Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-04-30

1t is a privilege to open even in the
most cursory manner the years
study of this Book wonderful not
only because it is held by so many mil
lions of people as their guide and in
spiration to a divinely spiritual life,
but also that 1t contains literature in
GLIDING its every form, poetry, fiction
the drama, history and even law, with
examples Of idealistic strength and
beauty.
In the brief time that must be given
to the consideration of the special
influence of the Old Testament upon
the literature of the world, it Is impos-
sible to more than touch the vital
parts that demand attention. The
glory and the beauty, the strength and
the snblimity Of the language with
which its various literary forms are
clothed, have never been surpassed,
while their moral and spiritual mean
ing has thrilled the hearts of men
through the ages.
The Book itself is really the story
of the rise Of the most persistent and
masterful people that every lived, the
tale of their simple and unfailing cour-
age and (unfaltering) faith in Jeho-
yah, their highest conception of God.
Looking at IL from a point Of view in
accord with u purpose to day, it is
a record Of the rise and progress of
the national literature of the Hebrew
people, and IL may well be called one
Of the great h~teratures of the world
Yet it is only in these later days
that it's literary side has been regard
ed. Until, sI'might say, the last CEN
fury or two. it was the religious as
pect alone that was held to be i'm
portant, and of any great influence
upon writer's in their expression of
what seemed to them the meaning OF
life. And when what is known as the
higher criticism began, it was deemed
sacrilegous 10 question the authen-
ITCHY or to speak of these writings
called for centuries after Christ the
holy Scriptures or Sacred Writings
in any other way but as Divine Reve-
lation. The word Bible, as you know
is of Greek origin signifying the books
but before the thirteenth century il
was not applied to the collection
which later was held as a single boob
under that name and divided into two
parts the Old and the New Tesla
ment. It is this c~ondensing of the
work of many authors as if it had but
one that has prevented any correct
judgment of the literary forms to bt
found in it's pages as we know it.
In the preface Of Prof. Moulton':
admirable volume in which he dis,
cards any attempt at anything but
Heo~a~rr okarnrakok;o he NC. 0l
believe the number is few of those Il
whom the Bible appeals as literature
In part, no doubt this is due to tn,
forbiddinR form in which we allow
it to be presented to us. Imagine th'
poems Of Wordsworth, the plays o.
Shakespeare, the essays Of Bacon, ant
the histories Of Motley bound together
in a single volume, let the readei
suppose the titles of poems and es
says cut out and the names of speak
ers and divisions of speeches remov
ed, the whole divided up into sen
fences convenient for parsing. and h,
will have some conception of the in
: Jury done 10 the literary form O
these productions"
Yet in spite of all such drawbacks
today these writings through litera
nv criticism have been brought int
the realm Of human experience. A
careful study Of them with the earn
est desire to learn more of the rea
life Of people pictured therein, and o.
their widely varying conditions. haI
shown that they contain, as / said be
fore, every form Of literary expires
sion that Is in use, and that thesl
forms. wonderful in their perfection
have influenced in a marvellous way
consciously or unconsciously, ever!
great writer the world has ever known
/ do not think I make any mistake
when I say that no poem, no drama
no story that has lived in the heartl
and memory Of many generations bu'
had It's origin in some influence tina
could be traced back to the Scriptures
Il Is said that Shakespeare was al
earnest student of these sacred works