East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-06-17

In the vault of the Commercial
National bank is a most interesting
book. 1t is a Bible, and it is almost
800 years old having been printed at
London in the year 1913. On its title
page, which, contrary to the present
usage, is at the back and not the
front, are these words:
Imprinted at London by
Robert Barker
Printer to the Kings mott excellent
Maieftie
1913
Cum Privilegus Regiae Maieftatis
By reason of its extreme antiquity,
the old book is an object of interest
from several standpoints aside from
the theological one. In mechanical
appearance II is not so greatly diff
ferent from modern works. except in
the style of type, and the fact that
the edge where the leaves are bound
is concave instead Of convex. on
the cover OF the book are a number
of metal ornaments which have ap-
parently been placed there by hand,
as the work is rather crude There
is also evidence that at one time there
was a clasp for the Bible, but the
most of 1t is now gone.
The style of type and the spelling
is of the old English, and the second
verse of Genesis shows some Of the
peculiarities of the latter. 1t is as
follows: 2. "And the earth was with
out forme and voyd and darkneffe
was upon the deepe and the Spirit of
God moved upon the water"
One of the peculiar things about
the historical book is the fact that
although one of the earliest editions
to be printed i'm the English language
the King James translation being
made but a few years earlier, it is
much more complete than most of
the modern works. The psalms are
given in the front of the book as well
as in the usual place in the Old Tes-
lament These are followed by "cer-
taine godly prayers for fundry times"
one being given for each day of the
week. and Tor various other occasions
Following this a diagram is given
which graphically shows how to
properly study the Bible. 1t was de-
vised by T. Grashop.
Preceding each chapter in the en-
the Bible in the argument" in which
n synopsis of the chapter is given
and the work is we'll supplied with
marginal and foot notes to explain
the various passages. All of the Apo
cryphia, IA books. which are left out
OF the modern Bibles, are given in the
Old Testament. In the back of the
book are two dictionaries, one of the
'"Hebrew, Greek Latin or other
strange names difperfed throughout
the Bible" and the other OF the Eng
lish words conducting vnto mott Of
the necceffarieft and profitableft doc
trines."
For some reason there are no
names or dates of any antiquity in the
book. Although It has every evidence
of its great age. the earliest date given
in 1854. and although there are a
number Of others given. they are all
later. ....
Several names the surname In each
case being Downing. are written in
the book and are presumed to repre-
sent the different hands through
which the Bible has passed 1t Is
now the property OF I. N. Wickersham
of the city. ana it has been In pos
session of his wife's family for gener-
ations 1t was brought to America by
Mrs wickersham's mother and 1t Is
said to have been given to her by her
great grandmother in England Ac-
cording to Mr.. Wickersham he has
been offered large sum for the book
,on several occasions, but so far has
refused TO part with II, though he says
that he will now sell it.