The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-30
SCIENTISTS ARE BUSY
CORRECTING THE BIBLE
paper Is Read Casting Doubt Upon
Version OF Miraculous Birth
OF Christ.
PUBLICATIONS DENIED MAILS
jews. Not IN Egypt, They Say, Mar
rative OF Joseph Being Allegorical
Embellisllment-Noa Labeled
Wilful Tipplcr.

Philadelphia, Pa, Dec. 29.--At yes
terday afternoons session of the an
nual meeting Of the Society OF Biblical
Literature and Exegesis. at Haverford
College, one of the Scientists. Profess
sor Max Margolif, read letter from
the third assistant postmaster-general
in which II was stated that the publ
cations of the society were not admis-
sible to the malls because of the fact
that theirs was not a society or body.
Much laughter was occastoned by the
reading. and as the scientists. many of
whom were internationally prominent,
are of the opinion that the third as
sistant pastmaster-general has not
been fully informed concerning the ac-
tivities OF the society. the question of
having their publications admitted to
the mails will again be taken up.
After stating that the gospel OF St.
Mathew Is founded on two old narra-
tives. one Of which asserted the natu-
raj birth of Jesus and the other the
miraculous. Professor Benjamin w.
Bacon, Yale University. said today that
he personally does not believe the ver-
sion indicating the miraculous birth.
Doubt. Miraculous Birth.
II personally do not believe that
Jesus was born miraculously." he said,
but that has nothing to do with my
paper" Professor Macon said his pa
per is based on the Aramaic manu-
script OF Mathew. which was found
on Mount Sinai by two English
women. This reads as follows:
Jacob begat Joseph and Joseph. to
whom was espoused Mary. a virgin.
begat Jesus The early Christian
imagination which saw something
miraculous in the name Of Jesus, in
sisted also in introducing the miraru-
lous into the story of His birth, me
professor said
Professor Paul Haupt. OF Johns Hop
kins University. Baltimore. whose re-
vision of Biblical texts and comments
on the scriptures have aroused dis
cusslon from time to time. said this at
ternoon that the Isarelites were never
in Egypt, but that the Edomites. an
cestors OF the Jews. were. The mar
rative of Joseph. he declared, is but an
allegorical establishment.
According to the professor. the Jews
and the Israelites met IN Palestine.
The 1sraelites came down from the
North in 1900 r. c.. while the Jews,
under King David marched up from
the South and conquered the Israelites
in Palestine. in 1000 h. c. He de-
clared further the idea that there was
but one God existed in Egypt long be-
fore the Jews went there and that
Moses married a daughter of one Of
the priests of the Sun God at Heiiopo-
lis. This was Jethro.
Bible Writers Censored.
Professor Haupt also is of the opin ion
that crystal gazing originated with
the Babylonians and told how images
were seen in polished finger nails and
often received through the rustling of
the leaves
They had censors IN the early days
when the Bible was rewritten and
they were Just as arbitrary and pow
erful as the military censors Of today,
Professor Haupt asserted yesterday
al the first days session
Among other things said Professor
Haupt. the censors deleted a portion
of the twenty-third chapter OF Pro-
verbs probably because they believed
it reflected on Noah as a wilful tippler.
The wine used at the wedding in
Cana was heavy in alcohol. asserted
Professor Hsupt and probably was
more like our brandy. But the mir
acle OF its changing by Christ from
water and the miracle of the raising
of Lazarus from the dead. he said,
should be interpreted egorically. as
there were no real miracles.
The following Officers were elected.
President. Warren j. Moulton. Bangor
Theological Seminary; vice. president.
James A. Montgomery. Philadelphia
Divinity School: recording secretary.
Henry J. Cadbury. Haverford College;
treasurer. ]. Dyneley. Columbia Uni
versity; associates in council. c. c.
Torrey. Yale University and Morris
Jastrew, University of Pennsylvania.