Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-04-22
CLERGY DISCUSSING
DECAL0GUE CHANGE
Baltimore EpiscopaIians Di.
vided on Move to Short
en- Commandments.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special DfSpatch TO The star.
BALTIMORE. April e2.-Abbrevia-
ton of the Ten Commandments.
which is to be suggested at the gem
eral convention of the Episcopal
Church. which meets at Portland.
Greg. next September. has been the
subject Of interesting discussion by
some OF the local clergy.
Those who advocate abbreviation
say their opinions are based on mod
ern intensive studies Of the Scrip
lures: those who oppose the change
do SO because of their conviction
that the world needs to hold to the
ancient landmarks"
In the opinion of the latter ele-
ment. the old-fashioned Bible and
the parents who taught it to their
children. line upon line and precept
upon precept. are two things which
are imperatively needed in the world
today.
That he did not care to express
any opinion on the proposed change
was the statement of Bishop John
Gardner Murray He pointed out that
some time would elapse before the
change could be effected. and stated
at this time would not be productive
of good results.
Commandment Means Word.
II think it is all right" was the
opinion of the Rev. DIR. Theodore C..
Foote. rector of st. David's. ANY one
who knows anything about the
literature of the Bible knows that
the Hebrew word for command
ment' is words The Ten Command
ments were the ten words
The Ten Commandments. as We
have them. are not words, but words
with explanations or interpretations
added to them. Originally the Ten
Commandments were divided into
two groups. according to the two
the critics is that originally they
were composed of one or two words.
Then. in the course Of time, certain
additions and explanations were at
tached to certain Of those words.
IF you compare the Ten Command
ments in Exodus with the Ten Com
mandments in Deuteronomy you will
find the additions are different. The
reason for keeping the Sabbath day
is one thing in Exodus and another
thing in Deuteronomy. which shows
that the additions were explanations.
The original Ten Commandments
were probably all short, like the
sixth. seventh and eighth.
The idea of the change is to get
back to the original form and to
form or the later lengthening by the
addition Of different explanations.
The church is not making any
change. II the proposed change Is
effected. however. it will be possible
to read the Ten Commandments in
form.
Second Applies to Jews.
II do not agree that the change
cntrff
among young people. 1 think it will
make the reading of the Command
ments more impressive. Some Of the
explanations don't apply to the Chris
tian Church. but to the Jewish Church.
The second commandment. for ex-
ample. is a Jewish one and does not
apply to the Christian Church. The
reason the Jewish Church could not
make any manifested form was be-
cause there had been none up to that
time. After the birth Of Christ there
was manifested form. and there is
no reason why you should not make
an image of him."
When asked how it was that after
soma 5000 years, during which mil
lions of men and women had read the
Ten Commandments without great
variation from their present form. a
change should be advocated. DR..
Foote replied:
Tho people who are surprised at
this idea have been asleep. that Is all.
People who have studied the litera-
ture Of the Bible have always known
it"
That it would be a great mistake
to boil down the Ten Commandments
for brevity's sake" was the statement
of the Rev. DR.. H. P. A. Abbott rector
OF Grace and st. Peters Church.
II don't know that they are going
TO do that" DR.. Abbott said, but il
they are, it would be q great mistake,
in my judgment We need the Ten
Commandments in full We already
have a summary of them in the law
and it is not necessary to summarize
them any further. We need more of
the Bible in the home. in the heart,
as spiritual guidance in the conduct
OF our everyday affairs, than ever"