The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-08-16

Northmen. They believed In heaven that
was called Assard. 1t was peopled win gods
whose duty 1t WAS 10 wage perpetual war
fare upon the shaggy Jotuns, or giants, oi
frost and wave and nre.
There was one-eyed Odin, with his ravens
, perched upon his shoulders, and Freyja. bis
wife there was Thor, with his hammer,
almer the evil Lake. and Balder, ialresl
and most beautiful OF all the gods. The
Mortimer believed that Asgard was 10 pass
away. the gods were all to perish, and there
would be a new Asgard peopled by other
gods. The beautiful Balder died at the hand ;
Of the evil Lake, and, as Balder was the goo
OF sun and light, all the JOY Of life went out OF
the heart OF the Mortimer. The mission
aries came and told them Of the life, the SUI
feripg, and the great sacrifice Of Christ. The
simple story melted the Morse heart they
cried, HE is even greater than Bsider and
they were ready to draw their popderous iron
swo ords or plow the toughest main Tor HIS
sake.
Only think for one moment Of the glorious
work OF this wonderful book. Only the fool
may speak lightly or disparagingly or It's ss-
cred legends, It's Christ-spoken parallels, IT.
There is density in the mind and basepess
In the heart of the man who may not be lu J.
ed and sootbed and joyed and thrilled, by 1is
sim pie prose and pastoral poetry. TWAS tnls
that caused the silent Tepnyton 10 exclaim
in re- pture: "Could not wander once each
day mid the sacred paths o1holy writ no ight
despair Alb, what book is lhis Ihe
book that insists upon heart purity as tne
very essence OF the higher life. 1t contains
the sapest, soundest ccde OF morals extanl,
the only perfect law, tacred history, woD-
derful biography, and matchiess romance.
1t contains complete analysls OF eVeFy
phase OF human life, in JOY or IN sorrow-
every thought. feeling or emotion OF the hu-
man breast may find there It's fellow. In the
life, the writing, and the acts OF the Apostle
Paul, we find the wisdom OF Solon, the logic OF
Socrates, and the zeal OF the Latter day -Saintt
com bined. In few comprehensive chapters
the Book gives an account OF creation ana the
Deluge, two OF the most cosmic phenomena
known TO geology. IL tells OF The glorious
reign OF King, com pared with whom Augut-
tus OF Rome, the greatest Louis OF France, or
the proudest Of the Romanoos must iade into
siepificaoce. There is couched in It's four
gospels the grandest drama known 10 litera.
ture-a tragedy that clims1es with the death
ard resurrection Of the eternal Son OIL Goo
Have you pined for home and kindred,
stranger in strange land' Then you pave
sat with the captive Hebrews meath the harp
burthened willows by the streams OF Baby :
Ion, ana you remembered with new Joy ano
q deeper peace your Zion, home with ils asso-
ciations-then and there, you would have SUI
fered your right hand to forget It's cunning or
your topgueto cleave 10 the root OF your
, mouth bt fore you would have been disloyal
to those sacred ties
majestic than the loud resonnding ssa OF Ho-
mer or bis cloud epveloped Zeus? Then turn
10 the twepty-nintb Psalm. There you Will
find type OF pbrateoioRy mat is cosmic 10 l.s u,
grsn deur. AZ We read The inspired stan zas OF
David, we seem 10 see the swayipg and the
breaking of The cedars on Lebanon's summit
In the grip of scme fierce tempest, typified as
the voice Of Jehovsh. Might3, Iors-ouli.
and leap upon their granite bates. eWayed 6y
the Eternal aim. Verify, 1.-The voice OF The
Lord Is upon The waters and the God OF glory
Taken merely as compilation of English
prose and poetry, 1t Is the verdict OF the
scholars of The ages that the Bio.e Is un.
excele in our literature. Then let the pure
old English version stsnd intact, not mine
the sacriligious hand 10 despoil from It's holy
pages one sacred phrase. It's obsolete pre-
nouns. It's dead verbs are chronological IL :
vites set spart for q sacred purpose; Nor are
we following cuppirgly deVist d fables or dis
torted parable spd proverbs translation
has been compared with translation and yer.
sion with version till the possibility of Sc
rious error has been practically reduced 10
thouR ht OF the ages and has been HANDED
dow n TO us In ways and means divers apd
wonderful. 1t Is as everl lasting. as eternal as
God or The human soul
The ruined grandeur of Jerusalem, her tenn.
pies nd her gates witness the human efforts,
the human Joys and human sorroWs lived
and breathed within the holy city. The
mountains round about still stand silent
mourDful witnesses OF glory long since de.
parted. The shepherds at eveptide, still lead
theI focks 10 craze upon the mouptalp slde
and could we stand there with them at night
fall there would steal upon our senses, from
Re serenity OF the Oriental night, the last
faint echo Of the Savior's lementaiton: 20
Jerusalem. Jerusale m, thou that killest the
prophets and sionest them that are sent unto
10 thee how often would l have gathered
thy childre as hen gathers her brood un-
der her wings, and ye would not"
The Jordan, once the proud boast OF the ps-
tiop, the theme OF Hebrew song, now lies
muddy, sluggish siresm in The midst CT q
land downtrodden and oppressed. All that Is
material doth silently fade and Iats away,
but this book, the one great heritage OF the
world from Hebrew civilization Will 60 on
and on down the ages saving man and bless
ing bis earth, for tIuly: "Heaven and ear b
shall pass away but the word OF my God shall
stand forever"