The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-06-10
PREACHERS OBJECT
TO JEFFERSON BIBLE
See No Necessity for Publ
cation Of the Work.
Only Three sfe11bers of a Committee
Declare in It's Favor-Action of the
Baltimore Methodists.

BALTIMORE. June I0.-The commit
tee appointed by the Preachers Meeting
Of the Methodist Episcopal Church to
consider the publication of Thomas JEFF
ferson's Morals of Jesus Of Nazareth
by the United States Government re-
ported yesterday at the regular weekly
meeting at Wesley Hall.
The committee. Of which Rev Frank
G. Porter is chairman. placed itself on
record as being opposed to the publica-
ton Of the work. as provided for By an
act of Congress. The principal object
ions were that the work is OF a religious
character and that Congress should
order nothing published at the expense
Of the Government which partakes OF a
controversial religious character: that
the publication by Congress is unneces-
sary. as it is thought The work will be
published by private printing houses.
and that the Introduction. to be written
by Dr. Cyrus Adler, is not to be sub
mitted to Congress.
The consideration Of the report of the
committee took W the whole meeting.
Rev. DR.. c. Herbert Richardson was the
only speaker in favor CT The publication.
re thought it fitting FRAT the act Of
Congress providing for 5000 copies
should be carried cut
IN submitting the -s~.s-s of the com
mittee Rcv. Mr. Port read a letter
from Representative lam F. Lacey.
which was in part as follows:
Il found this book year OF two ago
In the Museum Librery and called atteH-
ton to it in brief article which was
published at the time Following this
I great many inquiries and requests we're
made for its publication. as the effect
Of Congress purchasfne - manuscript
and locking it. up was practically a sup
preston Of the book. NJ Jefferson has
been criticised for this book by people
who have given it no examination and
10 not understand its scope. In justice
20 him it ought to be published. and the
cause OF Christianity would undoubtedly
De aided by its publication.
Taking this view OF it. 81 the request
Of a great many people-many of whom
we're Minister'S introduced resola-
ton for its publication. II has passed
both houses Immediate attention was
directed to this book by reason of this
resolution. and three different firms
have arranged to publish it. This be
ing the case, there is no longer any ne
5essity for Congress to unlock it by
publishing it as a Congressional docu-
ment.
I regret that some clergymen have
the scope of this work.
It is simply an analysis of the moral
teachings of our Saviour. literally and
extualIy extracted from the four Cos
pels without s word O. comment on the
part Of Mr.. Jefferson. It is the arrange |
uent. selected as these teachings have
been from the four gospels. that consti- |
tute the real work OF Nj. Jefferson.
Those ministers who have, without
knowing the contents or arrangement of
the book. criticised It's scope and puT-
pose will be surprised and delighted
when they actually come to examine 1t. /
Mr. Jefferson prepared this book with /
one foot in the grave. when he was ap-
preaching the great beyond and has
done the work in the most reverent
spirit"
The report was adopted with but three
votes against it.