Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-08-25

version mot a translation) Of the Old
Testament. lie found 50 many errors,
evident interpretations and obscure
passages in this authorized" version
Of the Hebrew Scriptures, that he re.
solved to translate the Septuagint Gin
Creek into English. This labor of
love he began when he was almost
forty years Of age.
Being an ardent patriot, he had en-
tered warmly into the hot political
discussions during the ten years quar-
rel between the British government
and the American colonies which pre-
ccded the old War for Independence.
During that eventful decade in our
history, he labored almost ncessantly
with brain and hand in the cause Of
human liberty. His candor and suav-
ity of manner won the confidence aud
respect of everybody, and his inAu-
ence was so great that John Adams
spoke Of him a. the Sam Adams Of
Philadelphia" And when, for time,
while Virginia and Massachusetts were
all aglow with spirit of resistance to
British oppression, Pennsylvania, like
New York, appeared lukewarm in the
cause, and 1t was understood that
without Philadelphia the province
could not be persuaded to fall into the
ranks of the determined opposcr. Of
the British ministry, he, and II few
Others, set 10 work 10 rcvolutiOnize
public opinion in that city, aud Penn.
sylvania soon took a conspicuous place
in the march toward political cmanci-
patton.
At the beginning of September,
l774, the first Continental Congress
assembled at Philadelphia. On the
day before the event, the man whose
career | am tracing in iainte.t outline.
was married to wealthy Quaker
maiden who lived on her estate a fcw
miles from Philadelphia. He was
then bachelor, about iorty.hye years
of age. They were welded in the
city after the manner prescribed by
the Society of Friends, and retired to
the home Of the bride. The next
morning they returned to the city, aud
while alightiug from their modest
chal-e, q message from Pcyton Ran
doIph, president of the Congress Just
assembled, was handed 10 the bride.
groom, inviting him to come 10 Car.
pcnter's hall, the place Of meeting.
"For what purpose am | wanted at
Carpenter hall 2 asked the bride
groom.
Il cannot tell" answered the mes.
senger "he desires YOU to come i'm.
mcdiatcly."
Handing the rein, Of his horse to a
servant, and taking his bride into his
house, he repaired to Carpenters hall,
where he found the Congress Assem-
blcd and waiting for his appearance.
"Mr. Thomson said the Prc.i.
dent, eve have sent for YOU to keep
the minutes Of the proceedings OF
this Congress.
He consented to do so, and imme.
diatcly seating himself at table, with
pen, ink aud paper before him. he en-
tered upon the duties of Secretary to
the Continental Congress as a tempo
rary labor In that official position.
Charles Thomson, the young emigrant
from Derry, now almost forgotten A.
the American translator of the Bible,
remained fifteen years, refusing pay
for his services until that body cx.
pired in 1889, when the nation was
born. So remarkable for accuracy
were his official records, that when
appealed TO to settle doubtful questions
aud flying rumor=, it would be said,
Here comes Truth--here comes Chas.
Thomson"
With leisure for literary pursuits,
after the war, Mr.. Thomson prosecuted
with great zeal, industry aud fidelity,
his seIEimposcd task Of translating
the Septuagint and the New Testa.
ment into English from the Greek.
He regarded the Septuagint as a more
trustworthy translation of the Old
Testament from the original Hebrew
than any subsequent one, for il was
the earlies effort of the kind, made
long before the Christian era, and free
from the inevitable errors of trans
scription and the interpretations Of
theologians to which later translations
have been subjected lie regarded it
as necessarily more trustworthy than
Jerome's revision of the I'ctus Hni1
in the fourth century, known as the
"Vulgate Version Notwithstanding
the Council of Trent pronounced it
authentic; commanded it to be used
on all occasions in the Roman Catho.
lie church whenever the Bible was
publicly read, and the assertions of
the Roman Catholic doctors that the
Vulgate Version was dictated by the
Holy Spirit.
Mr.. Thomson's labors upon his
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