The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1905-12-30

The Gilbert Ialnnda nihla.

The Gilbert Islands Bible.
On April il, 1893, there occurred 6
memorable scene In the printing Office
of the American Bible Society in New
York.
A little group of missionary officials
gathered in the composing room
where the Rev. Hiram Bingham-a
tall, thin, gray-haired man-set up the
type Of the last verse Of the Book OF
Revelation in the language, of the Gil.
bert Islands. A proof was taken and
corrected, and Mr.. Bingham read aloud
the last verse, and translated Its bene-
diction: 1.-THE grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ be with you all. Amen"
Mr. Bingham's voice trembled ais he
read the Verse-his own benediction to
the people among whom he had spent
his long life, as well as the benedic-
ton Of the apostle from Patmos. He
offered prayer. Then the type was
taken to the press room, where the
form was already made up, and stood
waiting for these two lines Of type.
The press started; the first sheet was
eagerly secured; the work of thirty-six
years was at last finished. Before the
company left the office a complete
Bible was placed in the hands of the
venerable missionary.
A large majority Of the versions Of
the Bible now in use have been made
by missionaries, but even this state
ment does not convey an adequate
idea Of the labor and patience in
volved.. When the company was wait
ing in New York for the first sheets
Of the last form of Mr.. Bingham's
translation to be folded and added to
the previous forms that had been
printed and were waiting in the bind
cry, he told the story of the transla-
ton, begun thirty-six years before.
1t had been task involving the re-
duc1ng Of an unwritten language to
writing. The work began in 1857.
After five years the manuscript of the
Gospel Of Matthew was sent to Homo
lulu to be printed Thirteen months
the missionary waited the return of
the Morning Star; yet when the mis-
sionary ship came back, it brought no
printed Gospel. However, a printing
press had been sent, and Mr.. Bling
ham was instructed to print the Gospel
at the mission.
To learn the printers trade suf1-
GENTLY we'll to make a book, and that
with no instruction or supervision,
seemed an almost impossible under
taking; but beginning was made. A
few days later boatload of ship
wrecked seamen reached the island,
and one Of the men rescued from the
sea was a printer. So the first Gospel
was set up and printed.
The work of translation proceeded
slowly, with all the other duties of
the mission, and it was fourteen years
before the entire New Testament was
In type. Still the work went on, with
labors many and varied. Mr.. Bingham
now knew the language better, and
Mrs. Bingham, who had considerable
natural ability as a linguist, had be-
come an accomplished helper. Young
men from the native training school
also by this time had become compe-
tent to help. The first translatIons
needed revision, and were revised.
And so, after weary delays and many
Interruptions, and more faith and
prayer and toll than can ever be
known, the work of lifetime came at
last to its completion.
The city paper which related the
story Of the little service in the print.
Ing office told in words of admiration
Of the faithful work Of the missionary
and his devoted wife. 1t was a story
IN some respects like that which al
most every foreign mission could tell.
but in some respects it was UNIQUE.
Into 1t had gone the life-blood of the
man who wore himself out in this
endeayor. But he lived
to see his labor complete, and to know
that thirty thousand people had a
written language and a literature and
A knowledge of the Word Of God
Youths Companion.