The Florida star., 1902-08-15
EDITORS NOVEL PLAN.
Carleton F. Hodge Will Print
the Bible as Serial Story.
REASONS FOB HIS UNDERTAKING.

Gach week In His Paper Says In
terest VIII he Increased and Peo-
PIE VIII Read the Book Who Now
Never Look Inside of 1t.
Carleton F. Hodge, who in recent
issue Of his paper, the Assumption
Qn) Weekly Independent, began the
publication OF tine Bible as a serial
story, in explaining his determination
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 become sufficiently worldly
- TO attract readers.
Mr.. Hodge is undertaking long
contract. If he prints one column
from the Bible in his paper each week.
II will be nearly fifty years before he
can write, Concluded in our next"
Mr.. Hodge argues that his serial
Will prove as entertaining as any fic-
tion he can find and besides spreading
the gospel will materially add TO the
circulation or the Weekly Independent
His scheme has already attracted
much attention, and he is daily in re-
ceipt OF letters from ministers and
Others, some praising his scheme and
others censuring him.
In talking Of his reasons for decid-
ing to print the Bible Mr.. Hodge said
the other day TO a reporter of the Chi
cago Tribune:
'Why do | publish the Bible? To
the majority of persons the publication
OF this oldest OF books would seem su-
pertiuOus, senseless waste of space,
considering its already vast circula-
tion.
Let us consider. How many people
who own Bibles, have always owned
Bibles and would blush to confess to
the lack of one ever scan the inside of
the book? How many of this number
were they so Inclined would be able
from their utter unfamiliarity with its
character, to select a passage or sec
tion from which To read that would
prove interesting enough TO warrant
repetition OF the experiment? Would
they not lay Ii aside with at least
mental observation that il was dry?
THE Bible. considered from a stand
point wholly foreign to moral senti-
ment, Is liberal education if read
and studied conscientiously, or with
perseverance. if you prefer. Then why
not serve 1t to them in modest courses
once week, time enough between in
which to digest the contents? And
why not begin at the beginning? Does
one thoroughly understand Il question,
a principle, piece Of mechanism, un-
Ill he has gone to the bottom of ii
and worked up, step by step, every de-
tail impressed upon his mind until the
whole is part of himself!
For example. compare the man who
is considered, To use u common express
sion, well informed with the college
bred man. Not in the light of indi-
vidual merit and worth, understand
me, but as TO thorOughness and com
prehenSiyeness. One has bits of
knowledge, gathered from many
sources, good and substantial of its
kind. but disconnected. jumbled and
incomplete. The college man. or the
college education. typities the system.
beginning at the beginning.
Il believe the Bible as Il serial in my
paper will prove as Interesting and en-
tertaining 10 my readers as any fiction
/ could use. While | , not by that
statement imply that readers are
more in the dark oCE. .e Bible than
other sections or thaS u am making
strenuous effort To bring a colony of
heather into the light | believe the
majority Of those who believe tE,L
have read the book will tir;.},sitI
thing new and Of interest il il
stallnent of tie story. -, ThI
There are, aside from I, hon
or claim 10 be Bible studs evc
class of readers. newspaperN de 10Y
readers, who are indifferent Is"
BILE and some who condemn itSeher"'1t
so much as trial To this class Tie
Bible, an equal associate of the good,
bad and Indifferent of general news
paper matter, will take Oh another
complexion. become sufficiently world
ly, as it were, 10 attract them.
I'VE shall see after the first number
whether or not | have figured correct
ly. To be sure. there is no criterion. |
TO the best Of my knowledge the indie |
Wendent will be the first newspaper in |
khe history of the world to attempt the |
work, and a respectful stand aside |
policy on the part Of my brothers in |
the profession Will be becoming at |
least until the result is discerni5le."