Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1886-07-03

may publish if YOU think nro M''c'' YOU
Yours truly,
W. W. iIAMIrroy.
MY rRlENDs:-I am indeed mos
HAPPY TO meet with YOU again, w.,
years ago, If YOU remember, | Lod ~,
pleasure of being with Won on.m, Wv
oay' ana OF awarding two banners ,n
a class OF little girls for liberal contri
button and prompt attention ut SIM
day school. On that occasion moi,
Il lew remarks on the subject cfgiyin"
ana to-day, it is my privilege tn III
10 you III part on the same subinrt
ms Is a celebration of Bible d,yNa
uay SET apart to be observed by n,n,
inst Sunday Schools in the Irnito,
states, Tor The purpose of urpino thc
great Importance OF thorough disiri.
n"''oh OF Bibles throughout, not onl,
me United States, but in other conn,
tries as well, |''"
we all Know what the Bible is, but
Il lew words As to its origin and histo.
fy VIII not be out of place on fins oc.
c'sioh' IN the fourth cegtury, Chrvs-
osNoln, Il plous missionary who dcyo,.
Ell MS entire life TO the service of Coz
gave 10 lhat collection Of sacred writ.
inSs which christians RECOGNIZED y,
me revealed religion, the nalnc of Ri.
hle, which literally means BOOK
hcsc writings comprised the books of
Dotll the old and new testament scrin.
lures The books Of the old tesla
incnt scriptures. The books of thc
old testament were written by Moses
ana the prophets, consisting in all, of
about thirty persons of various class.
cs II education, and living scattered
over Il period OF nearly 1900 Years,
They were written In the Hebrew Inn
@uagc. The new Testament was writ.
ten III thc Greek ianguagc by the
Apostles. All these writings were bv
inspiration the prophets and apostles
who wrote the sacred scriptures were
inspired by God. They wrote ON
papyrns and parchment, and many of
the laws were inscribed on plates OF
stone. Thus the scriptures were pre-.
served and LANDED down from ocner-
alton 10 generation until the art of
printing was discovered. 1t was in
the 10Th century. about the year 1l7O.
that the first Old testament, or rather
all the books of the old bible appeared
IN print in Il volume, and history in
forms us Tins Volume was very impcr.
feet. II was printed on parchment,
without titles, chapters and verses not
numbered and type large and iII-shap-
ed, letters differing but slightly from
those made Nith the pen. Prior to
tins there was no division into chap
tcrs. verses or words; a book was one
long word. mention this to give an
idea OF The great disadvantages which
seekers after divine knowledge labor
cd under during those primltivc arcs,
and to show the great Improvement
since that time. After the appearance
of the first volume of the old ic,tl-
mcnt in print, Improvement began
and new editions followed in rand
succession, The whole Ofthc new ic>-
lament was first printed ia the year
l5ll, after which the old and new trt
lament often appeared IA one volume,
constituting the Bible rs we now have
il.
In the year 1910. during the reign Of
King James of England, the Bible wa,
translated into English, by fortv-,cy-
learned scholars. One pr. Raj
mold, M eminent Puritan. WHO fire.
qucn,cd the Court of King James, Sue
cccdcd, after many rciusaIs, in getting
the Kings consent TO have the Bible
translated into Che English language,
and this is all the king had to do with
this great and important work, yet il
has since gone by the Eamc Of King
James translation,
We have in the Bible q great collcc-
ton of books; yet il is the book of
books, the great book Of God, given by
His authority and under his direction,
and is "pr0of alike against the attacks
Of open foes and the corruption Of
pretended friends" 1t has existed
over 5000 ycars-livcd through the
dark ages and will BE preserved for
ever. II cannot be destroyed, because
God is its author, Many powerful
effort have been made 10 destroy il.
lis enemies may be rcckoncd among
men Of gigantic iuteIlectS, kings and
r%onqucrors. 1t has successfully re-
sisted the power of the sword, the
Of ~cioqvrncc and the prejudice
Of priests, mobiles and cmporcrs. 1t
has %triumphcd in every conflict and
been victorious in every age against
the attacks Of its enemies. The beau
Iiful rhetoric, the matchleSs c%loqucncc
snd plausible theories, as well as the
snccrs, inucndocs and yitupcrations
hat have been hurled against il by |
such men As Hume, Gibbon, Noltairc,
Pain. Bob iugcrsoll and a host OF
have only served TO increase
is interest and make il more bcauti-
Yes. in despite OF all the assaults
If wicked men, herciics and devils, the
Bible still remains as the great beacon
light of our salvation. Ii serves to
guide the wandering sinner to God,
% cnligh.cn the ignorant and startlc
he wise. Without it the nations o!
he earth would drift back into barba-
'ism. throncs would totler and iali,
civilization would be no inorc, and
liscord, bloodshcd and anarchy would
prevail. II is the great power that
,ustains civilization and promotes pro-
srcss. III a literary sense, the Bible
,urpasses any production that has or
will ever appear. Asa work OF hlSto'
y, there is none to equal it III beauty
VI style. magniliccncc of expression,
,ublimiiv of thought or authenticity
If statement. No biographcr has cv-
n been able TO describe human NE
with such precision and such sublime
simplicity as the Bible does, and what
equals the Psalms of David or
he songs of Solompn!
Sir Wm. Jones, Il distinguished poet
aud lawyer, says: ~; nave
.cpulorlv and attcntivcly read the b.
Die. and | am of opinion that this vol
inc, independently of its divine orr
rim, contains more true Suo''',,.!'
more exquisite beauty, purer mora'''!,
mbartiai history and finer strains OF
and cloqucncc than could DC
collected within the same compass
rom all other books ever compose" III
age"