Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-01
ARABIC REFERENCE BIBLE
FINALLY COMPLETED
After Eight Years of Labor, Prcsby-
terrain Missionary In Syria Finishes
GreHt Work.

Rev. Franklin E. Hoskins OF the
Presbyterian Board of Foreign Mis-
sions located at Beirut, Syria. has com
pleted reference Bible in Arabic. The
work has occupied nearly eight years,
one-fourth of the best part of his life
as missionary. Hc corrected the last
proof page on May S. which was the
ninety-ninth anniversary Of the found
ing OF the American Bible Society. DR..
Hoskins writes:
The task has been a double one: the
adaptation Of a new set of references to
the Arabic text and the putting the
whole First Font Reference Bible into
elcctroplates. The preparation of the
manuscript has occupied exactly seven
years. The making OF the plates Will
be completed in six years
The mission vote recommending the
undertaking was taken December l3,
1905. and the authorization of the
American Bible Society through its Lee
want agent, DR.. Bowen. of CONSTANT
nople. is dated April 81, 1906. a year
went In preliminary study. correspond
ence as TO size and form of the page
, and consideration of the many details.
The actual writing of the manuscripts
FOR the references began February 10,
, 1908, and was completed exactly seven
years later. on February 10. 1915 The
first of the 1928 electraplates was made
in September, 1909, and the last will he
ready in another month and the print
Ing of the new fourth edition ready by
September, 1915.
CONSTANT HEAVY STRAIN
ON MIND AND EYE
With reference 10 the physical and
mental strain OF such a work DIR. Hos
kins writes:
Only those who have ever carried
through such piece OF work will fully
understand the relief which comes with
the last proof page. The strain on ones
brain has not decreased rs the years
have passed. especially during the last
three years, because the strain OF the
whole worlds work with its sin and
sorrow and its need OF redemption
makes a greater load for every think
I ing Christian. In the beginning Of the
work looked up and verified hundreds
of tho many references involved. But
in the course of q few years ! carried
| in my brain an increasingly larger coll
lection which almost filed ones con-
sc!ons thinking day and night At
times the weight of them. conscious
and unconscious. seemed enough to
crush the thinking power of that facul-
ty. To feel that as far as I am con-
cerncd that weight is gone forever ia
feeling of the most intense rest after
toll that have ever known.
The strain on my cyesight has been
great but l am thankful to feel that a
good rest of some months will relieve
, the WEAKNESS that has been accumu-
ting One of the curious results has
been that in travelling have often been
taken for a seafaring man. have cX-
planned the expression about my eyes
TO myself and others by telling them
that the long continued necessity Of ex-
aiming closely the small characters OF
! the Arabic letter combination and
vowel points has had the same effect
upon the wrinkles about my eyes as
upon the face OF, the mariner strained
to detect small objects on the horizon.
But 1t is a JOY unspeakahle to have
been allowed 10 have put my hand to
this task and to have completed it,"