The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-29
WILL PUBLISH A NEW BIBLE.
Syrian Has UnOrthodoX Views of
the Present Edition.

Auburn, Ind. July 2s.-The Reverend
Abraham Rihbany. a native Syrian, late
pastor Of the Morencie CMichD COngrega-
tionai Church and well known throughout
Indiana. Ohio and Southern Michigan, where
he has lectUred and preached, has de-
dared his withdrawal from the Congrega-
uonai Church, and well known throughout
is started new organization. which he
calls the New Age Church. Al a foundation
for the new church he proposes to publish
new Bible.
Nr. Rihbany takes exception to several
theological teEets Of orthodoxy. and states
his reasons forcibly for his departure but
he makes known at the start that his object
Is mot to plunge into Improbable theu-
logical controversies. but to feed the !nul-
ttude. that the plain people want. not old
or new dogmas, but living, practical and
disable truths that touch every day life
and work and heart needs
He comes out more boldly even than many
modern religious separatsts. He attributes
the theological dissatisfaction and the re-
liEious unrest not only to varying under
standings OF the Bible. but - the Bible it,
self, which, he claims is part crude and
part ripe. part human and part divine. part
Jewish and historical. aud part Christian
ard inspired. He claims that many of its
sto les. such the fall I'm Eden the deIuee
The story Of Jonah, Saul and the witches
Lots wife and the pillar OF salt. and others
time, and each containing some useful les
son, are absurd as history and weak Jew
ish legends. not up TO the standard of Chris
tim teachings.
Mr.. Rhhany promises that I'm his new eai-
tion of the Bible the pure and lofty ethical
teachings viii he separate and distinguished
from its legendary lore. and the preaching
Avf Balaam's ass will not be on "A par with
she earnest messages OF such a prophet as
rhe fiery John. the Baptist
He claims no superior revelation only an
earnest following of convictions born of
years of study and months If quiet prayins
and observation of the trend of events NJ
less vague sentiments Of tn 1usaufs az
pious. awakened and inquiring followers of
Christ
Mr. Rhhany was horn and reared In The
1urkey-oppreSed and superStitious land of
syria. 10y SyT.an parents. He was taught Il,
believe as inspired all the legends THAI TN.
swarmirg priests of that country LibbIo
to the ignorant and gaping multitudeS. At
his conversion To Christianity he entered a
christian mission school. where. he made
rapid progress in science and literature He
became an earnest student Of everything
that seemed 10 promise light ON the great
problems Of life. He came TO America "A
poor hut bright hoy and distinguished him
elf by his studi0us habits and earnest shirt
in some of our best colleges Dh,rlin
among them He taught school entered the
ministry and married one of tn. teach, -
in Wauseon. .. He has lectured on his sub
sequent travels in his native ana other
lands. His ability In logic and feryent nra-
scntation Of truth are well known. His in
tense American patriotism is admired His
honesty and zeal in the promotion Of truth
as fast as he discovers it are unquestionei
nv all his aCquaintancps. He is a good
iinguist and uses the unrest English in
writing and speaking. He is now i'm COM
munication with influential men about his
nj