The New York herald., 1922-11-27
BEVERIDGE PRAISES
Bible REVlS|ON|STS
Talks at Celebration of Fif-
tieth Anniversary OF
American Version.
FEARS RELIGIOUS LOSS
Hopes for Spiritual Revi-
val to Meet Problems
Of the Day.
HARDING SENDS MESSAGE
Hughes Also Wires Calling
Citizens to Appreciation of
Revised Scriptures.
HARDING SENDS MESSAGE

QCNlSCu
Albert j. Beveridge. former Sen
ator from Indiana, was the principal
speaker last night at celebration In
the Brick Presbyterian Church. AZ
Fifth avenue, of the fiftieth anniver-
sary Of the first meeting Of the Ameri-
can Bible Revision Committee. This
committee, which completed its work
twenty years ago and gave to the
world the American version OF the
Holy Scriptures. held its first confer
ence at the Bible House, Astor place,
on October 4. 1872.
Several members Of the original COM
rnittee were present at last nights rally.
and thcre were delegations from many
universities and theological seminaries.
a batch OF kilograms and letters con-
tanning greetings TO the gathering. a
telegram from President Harding said:
Thank you for calling my attention
70 the gathering In honor Of the group
OF American scholars who devoted their
efforts to preparing the American ver-
sion OF the Scriptures. cannot but
Join in your expression Of the hope that
tho occasion may serve to direct pub
lie .nterest and attention to the Bible as
An eternal source OF inspiration and
idealism In our day by day life.'
Secretary Hughes wired: This work
ia not only a permanent memorial to
American scholarship. but lasting con-
tribution to civilization in-pronoting a
better understanding of the Scriptures.
the unfailng support of righteous con-
duct in Individual and civic life. These
American revisers deserve to be held in
the highest honor by their fellow coun-
trymen.''
BeveridHe's Address.
In his address. Mr.. Bcveridge spoke
in part as follows:
Religion Is an indispensable element
OF all real and enduring human i'm
provement, and It is serious question
whether, with all our churches and
churchly services. this divine and vital
force Is not declining--even disappear
ing.
yet 1t is to be gravely doubted IL the
welter of desperate problems that press
upon snd distract US can be solved or
even understood without a profound and
informed spiritual awakening.
"As a cold matter of practical public
policy, is 1t extravagant to declare that
the treatment required by the whole
world at this very hour, Is an elemental.
genuine and enduring revival OF the
religion OF Jesus Christ-a revival
which. with holy spiritual fire. will burn
from human hearts the base impurities
which to-day. seemingly at least. curse
all mankind?
yet in spite of our obsession of ma
terial things: In spite OF the unintelli-
gent hurry of this era of speeding auto
mobile, plunging train. fastening ship
and flying plane: in spite of the whirl
of lost motion In our high pressure
period-in spite OF all these non-spiritual
forces the great revision has won and
Is winning It's way more solidly and
rapidly than any version that has gone
before 1t is already in use in nearly
all American colleges. universities and
theological seminaries; in sunday school
publications OF most leading denomi-
nations; a largo majority OF educated
preachers. the number of whom steadily
increases, have adopted 1t.
The Advance of the Day.
Notwithstanding the shallow influ-
ences OF present times hun.auiZlng prog
ress has gone forward. Above all else
civilization means tolerance, and the
advanced tolerance OF Christian people
Is shown In the contrast between the
treatment accorded the scholaro we now
honor and those who did like service
In former times.
III during the lives OF those who made
this latest and best revision OF the
Bible little attention was paid to them
and small appreciation of them shown;
il the finished product Of their, labors
won no applause at first. but received
instead peeyish complaint. at least they
were not denounced as heretics. physi-
cal martyrdom was not visited upon
them, and now that they are dead their
bones are not dug up, cursed and
thrown with msledictions into running
streams.
This was the varied fate OF the most
eu1tucnt of those who of old strove
successfully to give the Bible 10 all the
people"
Arthur 9. McGiTert, president of the
rinion Theological Seminary. which sup
SIZED two members OF the committee,
sent the greetings of the faculty. Among
rho other well wshers were Charles r.
Brown, dean OF the Divinity school at
Yale; Nicholas Murray Butler. president
of Columbia University: Elmer Ellis
worth Brown. chancellor OF New YORK
University Edwin Wilbur Rice, hon
orary editor or the American Sunday
School Union; James Hardy Rohes.
Hollis professor OF divinity at Harvard
J. II. Cousart national chaplain OF The
Gideons Most OF these Institutions or
learning had representatives on the
committee.
DR.. william I. Haven, secretary OF the
American Bible Society. presented a
Bible TO DR.. Rufus w. Miller. who re-
cefved 10 In behalf OF the Philip Schaff
Memorial Committee. which is erecting
a memorial building in Philadelphia IN
honor OF DIR. Schaf. organizer OF the
American Bible Committee.
Among the members of the anniver-
sary committee In charge OF the colebra-
ton last night were the Rev. Harry l..
powlby, Bishop Frederick Burgess. DR..
n Parkes Cadman. DIR. Harry h. Fos-
dick, DR.. leighton Parks. the Very Rev.
Howard Chandler Robbins. Suffragan
Bishop Herbert Shipman. lawrence ".
Abbott, A. C.. Bedford, r. Fulton Cut
ting Supreme Court Justice Vernon NJ.
Davis. Ivy l.. Lee. William Fellowes
Morgan, Dr. John r.. Mott and Il. II.
putcrbridgc. Women sfsners include
r,ct,,rs r4der T.vauuelino Rooth. Mtes Nir-