Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-05-28
Henry Ward Beecher on the New
Testament,

The Rev. Henry Ward Beecher was inter-
viewed by reporter OF the Chicago Tribune as
night. revised New Testament last Saturday
ce the and Ia reply to question as to the ne
tossity for the revision, replied:
"There was necessity for Ii. have been
indignant at the American Bible society for
backing on the track. Years ago they went to
the great expense and labor of correcting
simply the typographical errors which had
crept into the text-they amounted to thous
ands and thousands published an edition.
And Bishop Coke got up on his hind legs, and
some OF the Presby terians asserted that the
Bible Society were attacking the church, and
80 on, and the society backed down, let the
edition go out OF the market and went back to
the old VIGOROUSLY erroneous version. IL was
an outrage. 1t would not have been for men
who didn't believe In the inspiration OF the
scriptures, but for men who did believe
without that 30 stand on we have no ortho-
doxy--to admit that In the version which Is
Of the Lord as expressed in the text is per
verted Is an outrage. The text is obscure, and
they know 1t. 1t Is misstatement of them,
particulars are. 1t was not only Inconsistent
but 1t was an outrage for men that really be-
htved IN the divine Inspiration of the Scrip
lures, as they did, that have any church or
Blole. Now then comes sober. well regu-
lated. thoroughly organized band OF men In
England, representing all Christian denomi-
nations, and In America representing the
same-as able body OF men as ever could
nave been secured In any period OF the worlds
history-and they have given ten years and a
uoll W CHc Stuuy VI tulS question:. not the
sake OF making new version but for the sake
OF revision or the old version; and it is not
possible. OF course, that their work can be
perfect [aa, out that i5 Is great advance on the
former vel sionS have no reason whatever to
doubt They have thrown ou1 of the text
that which scholars. without exception, have
do ma long time admitted was folsted into It,
CO.. do You think it WIN be adopted by the
Yes. generally, out some Will hold out.
10 frrr ,R
resurrection sounded. think. generally
speaking, the churches will very soon see their
way to adopt III"
"Will you adopt it,"
That will depend upon the action Of my
chuIch II the congregation want 1t WILL"
,o Wi! not general action on the part of other
In the highly organized ones; but think
the congregational and Presbyterian churches
VIII take It up. Presbyteries and synods Will
doubtless give utterance on the subject. Many
Presbyterian churches however, Will do as
they see f1t They are not bound to ask the
SYNOD DOR or Pres6ytery what hymn book they
"How about the Episcopalian churches?n
My impression Is that they Will accept It,
Tne revision comes from Headquarters
the Province OF the Archbishop OF Canterbury
and some OF those engaged In the work are
the most eminent Eplscop allan scholars there
and here. II has been developed under Eplsco-
palian auspices"
"What do you think of the Faith, hope and
lover"
"Itis eminently proper. 1 have used that
form Twenty-Five years In reading and In
speaking: When you use Charity you Will
put veil on the real thought; you cannot see
the face oftt. Charity originally meant gen.
erous disposition, but the meaning has changed
SO that 1t has become q specific line OF action
Love comes nearer the meaning-Would be aO-
soiote II IL did not incl ude passion as well as
beDeficence."
"Well, how do you regard the substitution of
'HadeS' for help"
1T ought TO have been substituted. 1 don't
think our modern idea Of hell existed In those
days" 0'S
"Where Is ''Hades?'"
II hope l shall never f1nd out 1t Is one
point OF geography about which l am more
than willing to be ignorant"
doesn't BLADES" destroy locality?"
II hope 80. believe In state rather than
place"