The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-27

REV. DE-. PHILIP SCHAFF, PRESIDENT OF THE
AMERICAN REVISION COMMITTEE.
The day fixed for the publication of the
revised version of both the Old and the New
Testament in the United States is May 81,
1885. Great interest is manifested in the
event throughout the contry. America has
taken prominent part IN the work. the re.
suits of which will soon be in the hands of
the people. The actual revision was com-
pleted nearly year ago. Putting the book
through the press with the proper amount OF
care has consumed the intervening tins.
That Bible readers in the United States, from
Mey 81, will have the best result Of Bible
scholarship before them. is point gained,
and, il may be added. the general intensity
Of expectation regarding the regi,ed book,
emphasized by the prominence given in the
newspapers 10 the details Of the revision, is
significant that the Bible is the 'book OF
books to large n lumber OF people. At the
same time ii is not probable that the sale OF
the whole revised Bible will be nearly as
large that of the New Testament alone.
when 1T was published in q separate form.
The history of the present revision is soon
told. Work was begun by the British Com.
mittsein Westminster Abbey June %, 1870.
The American Committee began to revise
October 4, 1872, Eightytwo scholars united
their labors in the gigantic task, the Old
Testsnent employing twenty'seven British
and fifteen American revisers aud the New
Testament twenty five British and fifteen
American.
Philip Schaff, the learned gentleman whose
portrait Is at the head of this article is Presl-
Dent of the American Revision Committee,
and took part in the revision of the
New Testament. He was born at Coire,
Switzerland, January l, 1919. His
ming at Coire, and continued in
Stuttgart. Tubipgen. Halle and Berlin. He
took his degree of 3, D., and passed an ex.
summation for professorship, In Berlin.
1S41, after which he travelled through several
countries OF Europe, as tutor to the SOD OF a
Berlin be lectured In the University OF thas
city. His subjects were Church History and
Exegesis, and the duration of his employ.
ment in this way. was from 1912 TO 1874. In
this year be removed to America, accepting
q Professionally in the Theological Semin AIRY
of the Germ an Reformed Church of the U al.
ted States. 1t NercerHburg, Pa. He held this
position from 1874 to 1868, when he removed
to New York, DR.. Schatf acted as Secretary
of the New York Sabbath Committee from
1864 to 1869. In 1865 he made a visit to En-
rope. His lectures on Church History, deliv-
cred in the Theological Summaries at Ando.
YER, Hartford and New York, gave hlmlgrest
lessor of Sacred Literature at Union Theo
logical Seminary, New York. a position
which he still holds. He was one of the
founders and the first Secretary of the Amer
lean Branch of the Evangelical Alliance, and
its Commissioner in 1869, 1872 and 1873. to
make arrangements for the meeting of that
BODY in New York. ii 1878. In 1871, Dr..
Schsff acted Sc the Alliance delegate to inter-
cede with the Gar OF Russia in be-
half of the religious liberties OF his
subjects in the Baltic Provinces. When
the American Bible Revision Committee
was organized, in 1871 at the request
Ct the British Committee he was made its
President. The cooperation of the British
and american comnitteeo led TO his pres
ence in EDglsDd IN 1875, 30 assist in making
aTrsr gements with the University Press for
the publication of the revised edition of the
Scriptures. Dr.. Schaff's title OF D. Nss
conferred on him oy the University OF Be-
lin in 1854. His other titles include S. T. p
and Ii ID. Of numerous list OF honors paid
him by learned bodies. He Is q voluminous
writer. OF his works, which are chiefly ex
egetoal and historical, the "History of the
Christian Church. in four volumes, is the
most celebrated. DR.. Scbaf attended the
session of the Evangelical Alliance held in
Copenhagen in the early part OF last fall.