New-York tribune., 1903-03-01

mern, WinkIer Jensen and HAUNT, only TO mention
a few leading scholars. There can be no DOUBT
that many parallels TO the accounts found in
Genesis can be discovered In Bahylonian records
It is by no means certain that the name JahWeh
is the same Jehovah, as read on the inscriptions
referred 90 by Professor DelitEsch. Many well
known scholars disagree on this point with hlm
The mere fact however, that parallel accounts TO
the creation and the flood stories and the like
are to be found in Babylonian documents does
not give one the right to infer that they are de-
rived from Babylonian origin. These ideas In re-
gard 10 cosmogony and the early history OF the
human race were probably common property of the
Semitic peoples and appear in one form among
the Babylonians and another among the Hebrews
and in still another among the Pheenictans FRANK
ly am very much surprised at the recent excite
ment caused by Professor Delitzsch's lecture, and
especially so that ut should occur in Germany,
where these things have been written and talked
about for years past The fact that Emperor Will
lam is now concerned probably accounts for the
prominence given to Professor Delitzsch's views.
Much more radical things in regard to Hebrew an
tiquity have been said and written for years past
not only In Europe. but in England as WE'LL
PRESIDENT PATTON Of the Princeton Theo-
logical Seminary declined to enter into full dis
cussion of the views advocated by DR.. Delitzsch
or of the criticism of them made by the Kaiser
stating that at present he deemed 1t expedient to
say very little about them. However, he spoke as
follows regarding the Emperor's declaration that
he believes In God and In Christ His Son: II am
very glad to note that the German Emperor has
affirmed belief in God. and that he has une-
quivocally declared his belief in the divinity of
Jesus Christ and in supernatural revelation. Such
statement coming from the ruler Of the German
people, must indeed mean a great deal fer the
true Christian religion
DR. ROBERT DICK WILSON. professor Of
Semitic philology and Old Testament criticism in
the Princeton Theological Seminary, has during
the last year made complete comparison of the
vocabularies of the Hebrew and Assyrian die
tionaries (the Assyran dictionary being the
published by DR.. Detzschl. and he compared
all the words that express important ideGs in the
Hebrew with the words expressing the same ideas
in the Arabic and Syriac. In this connection he
has made careful review of DR.. Detzsch's
lecture Babel and Bible" and last fall he
addressed the seminary students this subject
DR.. Wilson, when asked to express his views on
the question OF DR.. Deitssch's position viewed
by the Emperor gave The Tribune correspondent
the following statement:
IT think this is the most interesting question that
has come in the religious world in recent years
That q ruler like the German Emperor should
enter the fields of theology and criticise the
held by an eminent archRologist such as DR.. De-
itzsch Ia a matter that attracts little attention
1T is impossible for to properly discuss the
Emperor's letter until We get the original copy in
the Germen. II We ere to judge Of Professor De-
Ht&gchs views expressed IN his address on
Babel and Bible" delivered before ths German
emperor ABOUT yeaF ago, concerning WhIcn the
present controversy has arisen. hold that II Is
more hsteFodox from Presbyterian point Of view
tasn are those Of TaGay OF the German professors
that attack him. The Bible plainly teaches that
tsaFe was Garden Of Eden, q mount on which
the Ark rested, 0 Tewsr OF BABEL and the dis
nersien and thst Erem UF Of the chaIdsss went
forth Abraham and has tsaiiy. carrying with them
Inevitably many Of tha manners and custems Of the
Bahylen.aHG fFem wAsss they went forth.
IN how far las language laws and cuatcEns and
religion eE the Hsbtsws % revealed IN the Script
nFes the came 90 thoas % the BabSlonIaus I'VE
not yet able 20 astsrmine with accuracy be-
cause Of the insuEacieney Of shs data. We can,
however. assert several things with certainty:
First the iaHgasse OF the Habrsw EibIe presents
very littS evidence to show that Il was Influenced
by the sp4cnc technical, legal ethical terz1ino-
oEy Of the Babyiouians.
Secondly, the laws of the Babylonians, 80 far
- they have been published. and especially the
code af Hammprahl translated by WIaelisr and
published with so much comaendable enterprise in
English dress. Ia three Of the January issues Of