The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-05-15
WORK OF THE BIBLE
 SOCIETY DISCUSSED
Bishop Wilson, Chancellor Kirkland and Dr. Haven Make Addresses
 at First Church.

In view of the fact that the American
 Bible society is this month celebrating
 it's 9Oth anniversary, last night was given
 over by the general conference to a dis
 cussion of the work being done by the
 Bible in modern life. The session was held at the First NJ. E. church and
 Bishop Hendrix presided. Addresses were
 made by Chancellor Kirkland of Van
 derblt university, pr. W. l. Haven Of New York, one of the secretaries Of the American Bible society, and Bishop A. w. Wilson.
 An opening prayer was offered by Dlns-
 dale T. Young, the British fraternal dele
 gate. Bishop Hendrix called attention
 to the great work which had been done
 by the British Bible society and the American Bible society. saying the work of the two has been indispensable in con nection with the work of the church dur ing the past century.
 Chancellor Kirkland of Vanderbilt unl- versity was the first speaker introduced. He lauded the Bible as the rock upon which our civilization rests, saying that of all the books in the world the Bible is the only one with which an educated man cannot afford to be unfamiliar He spoke of the enormous influence or the holy book on all our literature during
 the many centuries. Its precepts nave
 been incorporated into many of the
 worlds most famous paintings. He asked
 his hearers to picture the desolation
 that would exist in the world If the
 Bible and all the paintings, statues and
 books in which references are made to it, was suddenly obliterated
 Dr. w. l. Haven, one Of the secretaries of the American Bible society, was next
 introduced. He said that the society was
 entirely in the hands of thirty-six lay
 men. He said he came chiefly to ask and answer the question to whether the Bible was adaptable to the conditions now opening up with the civilization of the twentieth century and to see whether there was any significance in the fact that the issue of Bibles last year eX-
 ceeded by 100000 copies the issue or any previous year. He gave many instances to show the extent to which words from the Bible permeate every phase of modern life. Some of the illustrations were hu- morous and showed that the great news
 papers and speakers constantly and per haps unconsciously used words from the Bible
 The speaker next took up the influ- l ence of the Bible on the world today Bishop Hendrix in introducing Bishop Wilson. announced that the senior blsh- op had been unanimously agreed upon to head the commission looking to the revision of the church's articles of faith.
 Bishop Wilson's address was powerful
 and appealing discussion on the infiu- ence the Bible has had during the past nineteen centuries.
 q think I must be an old fogy,' he
 began "I read to keep up with the things of today. but I am constantly looking { back into the past The marvel of the
 present Is in the way we are following the thoughts and preeepts given us in
 apostolic times.
 "The Bible has maintained its integrity
 from the past to the present day. Some
 revsons have been made and there may
 be some more made soon for some or ! the revsons of the revisers need to be
 re-revlsed. The marvel to me is that l it has survived with so few changes.
 He said the Bible had maintained It's 1 hold upon the world in spite of the fact
 that through all the centuries 1t has re- i fused to adopt itself to the passions of
 men. He said that In the first place 1t was the divine element that made the
 Bibles grip upon so irresistible.
 The speaker asserted that the Bible ap-
 peals to the heart rather than the intel | lect The bishop was given the clostest
 and most careful attention throughout his | whole speech.