The sun., 1899-07-14
No Reason why Engiish-speakinE People
Should Not Say Halielujah.

To THE EDITOR OF THE suN-Str: Ihave Just read
with good deal OF curiosity tho Rev J. T. Shea.
hans letter on the spelling of hallelujah. II tho
grammatical and pathological principles which he
lays down were adopted fear wd should have to
change the spelling and pronunciation of hundreds
of words In common use. Think OF referring to
Bath as AQu@ Soils. to Edinburgh Castra Alata,
to Canterbury as Durovernum. to Alcala Complu-
tum. to Ireland as Hibernia &c.
The English phonetic equivalent for the Hebrew
form Is not so easily determined. For many CEN
turies the septuagint Greek version of Scripture
was used by the Church-in fact Greek the off,
cial language OF the Church In the beginning Hence
It is easy to see why for so many ages tho word
spelled allsluia and alleouia. The Septuagnt ver-
sion has not alelnia as Mr.. sheahan think.
but allelouia. Many Greek scholars pronounce ou
as ow in how. The probability is however that the
word was pronounced allelouia for many centuries
before and after Christ The first letter of the word
is not diJ the first Hebrew letter. but the asprato
he. Observe the mark the "e." Iodh oorre-
spends in all probability to our consonant ~" We
must not forget that our knowledge OF Hebrew IL
very limited. The best Hebrew scholars admit this
Hence must not believe everything even the best
Hebrew scholars tell us about Hebrew orthography
and pronunciation. Halleujah and alleluiah arc
late Latin forms.
But grant that the Hebrew or Greek does not admit
an or a In the word. see reason why we Eng
disappearing people may not say hallelujah. IL
not permitted TO say hallelujah we must not
say Jehovah. but Jehovah. We should have to
change tho pronunciation OF many other Hebrew
words II We consistently followed Mr.. Sheahana
principles; should say Kikero. after the fashion
Of the Greeks; must with Virgil, vergil or
Vrglius. Ktkintrdv IL refer to oroaking or
singing frogs. We must not say Rome. or Paris. or
Wagner. In fact. We must say very absurd things
TO please superficial critics.
Have we any certainty that we know tho pro.
nunciAtion Of words used 5000 years agoP Afew
f.,..
Jersey college. and after he had mastered
me-Espaha. and he met spaniard or I'm Espa6ol,
university he did not understand his own language
moral. Hallclujah has come. and it has come to
stay. The revised version of the English Protestant
Bible. the hymnal OF the Protestant Church in lre-
Protestants and Catholics use 1t.
Ono word about hallemjRh las a Salvation Army
war whoop and cAmp.meeting hysteria" God I
believe cares little OF tho sound Of the words in
which His praises are sung. Has He not said: re
you confess Me before men. will confess you ne-
fore my Father. who ia In heaven"1 May not those
people be sincere? Would 1t not be better for those
people who sit ct the table of Isaac Jacob to be
come ~ Paul-all things unto all men to draw jew
and Gentle. bond and FREQ. to Christ, instead Of
throwing mud pellets at them? We all like to praise
the Lord. 81. Augustine in his Confessions says.
20 God Thou awaksst us to delight in Thy praise;
for Thou madest us for Thyself, and our heart in
restless until il repose in Thee
TRENTON July II. soHoLAsrrous IRLsToSESss.