Los Angeles herald., 1890-07-10
LONG BEACH.
The Epworth League is Still in Ses-
sion-The Proceedings.


The usual meetings took place in the
tabernacle at Long Beach yester-
day morning. Promptly at II
O'Clock the main meeting of the
day commenced. The audience was not
SO large as usual, probably from the un.
inviting name attached to the lecture
'<The Inspiration of the Scriptures" by
Rev. Alfred Hummer, d. D., of Port
land, Oregon. Preceding the lecture
Mrs. Alice Osborne sang "The Home OF
the Soul," in her usual effective man.
ner. Her appearance on the stage was
greeted with a storm of applause, indi-
eating the popularity of the sweet
voiced little lady better than any mere
words could have done. Rev. Pattee,
of San Pedro, offered the opening prayer,
and was followed Immediately by
Mr.. Hummer, who read his en-
tire lecture from the manuscript.
A brief abstract OF his lecture is here
given:
The inspiration of the scriptures is
the one point first assailed by skeptics
and infdels, and it is of Importance to
us that we satisfy ourselves on the
point. We will leave out of the question
the discussion of the authenticity and
genuineness of the various manuscripts
which, brought together, compose the
Bible, and assuming that this has been
proven, as indeed it has, we will con-
slider the proofs of the inspiration of the
scriptures themselves. Deny their in
sriration and we are adrift upon a
tempestuous sea without compass or
pole star to direct our course. There are
several theories OF inspiration one that
the Bible was dictated word for word to
the inspired writers, but the scriptures
themselves show that the individuality
of the writer's was left untouched. They
were given their part to write, the part
for which they were most suited, and in
the language to which they were most ac-
customed they told their story. The
thought that they interpreted was given
them and their Interpretation was ac-
cepted by the divine authority.
The difficulties in understanding the
Bible arise, not from the word itself, but
from the difficulties in the way of trans
lating from one language into another.
And yet all the inaccuracies in the de-
fective translations which we have had
to use have never diverted tile great
undercurrent of truth contained there
in. Other difficulties are the great
lapse of time since the Bible was writ
ten, and the wide difference between the
customs and usages of those days and
those of today.
The Bible contains nothing it ought
not to contain. 1t is record, a history
of men, as well as a history of Gods
plan of salvation. There is deplorable
tendency to mutilate the scriptures
bA
the Old, and deny the rest Ii we re-
fuse to accept it in its entirety we throw
suspicion upon the whole. A chain is
no stronger than it's weakest link.
There are seven arguments ir
favor of the inspiration of the
scriptures, which, in legion O
other lesser arguments, stand out like
stars of the first magnitude in the starry
vault of heaven: 1. The typical nature
of the Old Testament as shown by the
new. 2. The unsystematic arrange
ment OF the scriptures, showing that the
various books, all agreeing as they do in
essentials, were written by the various
writers without collusion or comparison
OF manuscripts; yet written with q
simplicity making them easily under
stood by the most ignorant, and sub
Unity making them worthy the reading
of the most educated and exalted. 8.
The fulfillment OF prophecy. The spirit
OF prophecy is no more, but al
prophecies of the Old Testament
and the New have been fulfilled
or will be. 4. The unity O.
the scriptures. Their wonderful unity
with wide diversity of time, persons anC
places. 5. The universal adaptability
of the Bible and the wants of humanity
are met in unexampled perfection
6. The character and the person, the
words and the deeds of the Lord Jesus
Christ. If he is forgery, pretence
then it would take god to assume the
character. He is the key to the whole
word. Z. The character of the scrip.
lures themselves. We are driven to
accept the supernatural origin of the
Bible. How upon any theory but that
of inspiration can you account for the
beauty of the psalms, the proverbs and
the sermon on the mount? Where can
you find their parallel for beauty outside
of the inspired word. What can equa
the sublimity of the opening sentence O
the first chapter of Genesis? Finally
what can equal the consolation of tn,
scripture as we stand by the grave O
the dead or the bedside of the dying
Here, then, let our arguments rest.
The afternoon session was given ovel
to Colonel Copeland for his popular
lecture, Mistakes of Bob." This is
considered the colonel's finest lecture
and called out large attendance. The
evening had lecture on Egypt" illus
trated with charts, maps and diagrams
by Rev. A. S. Dobbs, d. d., of New
York.
Today's events are another lecture by
DR.. Dobbs in the morning, and in the
evening lecture entitled SIN Quaran.
tine," by Rev. Alfred Hummer.
Rev. P. F. Bresee returned to Pasa.
dena yesterday. Mrs. Bresee will re.
main at the beach until Saturday.
Mrs. stagg and her pupils returned to
Los Angeles yesterday, the young ladies
looking very fresh-colored, owing to sun
burn.
Councilman Wirsching and family
took up a residence at the beach yester-
day.
Mr.. Godin, of the Massachusetts shoe
ctoro Mics Gn1ip onI Moctar Art b1, y