The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-26
Anniversary Of Publica
ton Of King James
Version Of Bible.
ITS EFFECT ON
AMERICAN IDEALS
Letters Read at Notable Gather.
ing in New York From King
George of England and Pres
ident Taft-Addresses by
Ambassador Bryce and
Others.

New York, April 25.-Lctters from
King George of England and President
Taft were read at Carnegie Hall to-
night at a notable gathering In cello
bration of the three hundredth ami
versary of the publication of the King
James Version of the English Bible.
The King congratulated the people of
this country on their share In this,
our common heritage and President
Taft wrote that "the Bibles spirit has
influenced American ideals in life and
laws and government"
The 2t. Rev. David II. Greer. Bishop
of the Episcopal Diocese of New York.
presided at the ceremony. which was
held under the auspices of the Ameri-
can Bible Society. james Bryce. the
British ambassador. read the Kings
letter and delivered an address. King
George. in his special message. said:
Il rejoice that America and Eng
lane should join in concentrating the
publication. three hundred years ago,
of that version OF the Holy Scriptures
which has so long held its own among
Notwithstanding people.
Its creation in our homes has done
more perhaps than anything else on
earth to promote among old and young
the moral and religious welfare on
either side of the Atlantic.
The version which bears King
Jamcs's name is so clearly interviewer
in the history of British and American
life that it is right we should thank
God for 1t together.
II co~nerntulate the President and
people of the United States Upon their
snare in this our common heritage"
Letter From Taft.
The following letter from President
Taft was read:
The White HOuGa AfnYcbt : 1o,t LII
TO the Tercentenary Celebration of
ne King James Version of the
II desire to express my dcen interest
IN inc recognition which is being taken
IN this country of so notable an event
as the 3oOth anniversary OF the King
T publication of the version OF
the Holy Scriptures in the year iGIi
associates u with the early colonies
Of the English people upon this Con
t%inent. II became at once the Bible
OF our American forefathers Its cIas-
sic, English has given shape to Ameri-
can literature. Its spirit has innu-
enced American ideals in life, and laws
and government.
II trust that this celebration may
continue and deepen the influence OF
public. WM II ia ET,n
Ebert a. Brlnckerfhoff. vicelpresi :
dent OF the American Bible Society.
opened the meeting. and introduced
Bishop Greer, who said in part:
The publication of the Bible, the
three hundredth anniversary of which
We arc established here to celebrate.
was not only a great literary event:
Il was also a great moral and religious
event. II liberated the people Of the
Anglo,Saxon races from superstitious
fears"
When the bishop had concluded tho
audience, led by a chorus of 100 men
ana omen sang How Firm a Foun-
In ntcsir NVnn1 HN ~ HL =. Vi Cat .
Friends. read the Scripture from a
first edition of the King JaSnes Yer
sion. printed In l6ll. one of the treas
ures of the American Bible Socicty's
library.
Effect Of Translation.
After delivering the Kings message.
Ambassador Bryce spoke OF the effect
OF the translation ttpun the English
speaking race. lie said In part:
The great event which we are met
to commemorate was. like most great
things, no sudden achievement of a
group of gifted scholars. but the ma
ture fruit of desires and purposes
which had been long rlpening In the
minds of our ancestors.
Much had been done towards nm
English Bible before King James |.
commissioned his company Of learned
scholars for their task. Using the la
hors OF their many predecessors, The
was wonderfully exact for the scholar
ship of those days. so exact that after
threc centuries, the changes which re-
peated collations of the manuscripts
and repeated examination of the precise
meaning of the Hebrew INT Crock
texts have led modern critics 10 make
are few and "unimportant In proportion
To the whole. .
British and American character
have been largely formed by This
book, because II was in the seven
teenth century the only book which
all the people knew. and all the pee
pie revcrcd. And IL our ancestors in
that century and the next set an cX.
ample to other countries in their love
Of freedom and their willingness to
ms Ike sacrifices for freedom. yet know
Ing how 10 use freedom with modcra-
ton and justice. is this not larGcly due
70 the stimulus they received from Tic
knowledge OF the Scriptures in their
own tongue. and from the sense that
freedom. like other gifts OF God, is
4 to he used with Il sense OF %rcSponsi-
biity to God for It's use?
Let us hope that the year we COM
mcmorate as the anniversary or n great
event in our religious history may also
be remembered as the year in which a
solemn repunciation OF war as a means
OF settling their disputes was made by
two mighty and kindred nations, CRATE
ful TO God for the light. more precious
than the wealth and the power
which he has given, and grateful
also for the peace of nearly n CEN
fury, which has subsistcd between
them"