The Washington herald., 1911-04-23
REEAzEgEDK A4RlLNGQ I'D

he remained in Scotland and lent his in
| fuence for religion In America. One out
come, still practiced to this day, Is an
| annual collection in the churches of
Scotland for the conversion of heather
in America
| The Nelson's left the farm for Edin-
| burgh, and later for America. Unable TO
make Bibles in England, they sold Bibles
| in this country, and then came the in
cident, in which the same Scotch family
figured, that led to the American capture
of its own Bible manufacture.
Chicago Newspapers Unique Scoop.
The King James version Of the Scrip
| lures is only one of the many transla-
ton. Coming at the time 1t did, and
possessing merit beyond some other
TRANSACTIONS, 1t held its own for nearly
three centuries and played a great part
| in English literature. even in the forma-
ton Of the English language itself.
Fifty years ago. however, there began
to be talk of revision Of the King
James version. Thirty years ago this
month the New Testament appeared
chiefly the work of English revisers.
There was much public interest. A copy
came across the Atlantic by special post,
and one day at 4 o'clock was filed as
telegraph copy in New York. Next
morning It was printed in full in a Chi
cago newspaper. Four years later, in
1885, from the same revisers, or nearly
the same, the Old Testament came, and
was published for the worlds use.
But the world would have neither New
Testament nor Old At any rate Ameri-
ca would not. Copies. still on the
shelves of American booksellers, can be
purchased for 10 cents on the dollar.
Along with development In other direc-
tons, America raised up companies of
learned men who labored years without
compensation on an American revision
of the Old and New Testaments There
were thirty-five Of these men to begin
with, but before their work was COM
pleted their numbers were depleted by
death, and 1t is believed that to-day
only three survive. In the company
were President Woolsey, of Yale; Bish-
op Lee, Of Delaware; the Rev. DR..
Philip Schaff, Of Union Seminary; the
Rev. DR.. Matthew B. Riddle, Of Hart
lord seminary, and others, representing
many religious bodies.
Almost discouraged, and few in NUM-
bers, these companies, one on the Old and
the other on the New Testament, were
unable to find publisher until the de-
scendant Of the Scotch Highlander came
forward and put $4,000 into the manu-
facture of Bibles translated and revised
In America. Everybody said the Scotch
American was a fool. Even Americans
sometimes encourage American enterprise
after that fashion. But one outcome has
been firmly to establish Bible making in
America We may not sell Bibles I'm
England, and the Bibles read in Germany
are made there, but we send Bibles to
many other countries, both to sell and
to give away. The American Bible So
ciety has, for instance, placed 10000 600
copies in South America, with a result
that public schools are multiplying there
and religious liberty now obtains in prac-
tically all OF the republics, although laws
establishing such liberty are not vet on
the statute books of all of them
- Bibles Cheap and Bibles Dear.
/ The highest priced Bible costs $50, and
the lowest IS cents. Episcopalians buy
and use the $50 Bibles almost exclusively.
That is not because they are extravasant. |
either. They emphasize the position of |
the Bible In public worship, and provide
a lectern to hold It. Almost always in
dividual members present Bibles to place |
on lectrns. Naturally they present large |
and well-bound ones. Hence the price |
The 25-cent Bibles are for the multitude. |
There are New Testamsnts for 10 cents |
and Gospels for cents. The American |
Bible Society issues Bibles complete, but |
without commentaries.
Prayer books and hymnals used IN the /
Episcopal Church were made In England /
up to fifteen years ago. After the re- /
vision OF 1892. Mr.. ]. Pserpont Morgan, of |
New York, whose benefactions extend
widely, headed q syndicate-is syndicate |
100 commercial?-that subscribed money /