New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-19

;onoi fi,rarv of France etc. etc. Translated from
the second French edition Win an In w. ribIcS
Ep.NcIe HnoWS Associate Professor III DipuCa
rhiioogy Union Theological Seminary. eNo: PIP
$50. New York Charles Scr'Dnor SONS lo0-' .
In these days when the genesis of all things OF
the earth and the stars of life, of animals oil men
ana of human history, is the upperlnost theme OF
study. work Iy an author so Justly distinguished
as scholar in the department of Oriental history
and especially of Assyriology, as Lcnormant, Is sure
10 commaud attention. When the special subject
"a the early Biblical records, and the narratives
which they contain, a special curiosity is awaK-
ene1 to ascertain the conclusions OF an inquirer anu
critic so well-informed aud acute on these ques-
tons. interesting alike to the theologian and the
general student Professor Brown, i'll his JudicIous
introduction, does not oyerstate the claims oil Tue
author to be heard on the topics when nc uhuei
takes here to discuss. NJ. FRANCOIS LenorlhahC Is
the son of the eminent archPologlst, Charles Lenor
mant, who was one of the companions VI INC
Younger Champ0lhon in his expedition TO Egypt I'D
1928. The son. who is Professor OF Archaeology III
the National Library at Paris is the author OF
series of publications pertaining TO oriental history
and antiquities including 4" Manual OF The Ancient
History of the East" which was crowned py tne
French Academy. and work on "Chaio@an
Magic" both of which have been rendered inuo
Encl,sh. In the volume before lis Professor Lenor-
nant takes up subject uniting peculiar dlnVul-
tics not the least of which are occasioned by the
religious opinions and sensbities which cluster
about 1t. As Professor Brown truly Observes
The time has long gone by when the religious Hie
could afford to look askance upon critical study OF
the documents from which it is itself fed Each
wear IS teaching us moro plainly that spiritual truth
suffers far worse injury from any attempt on the
mart of its champions TO repress tTamme reverent
investigation than 1t ever can from the excuses OF
radical criticism" These golden words which 1t
behooves every zeaOt who seeks to put down OBJ
noxiOus opinions by dnt of camor and personal re-
proach to lay to heart. The conclusions of Lenor-
mant are conceded to be somewhat az variance
with the popular view of the early chapters oil
Genesis. They not more dissonant, however.
from that view than were tho doctrines OF
astronomy and of geology when they were first
hroached. The calm observations of Professor
Brown on this topic are adapted to disarm preu
dice:
In the interests Of religion to say nothing Of scholar
ship we cannot afford TO reject conclusions which are
put forward in such unexceptiona9e spirit except
rational grounds established as the result Of tempe
value of the book does not depend upon the correctness
of this or that opinion nain ained In IT, HIS warnest
admirers will not claim author that he Is always
judciouS II is natural that so ardent and original
scholar shOuld sometimes be lncauOus ana hhSty ID his
cpncIlsi ms and that facc worker should not al
ways observe the greatest care In minute particulars
safety with which may take refuge In It's opinions.
but in the opportunity It gives ms to form Just opinions
of orr own III this point of view the spirit of Its in
vestgatOns above described Is one OF It's two great
advantages: the other Is It's MI presentation Of the
and paenc, the author has collected materials from all
available quarters and arranged them for purposes OF
proof or Illustration. TO the specialist cveu and par
iCuaIy 10 the student of AssyrOlogy there cannot fail
he much that is instructive IN me facts or tneiT
mine of information IN regard to the early traditions
Of all the great peoples OF the earth s lar s these c9
no fgltt
formal with the beginnings OF the Hebrew records.
These characteristics give the book its asthg value
Lenormant is a devout Roman Catholic but le
confidently afirms that fealty TO religion and to the
Church does not require of him the least sacrifice of
tho convictions which an absolutely free scientific
study may warrant and inspire. His frank words
are worthy of Christian and a scholar:
| am Christian, and Just now, when my belief may
be q for repTObaon am more than ever DESTROYS
proclaim IL emphatically But at the same time
Christian science and science Of free thought ac
knowledge science only needing no Qualifying cpl
foreign to its domain aud accepts all investigators,
working in good faith, whatever their religious conrc
have devoted my life, and should think had uiled
in a sacred conscientious duty, If, Influenced by any
nrcnossesson of another order, however worthy Of
respect 1t might be- should hesitate to tel the ruth In
al sincerity and simplicity, rs | believe myself to have
ton tiDd and should happen in the course OF
researches 10 encounter an apparent anthony between
of undcrst9ng or conccaling it, should boldly put
forth the contrary statements, certain beforehand
that day will when they Will attain harmony which
should not have been skiul enough 10 disco, or But
,st add I'm MI sincerity that uc yer vet IN the course
OF career which already TcckOns quarter Of century
gvo To study have come face 10 face with genuine
cnuGct brtweeu science and religion Az far ns am
concerned the two domains absolutely distinct aud
not exposed TO collision There can be quarrel be
tween them unless one encroach Improperly upon the
tcrritorv of The other Their truths are Of "A different
order they coexis without contradiction ana shall
never 10 sacrifice one set TO The other for shall
never find it necessary to attempt H.
Lenurmant ayows his belief in the inspiration of
the Bible But this belief does not clash with an
acceptance of the results of far investigation
specting the authorship and date OF the Biblical
books the connection of their contents with pre-
vious or contemporaneous beliefs ana traditions,
and other kindred points. What is to be dTa WI
from the Bible In relation to faith aud morals is OF
Divine authority. On the point Just named the
scholar has entire liberty. Here scientific criti-
csm resumes all its rights" From science thus e1-
pressing its rights the real authority of the sacred
books has nothing to fear.
VI. Lenormant holds that the so. called unity of
composition OF the books OF the Pentateuch can no
longer he maintained. 1t is not without denur'
that ho brought to accept the results Of crti-
cism this subject, but he has found it impossible
to reject them. He says:
As admitted to-day by the highest authorities among
writers of the orthodox Protestant school III Germany
aud England not less rcsouc defenders Of revelation
and of the inspiration OF the Scriptures than e (ntho
lies hold fully demonstrated the distinction between
the fundamental documents. Elohist and Jchoyist
which served sources TO the final editor of the rsi
four books of the Penateuch WHO done LITTLE moro
than establish sort OF concordance between tbe fUo
while leaving their reduction intact. These two
urinary texts may be restored almost without ga ~
and 1t is easy 10 point out certain number discora
uces between the two similar TO those that NAV like
wise be observed between the different versions of line
same event related In two books Of the Bible like
Kings and Chronicles. We must not, however exng-
gerate these disturbances which bear only upon facts of
an historic character and not matters essential To
faith And is especially the manner In Whic the final
compiler has abstaned beyond certain degree
from haTmOniZlug the two texts 10y removing their
divergences that seems to decisive proof OF the
holy aud Inspired character which he already recognized
I'm their composition.
In short, he accepts the documentary theory OF the
origin Of Genesis AS to the date of the two prnci-