
that funds intrustcd TO its care must accordingly
be forever held sacred 70 this one exclusive
object The great responsibility of the Society and
its usefulness for a long course Of years have be-
gotten an unparalleled confidence IN its fidelity to
this constitution. Nobody has been wiling to be-
Heve that such a society could be made of to
promote any critical fashion of transient epoch, or
any literary scheme, however prIseworthy, con
ilcting with the sole purpose for which the Society
was created and IN view of which 1t has been so
largely endowed By Christian munifcence. Can il
be regarded, them as of no Importance to the So
cicty itself and to the place it Odds in pubic es-
teen, that tie intimation have quoted should APP
pear in such clrcums. aucos and with no indication
from any quarter that 1t is, as trust wholly with
out foundation in any scheme OF action entertained
or countenanced by the Society itselfr
In making this inquiry, while do not court pub
Lefty, am unwilling to avoid responsibility |
therefore incl0so my address, and beg yOu to act
with reference TO it as seems best from your own
point 81 view as a journalist. l am respectfully
yours A.C. c.
Buffalo, Feb. 0. 1870.
PHILADELPHIA MINI