New-York tribune., 1880-01-11
A FORGOTTEN BOOK.
DIR. NOAH wEBsTER's EMENDED BIBLE


Church, Mr. Beecher stated that the American Bible
Society returned in 1857 to confeSsedy inaccurate
version of the Bible, after publishing for seven
years revised version in which thousands of errors
had been corrected by committee appointed for that
purpose, by the society, including DR.. Edward Robin
son, the Rev. DIR. Thomas f. Vermye, the Rev. DIR.
Richard 5. S.Orrs and other eminent clergymen and
scholars. Probably few Of your readers ever
knew or now remember that in 1888 there was
copyrighted an Svo edition of the Holy Bible IN
the Common Version, with Amendments of the
Language by Noah Webster, LID, and publlshed
by Durrie & Peck. New-Hayen. In 1889 an syo
edition of the New Testament was published by ).
Babcock New-Haven; and IN 1s41 pocket
edition of the Bible IN pearl type was published
by n Webster" The edition Of the New Tosta-
ment was lettered on the back " "Websters Testa-
ment"
DR.. WebsteI's reasons for undertaking the work
are given in the preface TO the edition OF 1888,
dated New Haven, September 1888.
In tue present version. the Language is, IN gem
era correct and perspicuOus; the genuine popular
English Of saxon origin, peculiarly a1apten 10 vac % %nuD
beaurilu simplicity. In NY vicw the general style of
the ought to be altered But in Toe lapse OF
two or tAree centuries ehalgrs nave ,hen pace% % Wnsu
particular passages Impair the beauty IN DINERS,
Oo-cure tue sense Of the original languages.
some words have fallen into dIsuse; and the
signihcaii0u OF others, IN current popular use,
Is IL
were introduced into the version. The effect Of these
changes that words not understood by com.
readers who nave no access 20 commentaries; ant
who VIII always compose great proportion OF readers
while oner wors' beng now used IN snse "llerens
from tAat winch tncy had when the Translation was
f1T' WIN ver wnri are ind 'TsteSd in sense differ
enf from that which they had when introduced,
m d,iI @ ~ & RIDER The Word Of cod This err
,tancc Is very muOrtaut, ~ things not the
essential; aud III essential points, mistakes may Do
In NV own view Of this subject version Of the Scrip
tures for popular should consist Of words expressing
the sense which IA most common popular USAGE, 80
that the FIST idea suggested TO the reader should be the
meaning OF such words, according to tho orgna,
language That many words IN the present version tau
this is certain. My principal aim Is 10 remedy th's
In performing this task have been careful to avoid
unnecessary Innovations, and to rcsan tLo general
character Of the style The principal alterations are
Tirsf rle SUBSTITUTION of words and phrases now in
good for sucr are wholly obsolete OF deemed De-
low The dignity and sOlcmnity Of the suiJert
Second, The correction Of errors III grammar
1hird, The insertion Of enphenisms. wo'ds ana @
phrases which nos very on nslVe 10 delcacy IN e
place Of such as canno yth propnety DC uttered Oe'ofo
"a prOmiscuous audience. a., , -
In this undertaking, subect mys-i 10 ne cal gS ot
arrogance hut not conscious OF being actateu Oy
religious public on this subject ana Gi me alncn
lies which attend The performance but al men nom
consulted, they have thought mch on the SUD
ect seem agreed u the opinion that il Is hlgh tie
10 a sion Of the cOuTnon version o. te SfIip-
tures although nc person appears 10 Know DOW OF Dy
whom sucn cVison be executed. IN NY own view,
sucn revision is not merely matter Of e&pedence put
taRe this work bv respectable literary and religious Guar
acIers, have veuturea TO attempt revision upon my
responsibility II the work shoull ran 10 pe Wen Wen
received tae loss will be- my own, and hope no injury
will De done. have been painfully sohciions thar no
alterations Introduced will be found In the explanatory
notes.
That the revised edition approved OF by some
of the scholars OF that day is shown by testimo-
NAL which states:
Dr. webstoi's ition of the Bible in which the Lam
gage of the translation Is purified from obsolete. un-
Grammatical aud exceuona words and phrases, Is ap'
Gentlemen very competent to judge 9I IT'S merits
Isigned.l Jeremiah Day. President OF Yale College
Il. simman, Prof OF Chemistry and MineralOgy
J. L. kingsley, Prof. OF Lat. Lan and Liter
C. A. GOODRICH Prof. OF Rhct. aud oatory.
d. Omst Ted Prof. of Math. and Nat. Philosophy
I. ID. WOoisey, Prof OF Greek Lam ana Liter
Another testimonial says:
We Use Dr. Websters edition Of the Bible In our fam
ilies. aud can cheerfuliy reeomme4d 1t 70 Ghef. D.
lSignedl The Rev. Nathaniel W. Taylor the rev.
Thomas A. Merrill, the Rev. Leonard Bacon the Rev.
William {. Fowler
Still another:
webster's edition of tie Bible IN our families ana We
can sincerely say that well pleased with bis
emendations OF the language. THIS work Il not new
translation but the common version with mproy
OF the without an alteration oi tne sense
,Skei had been introduced by oversight or mis-
printing The editor mas 9y era Gnange OF n,as %Sr,es
M obscure uninteligblc ordinary readers, and al
tered se words and passages waich cinuo; uttered
before an audience without giving offence, especially to
females; which words and phrases subject tie scrt
amended copy, better like IL and we checruly
commend 1t to the use OF Others believing that an ex-
animation Of the work Will remove objections 10 the
anendments aud be be means OF promOtiGg religion,
by extending the use Of the Bible IN schools
lSgned Rev. 4. L. Gnswold OF Methodist connection
Rev. j. A Root. Pru. Of the Female lDstute.
G Bostwlck, Deac. United socety, New-Haven.
Rev. = DAYTON, OF the Methodist oonnerdon
H. Smith, Deacon First Church New Haven.
Benjamin. Deacon Free Church, New-iIaven.
Ne,c-Hdren January, 1889.
But that the edition was frowned upon b; others
appears by the following letter from Dr. Webster to
Messrs Sidney T.. Morse 4 Co.. then publishing Tie
ser- York Obs0r0, which letter, curously enough,
seems TO indicate that in his opinion, his work upon
the Bible now almost forgotten, was more important
than bis dictionary:
NEw-YoRK Feb "a. 1884.
Inclosed is A three dollar bankuote which will pay
you for years Obsereer and the postage OF
lhis letter In1lS'e' Rbe ar'o Sd copy notice % ct
INV edition on a leaf Of the Nil. Intelligence"
couest Won 10 publish the address first and the notice
In tie following paper suppose by your not PUBLISH
ing tho address before. encouraged M White 10
believe you would, that you are not friendly to my
design But consider this emendston OF the com mon
version te most mpora ant enterprise oI NY re anu
and feel much hurt that my friends should dscoune-
nance the design Accept the regards o. gentle Your
obedient servant, n "LbslEH'
Dr. Webster's estimate of his Bible was markedly
shown by hls will dated in 1899, wherein he be-
queathed to each of his grandchildren copy oi the
book handsomely bound.D the only one OF In
many publications which he thus honored His
later estimate of his work is shown in the follow
ing letter written only year before his death,
when in the eighty fourth year of his age:
NEW HAVEN. May 10 ls42.
To he Members Of the Eastern Association ~ Ne"Hdren
County: 49, -, ,,,, ,., -,
GENTIEMEX My edition OF the Bible with emenda-
tons OF language OF the common version mas oeen
herore tbe uubic ABOUT eight years. have heard no
objection 10 the in which the work has been ek-
ecited ana ms far information extends the WORK
is generally approved by those who have examiner u,
among whom are many clergvmen, whose special duty
n Ia 10 guard the sacred text corruption The body
OF The language the common version Was intro
duced by Tyndae than $40 years ago.
In the great length of time that has since