New Britain herald., 1922-03-03
REV. ]. ]. DAVIS ON
 HIGHER CRITICISM
Says People Need More Intelligent
 Understanding Of Bible

Higher criticism Is not something that would destroy the bible, 1t is an Investigation or the date the bible %as written, ny whom written, and Its literary value and style" said Rev. John l., Davis. at his first address to the John l.. Davis bible class at the !. NJ. C. A. last evening, since his return from Bermuda,
 Like Il Newspaper File
 Rev. Mr. Davis told of some popu- lar errors concerning the bible ana gave some valuable information upon the manner in which that book was put together. He told how the bible Was Il collection of documents written by different men and put together in the time of the men to whom they were dedicated. For instance, the book of provcrbAwas put together in the time of Solomon, probably by Solomon himself. but was written by 8 number of different men.
 Intelligent Understanding Needed
 Higher criticism was one of the nnest things that ever came to the bible" said the minister. Many a man has turned away from the bible because it wasn't explained to him in- telligenty."
 He illustrated his point by telling the story of a Sunday school teacher who told about Peter praying on the housetops. When asked by small hoy how Peter stayed on the roof without falling off, she made the fool ish reply, '''To God all things are pos sible" Unsatistied the boy lost in terest in Sunday school. Had the teacher enough intelligence to know what she was talking about she could have told the boy that in those days the houses were built with flat roofs, and he would have learned something.
 Human And Divine
 we don't have to be blind to be- lieve in the bible" he said We don't have to insult our intelligence to believe is some things in the bible All higher criticism has done for the bible s,to show US that it is a human book as well as divine book"
 Not The First Book
 That the bible was not the first book ever written is shown by the facts submitted that the Babylonians had q literature 2,000 years before the ancient Hebrews began to write, and the Egyptians had a written lan- Euage long before the lsraelites went into Egypt He quoted scientific figures to show that the world is at least 25,000 years old.
 Marine Parade
 A new organization. known as "The Marines made it's appearance in the class rather unexpectedly last even- ing. Little was said about it's object, body, suiplementing the army and navy organizations.
 Mir. Barnes Was Missed
 For the first time since the organi- ration of the class, General Secretar. c. H. Barnes, of the Y, M. c. A., was unable to be present. Mir. Barnes has been confined to his home on Colum- bia and Parkmore streets since las Friday with an attack of grip. He is reported improving.
 Remaining Program
 Rev Mir. Davis announces his texts for the balance of the month as lol- lows:
 March 9--"If the Bible contains CT TOTS, how do we know that any of il is true"
 March 1s--"Do we need new Bible?"
 March 22-"Can the Bible be de stroyed?'" ,"
 March 30 will be the last meeting of the class until next fall. The topic that night will be, What does th' , Tib'e say about Jesus Christi