The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-08
BIBLE IN PUBLIC INTEREST.
CHIEF TOPIC or DEBATE IN
ENGLAND AND GERMANY.

Kaiser's Letter Stin Dtscussed-Dr. Wal.
lace's Theory Of the Universe Has Also
Aroused Debate-London's Jewish
Lord Mayor 81 Bible Society Dinner.
Special Caas DsspatoA TO TIE SUN
LONDON, March THE Bible seems to
he the chief topic Of public interest at the
present moment. both in Great Britain
and Germany, and the public press Of both
countries devotes more space to this than
any other subject. London this week wit
messed . Jewish Lord Mayor presiding
at the celebration Of the one hundredth
year Of the British and Foreign Bible So
ciety, at which Prime Minister Balfour
was the principal speaker.
The Germans are still warmly discussing
the Emperor's pronunoiamento on the same
subject TO which even such men as Nordau
and Edwin Arnold are contributing popular
polemics. The religious world has also
taken up DR.. Alfred Russell Wallaces re-
markable theory Of the universe In q sym
pathetic spirit. In fact, the temporal af-
fairs Of men and nations seem to have
given place In public consideration TO the
broadeet problems Of the origin and destiny
Of the race.
The most significant phase Of the matter
seems to be the sudden birth Of tolerance
and the absence Of sectarianism, which
was sufficiently demonstrated by the Lord
Mayors address to a great Christian audi
ence at the Mansion House, where he de-
clared that liberation bred federation. and
1t was a pride and satisfaction to him to
preside over a meeting OF the Bible society,
to whose work he wished every success.
Some stupendous figures were quoted
in regard to the work Of the society during
the past century. The Bible is now cir
culated In 400 languages and dialects, and
$50. 900 900 copies have been distributed.
There remain, however. the President de-
clared. $50 900 900 persons who have never
had an opportunity to read any part Of the
stand.
q plea for the subordination OF sectarianism.
Living here in Great Britain. which Is
too much absorbed with it's own religious
differences, che asked: is 1t not some
thing to be able to meet In a cause intimately
connected with religion, but not In any sense
depending upon sectarian differences. which
40 frequently divide us7 1t must increase
charity, and II must widen the outlet. There
Is always danger, whether in politics. ltera-
ture, or religion, that those who live In .
narrow circle will take q parochial view.
There Is nothing parochial about this so
oiety. When we bring to our imagination
the variety Of races. the variety Of oiviliza-
ton. and the variety Of cultures with which
the society Is concerned. then. II that pros
poet does not make US wholly forget the
points Of differences between US, they at all
events will enable US to put those differences
in the right perspective
Turning to the wider scope Of religious
discussion aroused by recent events. nom
scientific criticism Of DR.. wallace's limited
universe theory. 10 chiefly Of the nature
that 1t IL not sufficiently comprehensive.
Thus the Spectator argues:
why limit the conception Of the Creators
universe to 90 small . thing. small because
q cluster OF stars measuring In diameter
any number Of billions Of miles. must be
small to . mind capable Of comprehending
inhnityf Why should there not be an
infinite number OF such clusters Of stars
Of such universes. to adopt the meaning
which DR.. Wallace apparently attaches
to the wordf To take very earthly simile.
II We suppose . limited stellar universe
to be represented BY q glow worm In Sur
rey Garden, We can still conceive Of another
universe represented by FREELY in forest
in Brazil. How should the glow worm
know Of the frenyi We are told that the
laws Of light oonclusively prove that q
universe Of luminous stars is limited. That
presupposes that the strewing OF space
with stars is regularly continuous, YET.
conoeding that light diminishes distance
why should not one bright universe be in
visible from another, separated from it
by q stupendous breadth Of darkness7-
A sign Of the times in Germany Ia the
conspicuous decrease in the number Of
theological students at the great univer-
stiles. Even before the name OF Delitzsch
became household word young Germans
were crowding in on law and medicine
and neglecting the Church. During the
last decade the number Of students In law
and medicine has almost doubled. while
the number taking holy orders. which In
lam A A-tpdlod IN 4 In, ioOa