New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-18
BIBLE REVISION.
LETTER FROM BISHOP COKE.

| HE TRIBUNE. You were kind enough to direct
| attention 10 the exceedingly temperate" tone of
my remarks and in a second letter seized the OPP
portunity to plead for such a spirit i'll all discus
sions OF a matter vast, so dignfed, so mixed up
with the pnrest and finest feelings of human nature
| so thoroughly identified with our strongest rell-
gous convictions, and, at the time, presenting
so rich field for mol le and generous controversy
| wholly devoted to the clicting of truth, and in
| which every controversial should do justice to
| the honorable argument Of antagonists. May
| cite. textualy, what | then said, deprecating
gnOble strife and personal auImOsties? 1t reads
| follows:
IT is very important even now,to direct the minds
of rejecting men TO the great caution which ought
to he observed in discussing the matter IL would
he very easy indeed to make the appearance OF the
expected work the occasion Of reyiving, in all
their old rancOr the QsarrelS of past generations.
God forbid that our anxiety to preserve or TO
amend our venerable version should have such
dreadful issue. Surely even very ideIabe i'm
prOvcmcnt of version cminently excellent
would he no advantage. II purchased at snch
melancholy cost. SO far as possible good men
should treat tine subject of science and lit
eratnre, and reject anything likely 10 heget per-
sOnal and religious animOsties Lot us bring to the
discussion what the Germans call a scientific con-
science, and look Mt the facts the issues involved,
and the practical advantages or disad vantages as
far as possible with the passionless intellect OF
mathematician.
In subsequent discussions 1t has been my cndeavor
to follow these laws carefully and OF principle ]
do not mean that any controversial should abstain
from foTcible array of facts, nor from handling
them i'll mastery manner to overthrow or con-
found an OppOnt mt. But j do mean that an OppO-
nent should be treated with respect for nobody
who respects himself can have any controversy
with the class of writers who not entitled to
spect. If should forget myself. therefore, in
departing from my own view of manly discussion,
| the next best thing will be a manly apology; and
&c Drill IN
in this way.
The I" New Revision has not yet appeared. The
long delays are vet again prctracted, doubtless for
excellent cause yet even now there are tokens
that men sharpening their wits and their pens
for the gnohlc sort CT literary conflict which
| have deprecated. Already I find myself gratui-
| tously assaulted, and forced to take notice of my
aSSalant; but do it without mention Of his re-
spectacle name, and chiefly TO instance an example
of that DonnybrOok clubbing OF antagonists, uni
verSay, which is especially TO be dcplored; from
any general adoption of which may the good Lord
deliver us.
In the January number of ScribHer's magazine. n
periodical which is An honor to American literature,
l panied to find revived an OLE matter OF
1Sj7-5S, under the title: The Bible Society and
the New Revision" The writer to haze had
some creditable msgivings in refusing to the dead
past the privilege of burymg It's dead; he asks
why bring up such old controversy nOwV
But he answers: "Wcl no ono wants that old
controversy: Whit want 10 this New Revision
and we desire to receive it at the hands OF the
American Bible Society" The writer fails 10 show
that such motive could Justify him very
careless review of the facts which lie pIOcSsts to
state, and Tor remarkable Indifference to the re-
gpcct due alike to The living and the dead.
As to the dead he thus expresses himself with
reference to Presbyterian divine of great rcpnta
tlon, who has long since gone to rest. l quote,
tcxtually, as follows
Dr. breckenridge collapsed rather suddenly:
for he found he had much on his hands rs he
could attend to at that moment in rept ling the
awkward charge Of plagiarism which some the0-
Of HnS ahd tSes said he peed the best part
of ~ from Stapfcr.
This is very grave charge to bring upon the
memory of a departed divine who can 10 longer
make his assailants feel the proverbia force OF his
vigorous intellect; and the charge is most often
sively made under cover of on DIT. Now the use
of an mpersOna " they say" to guard statement.
is always justfablc when the facts thus reported
are recent in such case it amounts to an admission
of uncertainty. But after the lapse Of years and
especially with reference to the dead. nobody
should shelter himself under an on du who is not
ready to prove the offensive charge In tins IN
stance know nothing OF tho facts. but have al
ways respected the memory OF the late Dr. Brecken-
rldge, whose reputation IS thus assallcd
IT, then the saintcd dead may be treated with
such unceremonious indifference TO conventional
courtesies what justice can be expected by the Nv
ingH suppose the assailam is Presbytenan' ana
Dr. Breckenridge was his immediate cohfT0e IN
that highly respectable denomination: what may |
he not he expected to nlct, then, upon Christian
brother less orthodox and more distantI And II |
the Doctor who only took up the cause IN which |
this writer proves mc to nave been the primo |
.,,Hnr from too in hls nlCu
household. what chance have TO bc fairly quoted
and generously credited with my honest cOEvlt.
tonsS
Hut the writer in ScribaN's, who has thus re-
called the forgotten past, not without violence ami
iuveCtive is yet unable to state the case 80 as 10
deprive me of "A vindication which rciiccting men |
must regard as all-suficient Another venerable
PRESBYTERIAN divine. DR.. Hodge, of The Princeton
RetdeC, as be reminds us, tenaciOusly adhered TO
his conviction that the mischief had pointed out
was " the greatest public wrong" which, so far as
his information extended, bad ever been "com-
mittcd 10y any one of our national Societies" lie !
also shows the vast proportions to which this
public wrong" had grown when, in 1857. my |
Apology for the Common English Bible appeared
and ran through several editions; and finally lie
shows that the Bible Society itself was convinced
of its mistake reversed its action, dsowncd the
policy into which it had been temporarily betrayed,
and with vast sacrifice OF material returned to It's
legitimate work. Such is the mcrcst outline of
facts of which he himself has revived the memory.
think they speak Tor themselves; and | do not
wish to entnr upon this history more largely at tho
present time. / have never exultcd over the
triumph Of my circumstances. Very rarely have |
referred to it, although have often been c0ngIau-
lated upon my success by those whose appreciation
is An all.suhicien reward And one reason why
when the conflict was over. l dropped the whole
subject, was the deep feeling OF respect which l
cherished for many members OF that eminent
=. a.. an VnrSionsn who were the chief