New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-03
THE TURKISH CENSORSHIP.
HOW THE BIBLE MUST BE EDITEp

HOW THE BIBLE MUST BE EDITED.
Current reports Of the espionage Of the mails which
Is exercised by the Turkish Government need excite
little surprise, in view Of the practices which have
for some tine marked the censorship at CONSTANT
nople. Indeed the sublime Porte does not lag far
behind the Russian Car in the intolerance with which
1t regards all written printed matter not In exact
accord with its own notions. Only few weeks
ago the restrictions placed upon the publication OF
the Bible In Turkey were made so oppressive as to
call forth an official remOnstrance from Sir Clare
Ford, the British Ambassador
According to q correspondent OF "The London Daily
News" the first cause OF complaint related TO the
ndrances placed In the way OF the circulation of the
Bible generally. Though liberty Of religious teaching
Is guaranteed under several treaties and firmans.
and though the Bible has been sanctioned as a book
which may be circulated, 1t continually happens that
provincial officer selzes the stock OF any person
who is found selling the sacred book. This, there
fore, Is An old grievance, which has now to be
remsdied. The suppression is an illegal act due
usually to the fanaticsm Of the provincial omcer,
and cannot be defended.
Tho proposed changes and suppressions In the
Bible mark q new departure Probably they are due
to the zeal Of or two small functonarles In thc
capital who have been notorious during the past few
years for their hostility to everything Christian and
II Sir Clare FOrd's action IN the matter should lead
10 the removal Of these men 10 posts where their
would be the gamer. They probably the same
men who objected to the words Thy Kingdom come"
ON the ground that the Empire is good enough for the
subjects of His Majesty, and only consented to allow
the phrase to stand being sOlemny assured that
when Christians repeat the phrase they do not imply
any dcrogation from the sovereign rights OF the
Sultan The passages which are particularly OBJ
jected TO by these SOlOmOns Of the Censorship are
those relating to the restoration OF the Jews to
Pale Kingdom
Kingdom Of Heaven" "Of Cod or "of Christi
must be omitted The words jew" and Hebrew
must DO left out. The words According to the
law Of the jews cannot be admitted because the
Jews have law separate from that of other rayahs
In the Ottoman Empire. The reference TO the
"Oueen OF the South" contained In Matthew XII,
g. is for some reason. which is not apparent,
ordered to be left out altogether.
A table Of lessons issued by the sunday school
been for used by the native Protestant
schools Of the Empire. The changes which nave
been made in this are amusing. The lesson from
St. Luke iv, 14.21, must be struck out be
cause 1t speaks of the liberty" Of the Gospel,
and the word liberty implies something offensive
toward the existing Government. The sorrow
changed into Joy, illustrated by the lesson from
jeremiah XXX, 7-16, is suppressed. 1t speaks OF the
return Of the Jews from captivity. and there may
be lurking in the lesson. Probably the same
reasoning II that DO the suitable word explains the
rejection OF the lesson from Psalm x2xil lo.2. IL
L. no doubt from fitness Of loyalty that the words
"Sorrow In the Palace" shown in Esther w. TO the
end OF the ninth verse, has not been allowed u pass
the censors eye. Both the lessons, II reau, VIII
perhaps suggest how they may appear Objectionable
SO also there may be disloyalty suggested by the rst
zine verses Of the Book Of Joshua At any rate the
words Fear not" heading must DO omitted In
the same way the censor cannot have charitable
object alluded TO- as 1t Is in the lesson from Romans
w. 2S to end, without having the nature OF
the charitable object clearly defined and shown 10
be one which does not conflict with the interests
Dan te CnQQN
contribution for the poor in Jerusalem. On such a
text q dangerous discourse might be pronounced.
Better, therefore, suppress 1t.
1t is satisfactory to know. the correspondent adds,
that when Sir Clare Ford pointed ont the absurdity
of the above and Emilar changes immediate at
fention was given to his request, and promise OF
redress at once made, II his complaints were. on
Examination found to he justified. The Ambassador
will no doubt watch the matter carefully and not
Pest III his demands have received full satisfaction