The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-03-28

OF their King With every fresh con
quest came fresh demand for the
translation Of the Scriptures. These
societies have tried to meet these de-
mands, and as result, the words Of
Christ may now be read in .}2O differ
cnt languages. They have been put
within reach Of 10000, 900 more
hcatlcn now than could be reached
by them at the beginning of the cen
tury.
An interesting feature Of this part
Of the work is the fact that many Ian.
guagcs have been reduced to writing
for the purpose Of maxim, them the
depositors Of Christ words. This
book it is, to quote the language Of
Henry Rogers, that first conferred
on many barbarous nations the won
dcrous art Of condcnsing the volatile
vapor Of thought with visible form,
taught them the first clements Of those
arts that arc the necessary conditions
Of all progress and civilization, and
opened the way that leads on to all
the triumphs Of human intellect and
national greatness. Certainly any
book that has thus Of much vital pow
cr in it that it can un bar the gate that
has been shut for centuries in the face
of barbarous people, lead them out of
darkness into light and liberty, aud
then quicken their joyous footsteps on
the road to glory and greatness, will
not likely pass away.
AS further illustration OF our theme
it must DC noted that the Bible has
won its commanding position in the
face Of fierce and persistent opposi-
ton. The opposition of individuals
like Eoltairc and Paine and Ingersoll
has been as nothing compared with the
organized opposition of mighty gov
crnments which, from time to time
has been arraycd against it. IL the
early days of the Roman Empire, when
as yet Christianity was an unlawful
religion, Dioclctian set himself with
deliberate purpose to destroy the
Word Of God He issued an edict,
which was published in every prov
ip;c Of his far-rcaching dominions, de-
manding that every copy of the Scrip
lures should be g:"on nr, aud the
penalty Of refusal was death. The
Christians numbered only one twelfth
of the population. Diocletian had all
the armed power of the empire at his
command, and he called into play all
the terrible instruments Of terror and
torture that could be devised. But
when Diocletian abdicated the throne
the task of exterminating the Bible
had not been accomplished. 1t was
taken up eargcrly and earnestly by his
successor, the cruel G alerius. He had
no pity in his heart for the Chris
tians By his orders, they were hung
up by their heels and fires built under
them. Their ears were cut off and
their eyes were thrust out. Molten
lead was poured over their bodies, and
when life was extinct burial was de-
MED to their .nangled forms and they
were left exposed to be devoured by
vulturcs AMI dogs. While thousands
VINO loved the Bible perished, the
Bible lived on: and not only so, it
grew il sire ngth and had practically
conquered the empire by the time Ca
lerius died.
Another striking illustration is fur
nished in the history Of Madagascar.
In 1920, the inhabitants of that island
were heather. They had no literature,
no books, not even an alphabet.
English missionaries entered the is
land. They invented an alphabet aad
reduced the languages to written form.
Printing presses were sent over by the
London Missionary Society. In 1880
the New Testament was translated and
published in the native language. The
next year 20 converts were baptized;
the first fruits OF II years Of toll.
Only four years later, persecution
arose. 1t ragged for % years, pitilcss-
ly, relentlcssly. The missionaries
were banishcd A decree was issued
threatening death to auy who were
found reading the Bible. Offering pray
crs to God or receiving the rite of
baptism. During the terrible reign of
blood it is estimated that 10000 per-
sons were subjected tc various penal.
ties including torture and death. The
Bibles were hidden in the earth and
read by stealth. What was the result
of this fanatical effort to txtermina.e
the Word Of God? At the beginning