The daily Alaskan., 1914-12-05
ANNUAL BIBLE SUNDAY

to be set aside by the church world Of America. was endorsed in a reso- luuon adopted at the missionary conference in Moody church, at Chicago last June, held in connec- lion with the International Sunday School Convention.
 The resolution follows
 Believing that in this crisis of the worlds history the truth and authority, the unity and the su- preme educational value of the Holy Scripture should be maintained more faithfully than ever, we most heart fly approve the proposal for an an nual Bible day, and recommend It's suitable observance in the churches and Sunday schools of North Amert- ca"
 The following reasons were given for the resolution:-
 At present there is no provision in the scheme of sunday school lessons for a periodical review Of the scriptures as q whole, and 1t is suggested that the third sunday before Christmas be taken as an an nual review day, when the Bible shall be the special subject of con slderatiOn. not only in the Sun day schools, but in the press, in the churches and wherever men meet. to the end that there may be the widest challenge for it's ac- ceptance of the word of the living God.
 That this should be observed on one common day throughout the world will appear in studying the history of Christmas. Though the observance of Christmas can be trac- ed back to the second century, that joyful festival was at first celeorat- ed at various times of the year from November on till May, just as the idea occurred to the scattered com munities of christians, and the day cnIv became universally honored among christian people when, in the fifth century, an agreement was reached between the eastern and western churches to recognize common date.
 For a number of years past in various parts of the world, the idea Of an annual Bible day has been making its way. It has been ob- served sporadically in Great Brit ain, the United States, Canada, Australia. south Aerica and in the mission churches of North Africa. It has been established in places in China, while in Korea it is cele- brated on a national scale. and in 1912 was made the occasion of general thanksgiving to commemo- rate the completion of the Bible in the Korean language. In parts Of India it has become an import ant annual event, and it is note worthy that in a number Of cases the HiudoCs and Mohammedans have joined the christains in pay ing honor to the Bible and its teach ings.
 As was the case when Christ mas began to be celebrated, there is as yet no consensus of action as to the date of annual Bible day, but with such an agreement christians in every land will be one in this as they are the world over in the celebration of Christmas. Last year in Canada the five principal denominations of christians at their convention in Toronto and elsewhere joined in approving Of the third Sunday before Christmas One consideration leading to this agree ment was that for a number of years past a Bible sunday has been observed in the churches of New York, and other places, on the first Sunday in December, in commemo- ration of the rounding of the Bible society there, and because in a cycle of sey. years this anniversary would coincide four times with the second Sunday in Advent of the Episcopal church Of the united States and the Anglican churches of the British Empire, at which time special acknowledgement Is made of the divine authority and inspira- ton of the Scriptures.