The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1911-03-09
Study the Bible.

We have often heard 1t claimed
that people do not read and study the
Bible now much as they formerly did.
If this is true it is to be regretted. A
knowledge of the important charac-
ters and events Of the Bible are neces-
sary to make person we'll educated.
A person who is not religious should
study the Bible as a matter of educa-
tion If for no other reason.
Even II you are an agnostic, unless
you are grossly ignorant, you know
that the people Of the Bible and the
events there recited have had more to
do with shaping and bringing about
our present civilization than all other
things combined And further. you
can not hold an intelligent opinion on
the most vital things i'm the lives of
almost every one you know II you are
not reasonably conversant with the
contents of the Bible. All educated
people, Christians, Pagans, intidels
and agnostics, freely admit that the
life and example Of Jesus Christ have
been the greatest influence Of the civ
ilized world since his crucifction.
From a literary standpoint alone
one should also read aud study the
Bible. Upon its pages are recorded
wonderful tales of brave deeds and
acts of heroism beautiful love stor-
les touching tales of great sacrifices,
wise and profound sayings of learned
men, prose poems unexcelled in beauty
and grace of diction and the story of
Jesus Christ, the son of God, record
of his life on earth. The greatest
works of the master minds of all ages
may be searched in vain for record
Of equal power, grandeur and beauty
History, mythology and fiction con-
tain nothing which when compared |
with this, but are trivial and insipid.
While we hope that the claim that
people generally are not we'll informed
on the contents of the Bible is untrue,
We do know that often we are sur
prised at the meager knowledge that
beautiful passages are quoted and a
church member and church goer will .
have no idea where it Is found. He
will not know whether IL is in the Old
or New Testament. You have often
seen people display ignorance of where
the grandest passages are to be found
and where the histories Of the great
est characters and events are recorded.
And these people are not illiterate,
but people who have been raised in
Christian homes and have had the op.
portunities and advantages Of good
schools. Such a condition is deplora-
ble and these people should be thor
Oughly ashamed Of their ignorance.
When you 60 home this evening get
your Bible and let it open where it
will and you will be surprised to find
what interesting reading it is. We
believe that If you will get started to
reading it that you will continue from
the pleasure you get out OF 1t. And
there is another thing you will dis
cover, II you will only try 1t, and that
is you will enjoy most of its contents
more when you re-read them than
you did at the first.
We are not trying to convert any
one TO any particular religious belief.
We do not want to force our opinions
and ideas upon any religious or theo-
logical question upon our readers.
We are simply and solely appealing to
our readers TO inform themselves on
matters which have shaped and mold
ed our present form Of civilization and
which now control the mode Of living
and are indelibly impressed upon the
lives OF all OF us.
Read the Bible to better your edu-
cation and on account of its literary
merit If for no other reason. l.