Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-06
UNIVERSAL OBSERVANCE
OF BIBLE. SUNDAY TO-DAY
in Movement Suggested by
Sunday Schools.
TINE FOR REVIEW OF RoeREss
Book to he Considered JUS a Whole
and Its Annual Progress Through
the Centuries Recorded-WillL Lead
to Closer UNDERSTANDING. y.

d -. D.. -. - .,s T. ! : . . g
To-day win <.be observed as Bible
sundaw.'in3many churches throughout
.America. The idea of setting aside the
third sunday. before Christmas as. a
day on. which Sthc bible asa whole .may
be considered and its annual progress
recorded Throughout the. country was
heartily approved att the convention of
the InternationalsS Sunday School Assoc
citation. held last summer In Chicago.
Ill.
1t Is believed that tho approval of
the idea VIII lead TO Its early adoption
In the scheme of Sunday School les
sons. and. whenever this lis done. 1T will
be q long step toward making the oc
casion universal yearly Bible Review
Day. a universal Bible Sunday--a day
to- be set aside by the church world of
America-was Endorsed in the. iollow-
ing resolution adopted at the mis-
sionary conference held in connection
with tho international Sunday School
Conventions: Believing that, in this
crisis of the worlds history, the truth
and authority, the unity and tho Sill
prone educational value of the. Holy
Scriptures should be maintained more
faithfully than ever, we most heartily
approye The proposal for an annual
biblc Dsy and recommend Its. suitable
observance in the churches and sun
day schools Of North America"
Among the srsasons given for. ;the
resolution We're, the following: ~.
Al. present there is no. provision in
the scheme. OF Sunday school; lessons
for q pictorial reyic Vi. of tile Scriptures
whole; and Ii ii su "a est "a That, tfS
third Sunday before Christmas. b. tax ei
az an annual review day, When tho
Bible shall be the snecial, subtec; OF
considerations. not onlytfn the Sunday
schools, but III the .press,s.iin. the
churches, and wherever mon meet, To
the end that there may he the widest
challcnge for its. acceptance as the W ord
oftthe living. GeL.n,
II was poiHted, OUT fl:at study OF
the history OF. Christmes make s, It cyl
dent that one :cohlnlont day should be
observed throughput the world. While
the observance of Christmas can. be
traced back to the second century, il
was stated that tho occasion WAS Rrst
celebrated at various times of the eysa ,
from November on until Nay, just I'll .
the idea OF Christmas occurred to the
scattered communities, and. the, day ionly
became ,,iniversailY h6noreaH anone
Christian peoples when, in tho fifth
century. an agreement was reacllca be :
tween the Eastern and Western
churches to recognize a3comploM date.
The third Sunday before Christmas
seems naturally Indicated as u day TO:
tho annual review jof--the. Bible, net
only, because il takes advantage Of a
usage already we'll established in many
parts OF the world but because, for
statistical purposes ii; sffords time TO
gather the results Of: the annual work
of the worlds principal Bible societies,
rissionar. societies, and other oreani-
cations specifically related to tho spread
of the Gospel. 1t is also pointed oil
that day devoted 10 tho review, of the
Tnble should be separate and free from
distractions incident to other annual
events. and that il should not. coincide
with. the close'o of the calendar year. he
cause at that time. the attention oi
the public Is taken up With .rctrospec,s
of the scientific; financial, commercial
and other material affairs OF thoiworid.
It lis believed that,,;f all people can
be induced TO think OF. The same thing;
at the same time such concentration OF
the Thought will lead to";t more thor
ough Investigation of the subject. nd
when applied to- the Bible I'll is thought
that IL will lead TO a more revorent
study andza deeper understanding OF
Gospel truths,