The sun., 1891-05-15

sturdy yAmericanism." Nevertheless, we are
gratifed to observe that he has discovered
the Billion at last. .,.. r,>
TIE Holy Bible.
This week the American Bible Society has
celebrated at Chickering Hall tho seventy
fifth anniversary Of 1t, birth. It was one OF
the first OF tho great organizations for the
gratultous distribution OF the Scriptures es.
tablished in pursuance Of the Protestant
theory that the Bible is the only infalIible
rule Of faith and practice, and that the right
OF interpreting 1t rests with the Individual; /;
or, in other words, that Scripture is its own
interpreter. as the Divinely provided guide
to salvation.
Under that fundamental principle it be-
comes the prime duty and the first essential
OF Professionalism to put the Bible into the
hands Of every human being and to teach
him to read 1t. The worldwide distribu-
tion of tho Scriptures, their translation into
every tongue, and the universal diffusion Of
education are, therefore, necessary conse-
Quences Of tho Protestant theory.
In the beginning Of the present century.
or at the time when the present great agen-
cies for the distribution of the Scriptures
were founded in England and this country,
the Bible had already been translated into
nearly all the languages Of Europe and into
q few OF the Oriental tongues. Since the
formation Of the British and Foreign Bible
Society. the parent organization, In 1904. the
number OF languages into which transla-
tions have been made has increased to
~h~
some Of them are Of parts Of the Scriptures
only. This represents prodiglous amount
Of labor. performed In great part by Protes-
tant missionaries; and It furnishes impress
sive evidence Of profound faith in the Bible
as the infallible Word OF Gop. or all these
translations the seven principal Bible socie-
ties Of Europe and America have distributed
atleast 20o. 900 900 copies. The American Bible
Society alone has circulated during the
seventy-flve years Of its existence 81, 900. 900
copies Of the Scriptures, and the British and
Foreign Bible Society. in existence since
1904. has sent out about twice as many.
The various branches Of Professionalism
differ as to other matters, but they all agree
as to tho duty and necessity Of disseminat-
ing the Bible, and therefore they unite in
support Of these societies. 1t Is true that q
part of the Baptists separated In order to
word "baptize" OF the authorized English
version translated "Immerse but they are
among the most strenuous Of Protes-
tants In demanding that tho Bible shall
go to every human being as the
only infallible guide to salvation. The prin-
clpal speaker at the anniversary celebration
of the Bible Society at Chickering Hall on
Wednesday evening was the Rev. PHILLIPS
BROOKS, or BISHOP BROOKS. as he has been
elected to be; and his appearance on that
platform is a striking indication OF Episco-
pal sentiment in approval of the pur-
poses Of the association. From one end
OF Professionalism to the other tho
Bible Is revered as tho revealed Word
Of GoD: Whatever doubts there may be Us
to tho necessity Of other religious agencies,
there Is none as to tho Christian obligation
to exhaust every means for tho distribution
Of the Bible to mankind. Accordingly. tho
American Bible Society Is the centre OF
purpose formed in every denomination and
scattered throughout the world.
The popular reverence for the Bible Is also
strong. and 1t extends 10 every copy of
tho printed Book. and includes even those
who reject the supernatural authority
Of Scripture. At least so far as tho exit
bition OF outward and formal respect Is con-
cerned. they are all of one mind. Tho vari-
ous Bible societies are careful to put copies
OF the Scriptures In tho reading rooms and
bedrooms OF hotels aud upon all ships and
steamers. It cannot be said that those
volumes give evidences Of having been
extensively read, but they are never
defaced. Tho most AIppant treat tho
Holy Bible with instructive and dis
tinctive respect. Roysterers do not tear
out It's leaves to light their cigars. Tho
lewd do not disfgure Its pages. Gamblers
carefully put away the Bible be ore using
table tn which It lies. Othcr books
are dog.ear d and grimy with indifferent
use. but the Bible remains clean and
whole. The bibliolatry OF which Prof.
BRIGGS speaks so slightingly, is very
generally displayed. In this country at
least. The Bible is treated as a book apart
from all other books, even by mon who carry
his theories to their logical conclusion and
reject Its divine authority altogether. They
look upon any misuse OF the printed volume
as In bad taste, and there is among the
usually thoughlless and profane supersti-
lious feeling which prevents them from do.
Ing injury to 1t. No matter where Bible is
put. 1t may be assumed that 1t will be safe
lrom Ill usage.
These are very significant facts. and they
suggest the revolutionary change In religious
sentiment which would occur II belief In the
Bible a. the actual and ipfallible Word OF
COP passes away among tho people. lit is
a book Of errors along with its truths, Its gen.
oral distribution would be as likely to prop
agate error as truth; the individual cannot
b trusted TO interpret II for himeelf, accord.
Ing 70 the thsory es Ysotsstaatism. What