Evening journal., 1904-03-05
WILL OBSERVE
BIBLE SUNDAY
Founder of Bible Society
Great Grandfather of a
Wilmington Man
VIEW OF THEODORE PARKER

In most of the Protestant churches OF
this country and England the pastors
tomorrow will preach sermons touching
in some way upon the centenary OF the
British and Foreign Bible Society.
The founder Of the British and For
eign Bible Society was the Rev. Thorn
as Charles, A. B., of Bala, North Wales.
He was graduate of Jesus College
oxford, and a clergyman of the Estab-
lished Church Of England. He was also
the founder of Sunday schools in Wales
as Robert Raikes a little earlier had
been in England. His great grandson
is the present pastor Of the Rodney
Street Presbyterian Church, the Rev.
w. +. d. Lewis.
In view of this international Bible
Sunday observance, an extract from a
sermon on 1.-The Bible" by Theodore
Parker, is of interest. 1t is:
View it in what light we may, the
Bible is a very surprising phenomenon
In all Christian lands this collection
of books is separated from every
other, and called sacred; others are
profane. Science may differ from them,
not from this. 1t is deemed a conde-
scension on the part of its friends, to
show its agreement with reason. ....
This collection of books has taken
such a hold on the world as no other.
The literature of Greece, which goes up
like incense from the land of temples
and heroic deeds, has not half the in
iuence Of this book from a nation alike
despised in ancient and modern times.
1t is read Of a Sunday in all the thous-
ands of pulpits of our land. In all the
temples Of Christendom is it's voice lift
ed up week by week. The sun never
sets on its cleaning page. 1t goes
equally to the cottage Of the plain man
and the palace OF the king. 1t is woven
into the literature of the scholar, and
colors the talk of the street. The bark
of the merchant cannot sail the sea
without it; no ship of war goes TO ths
conflict but the Bible is there. 1t en-
ters mems closets; mingles in all thu
grief and cheerfulness Of life. The af
hanced maiden prays God in Scripture
for strength in her new duties; men ar
married by Scripture. The Bible at
tends them in their sickness; when tn
fever of the world is on them, the ach
ing head finds a softer pillow If sucl
leaves lie underneath. The mariner
escaping from shipwreck. clutches thil
first of treasures, and keeps it sacre'
to God. 1t goes with the peddler il
his crowded pack; cheers him at even
tide. when he sits down dusty and IA
tigued; brightens the freshness of hi
morning face. 1t blesses US when WI
are born; gives names to half Christen
dom; rejoices with us; has sympath,
for our mourning; tempers our grie
TO finer issues. 1t is the better par
Of our sermons. 1t lifts man abov
himself; our best Of uttered prayer
. are in its storied speech, wherewith on
fathers prayed. The timid man, abou
awal5ing from this dream of life. look
through the glass Of Scripture and hi
leye grows bright; he does not fear I
stand alone. to tread the way unknown
. and distant, to take the death-angel b
the hand and bid farewell to wife, an
: babes, and home. Men rest on this a
d their dearest hope 1t tells them O
God. and his blessed love; Of earthl
duties and of heavenly rest. Person
who believe nothing else that is spirit
= ual believe the Bible all through with
: out this they would not confess, sa
they. that there was a God.