Evening star., 1914-02-09

we'll as on the religion. of the various
branches of the English-speaking peo
pies His outline of these subjects
served as fitting prelude to the coming
week of study and exposition Of the
holy Scriptures by the conference.
"Tindale's invaluable translation soon
reached into Scotland, into Ireland,
and, through the Puritans. into Amer
lea. to enter into the very heart. life
and literature of all English using
erence to the King James version,
which he indicated is often spoken of
enormously as "the authorized YER
sion," but which is no more author
lied than any other. he said:
When a student I was taught that
Chaucer was the very we'll of English.
pure and undefiled. l disagree now
with that. The title rightfully be-
longs to the King James version of
the Bible
influence on Shakespeare.
That the influence of Holy Writ in the
works of Shakespeare. the next great
name in English literature, is very evil
dent, was further averred by DIR. Souper,
who referred to the comparatively recent
bringing out Of the fact that it was at
the house of Shakespeare's father that
Puritan divines, those tireless expositors
shelter and entertainment when on visits
to Stratford-on-Avon. Moreover, the
Bible, said he, was by that time one of
the fundamentals of school education and
a study of the Scriptures was undoubted
ly part Of the education of the future
poet. Passage after passage in his works
give plain evidence of his acquaintance
and sympathy with the precepts of the
Christian religion as laid down in the
Book of Books.
Tr. <roo 10 y~Ar
Of the scriptures in the writings of Mil
ton. Bunyan. Johnson. Cowper. Coleridge.
Scott. Tennyson. Ruskin and many others
Of the masters of English prose and
poetry. He laid particular emphasis on
Milton as 1.-The great poet Of the Bible. "
as evidenced by his most famous works.
Samson Agonistes." Paradise Lost" and
the "Areopagitica-" He spoke of Scott s
death-bed remark on being asked what
book he would prefer to have read aloud
There is but one book; and. as the
keynote of Tennyson's spirit and view of
life the words More is gained by prayer
than this world dreams Of"
Zone Of the most hopeful things in con-
nection with the young members OF the
modern school OF British poetry Is its
evident dependence on and faith in the
Bible" added DR.. Souper. who declared
that The history of all English litera-
ture shows that the greater the writer
lish Bible.
''The influence of the Bible enabled the
Puritans to leave England merely as a
group of men and to land on the shores
Of America state, and the glorious his
tory of this country should in the future,
as in the past. be built on the precepts
of the divine word" concluded the speak
er.
''Is Worlds Best Seller"
Rev DR.. G. Campbell Morgan, pastor
of Westminster Chapel, London, spoke On
rs the Bible in Danger" He said that
this could be best answered by an analysis
Of its present circulation and interest. the
belief in its authority and the obedience
to its teachings.
las regards its circulation. nothing can
come near it," said he. 1T is the world S
best seller" As for its interest he cited,
for instance, the enormous recent ship
ment of Bibles and portiobs Of the Scrip
lures to China, and the fact that these
tically every one to be sold. And no
Chinaman buys anything" said DIR. Nor
gan, unless he expects to get value re-
ceived, nor a Scotchman, an Englishman
or American either, for that matter
AS for the belief in Its authority, said
he, the ideals that are moving the true
great statesmen of the world at present
all come directly or indirectly from the
Bible.
Favors Criticism of Bible.
Dr. Morgan said that chief among those
who often unwillingly do harm to the
yible and it's progress are they that are
ever ready to decry criticism of the Scrip
lures as an evil. ITO them the idea of
criticism is as red rag to a bull said
he. "a man should have more brains
than a bull. and it should be thoroughly
realized that the first law of the proper
understanding of the Bible Is criticism,
and that all the revisions of the Scrip
lures from the time they were first writ
ten have been the result of criticism.
Its authority Is not in danger" he
concluded. I. is the criterion Of the
conduct of mankind. II the Bible is in
DANGER then the remedy lies in the
Bible itself and in making known its
teachings to the world. and there need
be no panic in the heart of any man
At 1870 o'clock at Epiphany Church
Rev Melvin Trotter addressed a meet
ing open to the public. He is krown
throughout the country for his rescue
mission work. Speakers this afternoon
at the meetings which We're resumed at
the First Congregational Church were
S. D. Gordon, DIR. Camden NJ. Cobern
and Rev Melvin Trotter. There will
be meetings tonight both at the New
York Avenue Presbyterian Church.
under the direction of Rev. John H.
Presbyterian Church of New York. and
at Epiphany Church, under Rev. John
McNeill DR.. Morgan is to speak in
;cb tonight