The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-01-30

duced which would be likely to secure any
thing like general acceptance throughout
the English speaking world, and without
this acceptance we might have as many BIZ
bles as we have sects.
The present version, or King James, as
it was called, was printed in 1911, at time
when unity and matters of religion was
vastly greater than it is now. Even then,
however, great pains were taken to secure
the corporations of various schools Of re-
ligious thoughts. This version won its way
to universal acceptance by its own extraor-
dinary merits, though il was undoubtedly
largely aided by the fact that the English
speaking Christians, the world over, were
the subjects of one King, and to a very
great extent, the members of one church.
All this is amazingly changed. Eccle.ias-
tical is now almost as unknown in England
as it is in the United States where it never
existed. Any important change in the Eu-
glish Bible must therefore be submitted to
the scrutiny, and must challenge the ap-
prevail OF christian people belonging to
many widely different eccleastical organz-
ations.
The present enterprise of revision seems
to have adapted itself very completely
to this condition of adversely which pre-
walls throughout English and American
christendom. 1t is in the hands of wise and
learned men of every persuasion. 1t was
done in England, in the convocation of Can
terbury, by the appointment of committee
to make revision of the English Bible in
accordance with certain general ideas
This committee was at the same time autho-
rized Cooperation of an eminent for schol-
orship, to whatever nation or religious body
they msy belong" This led to the organ.
ization of a comprehensive committee, en-
bracing not only the Biblical scholars, of
different persuasions in England, but also
Biblical scholars of different pursuasions in
the United States. Thus composed, the An
glo. American committee now embraces sew
enty-nine members, 6fty-two in England,
and twenty.seven in this country. In each
| country the committee is divided into two
companies, one for the Old Testament and
one for the New Testament. The organiz-
alton was completed in 1872, and for up
wards of seven years they have been indus
triously, though noiselessly, engaged in car
rying forward the important work which
they have undertaken. The revisors in
both countries do their work without com. {.
pensation. The incidental expenses ofthe
English members of the committee are
borne by two University Presses. and those
of the American members are borne by vol.
untary contributions collected by coop.
operative financial committee in New
York.
Our English Bible has been in use with
out change or modification of any kind, for
26S years. 1t has wrought itself into the
intelligence and the religious sentime nts OF
the entire English race. 1t has been EN-.
balmed in the faith of nine generations Of
men and women where ever that race has
planted itself over the world. 1t has been
a household book and has insensibly mould
ed the characters and shaped the lives even
of those who little regard its teachings
More than any book that was ever printed
it has fashioned the English language alike
in the old world and the new. 1t has also
been translated into nearly all the language.
spoken amcng man kind, and has thus been
the medium through which the truths OF
Christianity have been given to the remotes
nations OF the world. 1t is not surprising
that it is guarded with jealous care by all
Christian people who speak our mothe
tongue. There arises at first. perhaps, il
every mind an aversion to any change, how
ever slight that may be proposed in its ss
cred text. 1t is, of course, to be expected
that the revision which has been under
taken, and is now well advanced towarc
completion, will be- subject to clos
scrutiny before it is admitted to the heart
of the people. The new features which
may wear, however few they may be, mus
be justified by good and sufficient reason
in order to overcome the natural predjudic
in favor of forms of expression endeared b.
SO many sacred associations.
At the same time it can scarcely b
doubted that whatever changes are made il
. the present version by a body of 80 jude
iously selected as is tn Anglo. America
committee, will be positive improvement
and that, sooner or later, they will be gen
orally accepted by the Christian public. ]
is hardly possible to conceive of wiser G
better manner in which revision of tn
Bible could be undertaken. 1t is in tn
hands of men, both In England and Amerc
of ample qualifications and of several d
, ferent denominations. What such men ma
agree upon as essential to the expression
! the true meaning of the sacred writings ca
scarcely fail at leangth to receive the san,
: ton of the entire English speaking porto
" Of mankind.