Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-26
BIBLE AS 4 SERIAL
TIE SACRED BOOK TO BE Re.
PRINTED IN. A NEWSPAPER.
Editors Plan to Spread knowledge of
Gospel and Increase Cir
culation.
From the Chicago Txibune.-

From the Chicago TSibune--
ASSUMPTION. pi.. July 23-carIeton F.
Hodge. who will lit this weeks issue Of his
paper. the Assumption Weekly Indepeud-
ent, begin the publication Of the Rible as a
serial story, In explaining his determine
ton. declares people who never look inside
Of their own Bibles will read the scriptures
in a newspaper. He claims that. when
printed in a newspaper, the Bible will he.
come sufficiently worldly to attract readers
Mr.. Hodge is undertaking a long contract
If he prints one column from the Bible in
his paper each week. It will be nearly ffty
years before he can write concluded in
our next"
Mr.. Hodge argues that his serial VIII
prove as entertaining as any fiction he can
hnd. and. besides spreading the gospel. will
materially add to the circulation of the
Weekly Independent. His scheme has al
ready attracted much attention and Re- is
daily in receipt Of letters from ministers
and others, some praising his scheme, eth
erS censuring him.
Hodge Tells His Reasons.
In talking of his reasons for deciding to
to print the Bible Mr.. Hodge said TODAY;
''Why do 1 publish the Bible? To the ma
jority of persons the publication of this old
est of books would seem superauous-a
senSeleSS waste OIL space, considering its
already vast circulation.
Let us consider. How MANY neon,a u,bo
own Bibles-have always owned Rihles-
and would blush to confess to the lack Of
one, ever scan the inside of the hook . How,
many of this number, We're they so in
clined. would be able from the utter nm.
familiarity with it's character TO select a
passage or section from which to read that
would prove interesting enough to warrant
a repetition Of the experiment? Would
ft,n1r low oei3
observation that 1t was dry?
Bible Liberal Educator.
''The Bible, considered from a standpoint
wholly foreign to moral sentiment. Is a 1ib-
eral education If read and studied consci-
entiously-or with perseverance, If YOU pre-
fer. Then why not serve it to them in mod
est courses once week-time enough be-
tween in which to digest the contents? And
why not begin at the beginning? Does N1e
thoroughly understand question, a princi
pie, piece of mechanism, until he has gone
to the bottom of it and worked up stem by
step. every detail impressed upon his mind.
until the whole Is part of himself?
For example, compare the man who is
considered, to use a common expression
well informed with the college bred man
Not in the light of individual merit and
WORTH understand me, but as to thorough
ness and comprehensveness. One has bits
or knowledge, gathered from many sources
good and substantial of its kind. but dis
connected, jumbled and incomplete. The
college man, or the college educa ton. tyni-
fies the system-beginning at the beginning.
All Will Find Something New.
Il believe the Bible as a serial in NV pa-
per will prove as Interesting and entertain
Ing to my readers as any fiction 1 could use.
While L do not by that statement imply
that my readers are more in the dark on
the Bible than other SECTIONS or that I am
making strenuous effort to bring COLONY
or heathen into the light, believe the ma
Jorlty OF those. who believe they have read
the book Will find Something new and of in
terest In each installment of the story.
There are, aside from those who are or
claim to be Bible students, a large class of
readers-neWspapeE aud fiction readers-who
are indifferent TO the Bible; some who con-
oemn II without 50 much as a trial To
TINS class the Bible, an equal associate of
the good. bad Ia sd indifferent of general
newspaper matter, WIN take on another
compleXfon-become sufficiently worldly. as
1t were. to attract them. .-
We shall See, after the first number.
whether or not have figured correctly. To
be sure. there is no criterion. To the best
or my knowledge the Independent Will be
the frst newspaper In the history of the
world to attempt the work, and a respectful
stand aside policy on the part Of my broth
ers IN the profession will be becoming, at
least, until the result is discernible"