Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1882-05-03
Parting from the Bible Society

The great body of ofchristian believers
in this country known as the Baptis
denomination has broken at last from
the powerful religious corporation, thu
American Bible Society, representa-:
all other Protestant denominations
The cause of the separation has beer
the revised edition of the New Testa
ment, which, in the opinion of Baptist
divines and other scholars, does moi
present the subject of baptism in the
spirit of the original text After q
careful consideration of all the differ.
ences and after repeated conferences
with the Bible Society the Baptists
have resolved that ANY union or co.
operation with the American Bible
Society is now impossible" and have
taken some important steps as the re-
suit of that conclusion They have
already published in this city several
editions of the New Testament as last
revised, introducing into the body OF
the work, however, all the readings OF
the American revisers and discarding
the English. These renderings,
among other differences from the work
published by the American Bible So
sciety, instead of saying 'baptize with
water give 'baptize in water, ard are
therefore in conformity with the doc
trine which. Baptists teach and are as
accepted.
DEvIsING WAYS AND MEANS
AS the issue of this edition is ex-
pensive, involving greater cost than
the other Bibles can be had from the
Bible Society, the extent to which
their publication and distribution will
be carried depends upon question Of
ways and means. A meeting has
been arranged, to take place in New
York on Thursday evening next, TO
agree upon measures as is said in the
letters sent out, that will command
the confidence of the entire Baptist
denomination, that will meet promptly
the pressing demands for the Scrip
lures and especially supply the wants
of six millions Of freedmen, great
majority of whom are connected with
our denomination and have claims
upon US as Baptists.' If this meeting
carries out what is expected of it the
new Baptist Bibles containg the literal
translation Of the American divines
and scholars-only two of whom were
Baptists, by the way-will be printed
and circulated on an extensive scale,
although the basis OF supply and dis
tribution for home use at first will be
copies Of the old King James version,
purchased in large quantities from the
American Bible Society. While the
Baptists will continue TO buy from the
Bible Society copies Of the old version
they reserve the right to issue diff
feren. revised edition of their own and
do not mean to let the Bible Society
do their missionary distribution for
them, but will take up that work them
selves and push it with all the energy
and persistency they can command.
If revised edition is to be put into
the hands of the millions Of negroes OF
the south just beginning to read, the
Baptists say that they do not want 1t
to be one which will invalidate or
question the accuracy Of the position
they hold, that immersion baptism is
one of the first Christian qualifications.
THE BAPTIsTs' ARGUMENT.
AS an argument against their treat
ment at the hands of the Bible Society
the Baptists have defined their posi-
tion in statement as follows:
God honored the Baptists by max
ing them the leaders in the modern
missionary enterprise and in the work
of giving the Bible to the world. Will
liam Carey, Baptist, was the first
modern missionary. He and his as
sociates published and translated the
Bible in the langua9 of more than
one-third OF the human race. and, as
expressed by the London Quarterly
ReUie,o, did more for spreading the
Scriptures among the heather than
had ever been accomplished or even
attempted by all the world besides.
Joseph Hughes, Baptist minister
was the chief organizer OF tho British
and Foreign Bible Society and was its
secretary as long AZ he lived. Bap.
lists were prominent in founding and
enriching the American Bible Society
These great societies aided in circulat
ing the versions Of Carey and Judson
until in an evil hour and in n sectarian
spirit further help was refused, except
on conditions humiliating to Baptists
and at the expense OF their convictions
Baptists were then compelled to work
alone, and for years they exhibited
great zeal and abundant liberality
Divisions subsequently caused theil
zeal to languish, and for twenty years
past they have done nothing worthy
of 80 great body Of Christians with
such history. Baptists were earnest
and efficient in promoting the work o
procuring corrected version OF the
English New Testament, which re
suited in the recently revised edition
The American revisers, but two o
whom were Baptists, have furnished
version which uniformly teaches
that believers were baptised in water
This revision, which does 80 mucl
honor TO the Christian scholarship and
candor of the American committee
and Is the most perfect edition OF Tho
New Testament, has been published
and widely circulated by our Baptis
Publication Society Baptist8 were
lead TO believe, recently, by men no
Baptists, prominent in the councils o
the American Bible Society, that th'
: barriers TO their return would be re
: moyed-that Baptists once driven on
: would be welcome back. Later event.
have shown that while there are man,
in that society who regret what wa
:. formerly done, any union or co-opera
tion of Baptists with the America
Bible Society is now impossible.
FnUITLEss EFFORTS TO PREVENT IT.
TLa trapaiotiona of Earev and Juf