Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-05
IT STANDS BY ITSELF
Dr.. B. B. Tyler Tells Society Something
About the Bible.
Says the Book IL Indispensable to All
Classes-Prosperous Condition
of the Local Society.

There is no book like the Bible" once
said Charles A. Dana, before an assem-
blage of students of Union College. while
speaking of the books they should read
In preparing for the profession of Journal
ism. This utterance was repeated last
evening at Calvary Baptist Church by the
Rev. DR.. B. b. Tyler. pastor of the Church
OF the Disciples. New York. at the sixty
sixth annual meeting Of the Washington
city Bible Society. The church was well
nlled, and the members and friends of the
society were treated to one of the most
interesting discourses that has ever been
delivered in this city. The meeting was
Opened by the rendition of appropriate
music by the choir of the church.
Dr. Pitzer. in introducing the speaker of
the evening. said that the society is not
mendicant by any means. but an emf
henty respectable institution, having en-
Joyed remarkable success for sixty-six
years A society that has done the work of
this. he thought should receive the sup
Port OF the people Since the suggestion
three years ago by the American Bible
Society to furnish every child between the
ages OF eight and sixteen years with a copy
of the Bible. the Washington society has
distributed III 800 copies of the Scriptures
cent. ~
At the annual meeting Of the American
Society in New York IL was said on ali
sides that the Washington Society is the
banner organization of the country mr.
Pltzer spoke of the legacies that have been
given to the society, which he called the
safest Investment that a Christian could
m AXE. Every time a man gives to the Bible
Sc ciety he gives to the whole work ~
evangelzing the entire world. He then
presented DIR. Tyler as a leading element in
the Christian Endeavor organization and a
member or the International Board on Sun
day School Lessons.
An Indispensable Book.
DR.. Tyler said that of all his functions
there was none Of which he is so proud as
that Of a member of the board of directors
Of the American Bible Society. He said he
wanted TO point out a few features to de-
onstrate the unique character of the Bible
anC then he alluded to Mr. Dana's words
when he praised the sacred book as the best
Tor any man to read in preparation for any
walk of life. Some books are absolutely
indispensable to the journalist" the great
editor had said, but Of all the most useful
the most Indispensable and the most effec-
tive is the Bible" DR.. Tyler spoke of the
ambition of Editor Stead of the Review of
Reviews who said that the more nearly he
could make his journal approach the liter
airy standard of the Bible the nearer il
would be to perfection.
Charles Reade. DR.. Tyler went on, has
written an interesting work on the char
acters OF the Bible, in which he points out
that they are absolutely unique The pre-
sent literary marvel. These characters
originated with a people not noted for their
literary Skill who Occupied an Insignificant
place in literature and politics, and yet
the characters never lose their identity
Throughout the entire work"
Shakespeare" said the speaker, has
been translated into all known languages
and SO has the Bible but the two do NOT
stand together. Shakespeare in French is
not at all what Shakespeare is I'm English.
and IN Chinese is not Shakespeare at all
his characters will not bear translation
nor transportation. The Bible will not
only bear translation, but its characters
never chanse, no matter what their dress
Walter Scott on his death bed called for
the reading of a book. When asked what
book should be read to him, he replied
There is only one book-the Bible
The Bible is unique in its unadorned
facts, said DR.. Tyler. This makes its
characters stand out distinctly You can
recognize Mary and Martha anyyhere
think that Martha lives in New York to-
day And yet one of the disciples describes
these women in fourteen verses and another
IN but five. That is all there is about
mem yet we know them perfectly. Charles
Reade says that Jonah is the most beauti-
full book in the Bible in the English Ian
gtage. though but forty-eight verses I'm
length There is a man in New York who
says he knows Jonah. he says he is a
Baptlst preacher trying to get away from
mis- duty"
Historical Accuracy.
The biographical accuracy of the Bible
was next treated. the speaker insisting
that the work is unique in that it is abso-
lutely unbiased. Modern biographies are
either written by friends or enemies of the
subject; II the former, the work is filled
with fulsome praise, but If the latter the
man is painted as little short of a fian5
ircarnate. The heroes of the Bible are
drawn, as Cromwell would have his por-
uait painted. "wart and ALL" Dr. Tyler
ws.asfN-
standard qualities, whose foibles are un-
hesltatingly portrayed. Noah for instance
Was righteous man. but he became intox-
lcated Abraham prevaricated. good man
'housh ne was. Jacob. though blessed with
a good character, took advantage of his
brother Even Joseph spent twenty wears
IN Egypt and never wrote to his father
There have been great many Very ugly
shlngs SAID about s@inted David. and Peter
has been accused and never acquitted Of
cursing and swearing. Il think all the
more OF the Bible and think IL to be the
work OF God all the more because IL
paints human nature as IL is"
Or. Tyler scored the modern novel and
PAID his respects 10 the preachers who have
adopted the fad OF choosing their texts from
the titles OF the popular books of the dav
lheie are better texts, he said. 10 be found
INSIDE the great work than man ever wrote
unalded. He gave quotations from Matthew
Arnold, Prof. Huxley and Joseph Cook TO
snow the enormous influence of the Rihle
anu t4ieil WIN convincing logic In
the end that the Bible is an inspired work
ana not the work of either good men or had
men. Nor angels nor demons, he said
could have written this work this literature
III Is full of the supernatural 1t is ponuIar
tccay, and its popularity is not DIVING out.
No book of modern days has ever been CON
sidered of sufficient Importance to telegram
entire from New York to Chicago as Uas
the revised edition Of the New Testament
Dr. Tyler spoke of the enterprise of CON
gresham Tom Johnson in getting the pro
gress and Poverty" of Henry George print
ell entire in the Congressional Record Rut
even this. he added, was not such a feat a
the electric transmission OF the Scriptures
half way across the continent
The Annual Report.
After the address a collection was taken
up, to which the congregation responded
literally. DR.. Bittinger pronounced the ben
edictIon.
The annual report of the president of the
society. Rev. A. W. Pitzer was distributed
among the pews of the church in q neat
printed form. The most gratifying state
ment that has appeared In similar docu-
ments for years was therein found IL was
recorded that IL 800 Bibles have been given
TO the children of this city through the ef-
forts OF the society and bat an