, 1880-02-15

BISHOP COKE OBJECTS TO A HAsTY PUB-
LEGATION OF THE NEW TRANSLATION,
Near Fork Tribune.
Hisnow very nearly q year since, by your
courtesy, was permitted, through your
pages to invite the attention of the @t4Ameri-
can Bible Soclety' to the pressure which
was likely to be brought to bear upon them
to alter one Of the most sacred and funda-
mental provisions Of their constitution. AS
always, In the progress of this great move
Tor revising the common English Bible, few
if1ends Of the revision were prompt in allay-
hR annetles upon this point by professions,
doubtless sincerely made by them as in
divlduais, but binding on nobody but them
selFes. Unchecked by any consideration for
ne minds and consciences of others, certain
persons nave gone on, therefore, manufact-
nf1ng public opinion in favor of the re-
VISION, and in general treating Its accept
ahce as foregone conclusion: all at
1empts, on the other hand, to demonstrate.
to suggest the necessity of time and
careful examination Of the completed work.
Of 10 caution the public as to the necessity Of
nearing the other side, have been met with
aepFecatons and denounced as premature.
~ mas not been 'premature'' to publish
pages OF laudatlon Of a work incomplete
a.lo =. Kept sacredly secret from scholars and
u'ines and millions of intelligent Bible
otuuenls' whose comments and suggestions
noala Aase been OF immense Importance, had
ue snee1s Of the WORK, as progressively COM
peteo. peen sent to universities and divinity
Schools, with generous appreciation of COM
mon rights and interests. But it has been
penatufe" for any student or theologian
eA.l attentlon even to tentative pages
!neueo - Wy quasi authority and to the extraor-
uuals proposals therein made, apparently
~ ~epate me popular mind for changes far
Dssono tnose contemplated in the original
ee'lenle' For ten years the great body of
ocnp1ure-students and believers have been
ueated like mere "babes in Christ.'' and
u olaaeh to wait for what is doing for them by
Me revision Committee. $50 like the nurse
nat ehews the infants bread.n
AeanThlIe we have been treated with the
assurance that 1.-The great work once SUBJ
.ul''eo 10 the world might then be discussed,'
=: so'' ETC, ETC. TWAS foreseen that combina-
aopS were at work which would. at all ]
esenls minimize any fair opportunity thus
fR,eseated fogsa for the sober, mature, and pro-
rhrist;.c.i rguiu ciitlclsm of all English-speaking
hfe1la ghffeei1nature to suggest that the A1nerican |
on9as gae oocety must change its constitution in
! !usI .a 70 circulate the new version; but when
H. aettulcd TO call attention to this astound-
haa, l,s proposal ~ faver OF work Of which no
t mer}s eA.ept ~ us authors, as yet knows the |
discussion is PREMATURE
phieh III ne now ask attention to the next step,
\ iaGH hn;l Is not premature" of course though !
- srists T.ols accepts the whole work. before it !
1sss Amas;s as 2 publication, and calls on the
1o.rar !can blole Society. to seek immediate |
7 9e most candid and fair OF ali the periodicals
- - tt ne DAY which have committed themselves |
~ re expected prodigy before its birth. The |
r;, ,;;aei, suspect, is an esteemed personal |
'nas 'snn o1 Mne, and he never writes what he !
'oes ,oes not mean OF is ready to disclain1. This
ha s,, and hence formidable, friend of
us i ~ ;1TSivlslon thus expresses himself:
~ dAg revised New Testament will so soon /
y ~ deauy 1or the press that it is time to agi-
aM Sfhie ne question Of its publication by the
~, inu1e !, society: Under its present cOnstitu-
: e1Slon ho M put that Of King James, which ought
eadr 1osolete just as soon as the new is
e<aay: II should Immediately seek an amend
'e1 jet1t 70 Its charter for this purpose. We are
10 ,a1 70 see that one Of its Oldest auxliaries,
rot: rot Perry, of Williams College, RECON-
.eas sIaas thls change in the constitution of the
al aieHl Society, and pledges itself to purchase
~ y y. circulate the revised version as soon as it
~ 4heo oe obtained. Wecommend this action to
WI .ast au&lllarles of the Bible Society. Ger
he hbfs. fast Mnen !, buying Bible, We should get
but why Immediately ~? "No man fay-
tss,, = ufunk :, old wine straightway desireth
eM' esa Surely, the old may be better. But
q ssG we hnd that ~ the superiority, If not
,reenna n e1n!o11lty 9f the expected version is