Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-12-27
THE BIBLE As A
LITERARY STUDY
Says Holy Scriptures Comprise
A Collection Of Great Dramas
And Poems.
ABOUT SOME OF HIS BOOKS.
Keeps out OF the Theological Field and
Raps Vigorously the So-Called
Higher Criticism"

The distinguished philoiogist and lee
turer. Richard Greene Moulton. Phi. D.,
professor Of literary theory and inter-
probation In the University Of Chicago.
arrived this morning. from the east
and is guest at the Knutsford. He
was entertained at noon at the Com
msreial club, by Manager J. Fred An
derson OF the university lecture bureau.
This evening he will lecture In the
First Congregational church on THE
Literary Study of the Bible Apart from
Theology and Criticism"
INTERESTING PERSONALITY.
Prof. Moulton is most interesting
talker and an interview with him this
morning would indicate that he Is
bringing new ideas that will be listened
to with marked interest by Salt Lake
people who will go to hear him. he
stated 10 a News representative that
his field did not include theology and
the so-called higher criticism. as these
concerned the history and the origin
of the Scriptures. and with these he mad
nothing to do. The professor said ne
was concerned with the Bible as a 1T
erary study and TO his way OF thinking
the present form OF arrangement is I'M
perfect, notceably In the manner or
metrical composition. The revised ver-
sion is an Improvement over the au-
thorized version In this respect, but
long way from being perfect.
COLLECTION OF GREAT DRAMAS.
Prof Moulton regards the Scriptures
as a most remarkable collection OF
great dramas, poems and general lit
trary efforts. He has given the entire
range Of Christian Scriptures a most
careful study, and the outcome OF his
investigations Is valuable publiea-
ton from his pen entitled The Modern
Readers Bible" that Is. the books OF
the Sacred Scriptures presented In
modern literary form. The publication
Includes the whole Bible with three
books from the Apocrapha, complete In
2l volumes, divided into history series,
six volumes, Including Genesie, Exodus.
Deuteronomy. Judges and Kings; the
Poetry series, including the Psalms. the
Lamentations Solomons songs. Ruth
Esther; the Wisdom series, Including
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastlcus,
the wisdom OF Solomon and job pro-
phecy series, the greater and minor pro-
phets and then the New Testament
series Prof. Moulton. In reply to ques-
tons stated his belief that the Bible
Is pre-eminently q devotional work. and
that while 1t contains history, scientific
records, biology, etc, these are madc
secondary and as bearing on the prime
feature Of devotion.
THE HIGHER CRITICISM.
In the matter of prophesy. over
which the higher criticism has had
rather stormy time of II, Prof
Moulton agrees that the prophet Is
Gods mouthpiece, but his utterances
do not necessarily refer to specific
events to be accomplished in the more
or less distant future. although 1t IS
possible that this may be the fact. This
phase OF Scriptural exegesis the pro-
fessor Is not so much concerned In, as
he is the consideration of such pas
sages as literary effort, and his view
of such passages al the great fifty
third OF Isaiah embraces, rather It's
dramatic. its epic features. Such he
treats as grand choral efforts. tho
united song of Israel. as the mouth
| piece Of the Almighty.
SCRIPTURAL REVERENCE.
Prof. Moulton dsprecates the ten.
| dency TO base Judgment on excerpts
! from Scripture, when not only the
| INN ediate context but very likely tho
| entire book containing II should
be considered. Isaiah is really COM
posed Of two books. covering two I'M
| porant fields OF the same general
topic, and the Book of Ruth is a
beautiful idyll The gifted scholar
and lecturer has profound reverence
for the Scriptures, and his special
treatment OF them In their dramatic
and poetic forms brings out their
beauties in. new fields OF view that
can only come from profound learn
Ing such as he possesses. Prof. Moul-
! ton IL also a writer and critic on
hakespeare as a dramatic artist, the
| moral system Of Shakespeare, the an
Client classical drama, and other valu-
able works. He will be listened to
with deepest interest this evening.