Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-03-13
WHO WROTE THE BIBLE?
Doctors, Lawyers and Preachers-Re-
spected in Order Named.

In the olden times there were the
three professions, the lawyers, the
doctors and the clergy, the same as
now. 1t Is interesting to note how
the Bible treats them. The doctors
are always spoken of with respect, al
though their failures are noted, and
few if any of their successes are men-
toned. If there is any case where it
is recorded that they cured anyone of
disease, that instance does not come
to mind. AS to the lawyers, while in
some cases they are mentioned with
respect, as for instance, Gamaliel, the
instructor of Paul, in most cases they
are denounced. The severest denuncia-
tions in the whole Bible are directed
at the clergy. They are denounced as
''whited sepulchres," and the sarcasm
of Christ, who was the greatest master
of speech the world has ever known,
was poured out upon them in all it's
fiery, blasting force.
Yet the Bible was mainly written
by members of these three professions
Luke was a doctor and Paul was a
lawyer. In the writing of the New
Testament the clergy seem to have
had little or no part. For the clergy
of those days was composed almost
exclusively of the men whom Christ
so fiercely denounced, but the Old
Testament was largely their work
However, the part of the Old Testa-
ment which has had the most influ-
ence upon mankind was written by the
lawyer, Moses. His works upon the
law are still standard authorities in all
courts in all civilized lands, and mod
ern writers upon the law. as well as
the judges, often quote them.
There never was an idea farther
from the truth than the one commonly
entertained that the Bible is the work
of the clergy. Epecially is it untrue
of the New Testament, for the clergy
had little or nothing to do with it. 1t
was written by doctors, lawyers and
men Of the common people who be-
longed to no profession.
Another thing The scientists had
nothing to do with it, while the poets
wrote large part of it. That comes
about from the fact that material
science cannot enter the spiritual
world. In some instances the known
laws Of the spiritual world are in d.
rect contradiction to laws of science
Even the laws of mathematics are de-
fled in the realm of which the Bible
mostly treats. Two added to two al
ways equals four in mathematics, and
one substracted from one leaves moth
ing. In the spiritual world as every
thinking man knows, that is not true.
The statement that giving does not
impoverish and withholding does not
tend to accumulation, defies all the
laws Of mathematics. yet in the realm
of the mental and spiritual world it
is true. A thousand instances could
he cited to prove it. A man reads a
humorous remark. He gives the state
ment to his companion. and thus
doubles his enjoyment. He has sub
tracted one from one and has two
left. That is the case with all the
Joy Of mental and spiritual life. That
IS one reason why the material scien.
lists had nothing to do with the writ
ing of the Bible. The Bible writer's
who make reference to supposed scien.
tific facts. do it without regard to
their truth or falsity, but to Illustrate
spiritual truth. The statement that an
evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit
every one knows to be false. Nearly
all the good fruit in the world Is
grown upon evil trees. That is almost
universally so of peaches, but that fact
does not detract in the least from the
great spiritual truth enunciated.
An Umbrella in the Fore Top"
Mark Twain was talking about a
play that had failed. No wonder II
failed" he said. Its author was a
greenhorn. He knew no more Of state
craft than young Tom Bowling ol
Harvard knew of sailoring when he
shipped before the mast The lad, be
ing told to go aloft one dark, wei
night. started up the rigging with Z
lantern and an umbrella"
SILENCE gives assent to the pprso,