The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1906-09-06
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n On April IL. 1898. there occurred ,
memorable scene In the printing offies
or the American Bible Society In New
York.
J A little group of missionary officials
gathered In the composing room
where the Rev. Hiram Blngham-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: THE grace OF our Lord 1esus
Christ be with you ALL Amen"
Mr.. Bingham's voice trembled as he
read the verse-his own benedletlon 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 drst sheet was
eagerly secured; the work OF thlrty-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.. Blngham's
translation 70 be folded and added 70
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.
II had been a task involving the re-
tucing OF an unwritten language 10
writing. The work began In 1857
After i've years the Manuscript OF the
Gospel OF Matthew was sent 10 Homo
ulu TO be printed. Thirteen months
he missionary waited the return OF
he Morning Star. yet when the mis-.
ionary ship came back. II brought no ,
'rinted Gospel, However. a printing ,
'ress had been sent. and Mr.. Bling ,
am was instructed to print the Gospel /
I the mission.
To learn the printers trade sun h
lentiy well 70 make a book. and thst
nth no instruction or supervision, '
sened an almost impossible under Z
king: but a beginning was made. A h
fnUa fnf.
rocked seamen reached the Island. n
I'd one OF the men rescued from the r,
a was a printer. So the nrst Gospel n
as set up and printed. n
The work OF translation proceeded o,
owly. with all the other duties OF n
e mission. and II was fourteen years n
fore the entire New Testament was a
type Still the work went on. with
oors many and varied. Mr.. Bingham r.
W knew the language better. and IN
rs. Bingham. who had considerable m
turai ability as a iinguist. had be- n,
me an accomplished helper. Young ~
N from the native training school xr
% by this time had become compe- he
u TO help. The first translations m.
sded revision. and were revised. M,
d so. after weary delays and many 10,
erruptions. and more faith and On
yer and toll than can ever be "a,
,wn. the work Of a lifetime came AZ vi
to Its completion.
he city paper which related the IN,
~ OF the little service In the print AZ,
office told in words Of admiration ths
the faithful work OF the missionary ,hs
his devoted wife. IL was a story ar,
some respects ike that which al an
It every foreign mission could tell. No,
in some respects il was unique. hire
, II had gone the life-blood OF the gIa
J who wore himself ont IN this rro,
endeavor. But he lived wtt
ee his labor complete. and to know s,e,
thirty thousand people had a he.
ten language and literature and IL
nowledge OF the Word Of God m,
this Companion. .nn