The Washington times., 1904-07-31

1.-THE visitor to the National Museum
Is embarrassed and distracted by
4 unnumbered claims on his atten-
ton in every corridor. For an hour his
interest is enthusiastic. Then 1t grows
exacting. Before he has been half day
wandering past fits cases his mind is
dun.
What would his attitude be. If he
knew that only about one-third Of the
Smithsonian collections were offered to
the public view? II he knew that many
OF the Institutions greatest treasures
are. OF necessity. protected from me
light7
An idea of his thought is now offered
by the widespread and continued inter
est In the curious New Testament, COM
piled by Thomas Jefferson For twenty
years that little red leather volume rest
ed under lock and key In the desk Of
DR.. Cyrus Adler. philologist OF the Insti-
ttion- II was almost unknown, but to-
day II IS the subject of more comment
than any OF the 1--WE best-selling books"
advertised by American purveyors Of fic-
ton.
Probably less than a thousand per-
sons have examined single page Of the
text II is certain that not more than
q
nal Yet. its nature. its form, and its
spirit are as well known as Tolstoy' s
Resurrection"
Debate in the House.
A debate in the House of Representa-
tives, last fall, aroused this extarordi-
nary attention. The existence OF the
book had been made known through the
newspapers, as one of DR.. Adler's dis
coveries. while engaged in pathological
Iabors in Baltimore. That only one copy
existed was equally we'll known The
House of Representative proposed
THEREFORE, that the National Govern
ment should print 1900 fac SMILES, for
the use of Libraries, colleges, and stu
dents.
The opposition provoked was keen
One member asked the House to publish
as many thousand copies OF the Ter
commandments Another introduced q
resolution 70 print a good spelling book
But the measure was carried. In a few
months. perhaps by October !. the tex
OF Jenerson's now famous bible" vii
have become public property.
His Religious Tenets.
Not the least effect Of this agitation
has been a widespread discussion Of
10 many newspapers and several maya
zines. he was an atheist. But the great
er number % editors regard his opinion
on all religious subjects as matters 0
Understandable doubt.
Yet a casual examination Of Jeffer
sons letters at the Library Of Con
gress makes these things distinct anC
clear: That the third President of TIL
United States was never an atheist ant
that he has given eogent and lucid ex
preston of his faith
Epistles sent 70 friends from Wash
ington and Monticello indicate that hi
interest in religion was continued an,
deep. To John Adams. with whom h.
corresponded regularly after both hai
retired from active political life. and t
DR.. Benjamin Rush with whom b
seems TO always to have been intimate
he wrote frequently. II not freely, oil
this and nearly every other matter o
interest 10 the gentlemen OF the Revo
lutionary period. To DR.. Rush. indeed
he sent the most comprehensive an,
formal declaration of his faith whicl
he could md time to prepare and thos
who think Jefferson's attitude towar
religion a matter of uncertainty hav
only 20 read the Syllabus" which wa
then transmitted.
Letter TO DR.. Rush.
The letter TO DIR. Rush is unusuall
interesting, as its text will signify:
Washington. April q. 1903
Dear Sir; In some OF the delighth
conversations with you in the evening
OF 1883. and which served as an anC
dyne 70 the Affections OF the cris
through which our country was the
labouring. the Christian religion wa
sometimes our topic. and tho
promised you that one day or othe
/ would give you my views of it. The
are the result OF a life Of enquiry an
reflection and very different from ths
anti-Christian system imputed 10 me
those who know nothing or my opinion
ITO the cOrruptions OF Christianity
am indeed opposed but not TO the gel
uine precepts OF Jesus himself. a.
q Christian, IN the only sense IN whiC
he wished anyone 70 be; sincerely a
tached 20 his doctrines IN prefercn,
10 all others. ascribing 20 himself p
cry human excellence. and believir
that he never claimed any other.
the short intervals since those cOnve
Eations, when I could justi1ably al
stract my mind from public affair
this subject has been under my col
but the more I considered It, II
more II expanded beyond the meosu
OF either my time or information.
the moment OF my late departure fro
Monticello. l received from DR.. Prizes
" HIS little treatise OF Socrates ar
Jesus Compared"
He Reflected Much.
This being a section OF the genor
view ! had taken OF the field. IL BEGAN
a subject OF reflection while on Il
road and uaoccupied otherwise. The r
suit was to arrange IN my mind a syll
bus or outline Of such an estimate
the comparative merits OF Christiani
as I wished to see executed by son
one OF more leisure and Information 4
the task than myself This now ] SET
you, as the only discharge OF n
promise ] can probably ever execut
and IN confiding It 20 you / know
Will not be exposed 10 the maligna
perversions OF those who make eve
word from me a text for new misrepT
sensations and calumnies.
II am moreover. averse 20 the cor
rnunication OF my religious tenets 20 q
public. because IL would countenau
the presumption Of those who have q
deavored 70 draw them before that =
bunel and 20 seduce public opinion
set itself into that inquisitlOn over q
rights Of conscience which the Lar
have so Justly prescribed. II behoov
svery man who values liberty OF 90