Evening star., 1924-01-11
Hits Bible Change.
Reader Believes the Magdalene Story
go Should Be Retained.

was an article about DIR. Goodspeeo
translation of the New Testament
from which IT Is stated he omitted
the story of Christ and the adulterous
woman brought before Him by the
Pharfsees, as related in the eighth
chapter of ST. John. It's omission Is
justified on the ground that it does
not appear in the original text of
Johns Gospel, though the incident
Is accepted by all biblical scholars.
az probable historical fact. When
we remember the great number of
manuscripts OF the Gospels and their
innumerable translations into many
languages in different periods of the
past how can we know beyond per-
adventure that one particular manu-
script of<the many Is the original, or
upon what hypothesis of reason are
we justified in rejecting the state
| ments OF one Gospel and accepting
those Of another when the Gospels
not only differ In respect to the de-
tails of many things they record In
common but in relation to other
things OF vast moment no mention
IL made In some OF the Gospels while
they are recorded in others?
This story Is probably as authentic
as many>others in the Gospels con-
cernfng Christ. 1t is found in many
OF the old MSS. of st. John. 1t has
come down to us In the King James
or Authorized Version of 1911, and
was preserved by the iconoclastfc re-
yisionfsts In the revised version of
1881; The critics and the transiators
admit the probability of ats occur
renee. 1t would seem just as logical
TO reject some incident of one Gospel
because II was not recorded in the
others. 1t is difficult to understand
the elimination OF this story when SO
many other things concerning Christ
not equal in value and Of doubtful
authenticity have been retained. If
we are to believe as authentic all of
the other things set forth in the Cos
peis concerning the sayings and ac-
.ivitfes OF Christ there is certainly
little 1ustincation for the rejection of
this story. It bears all the earmarks
or truth when we remember the laws
and conditions of that particular time.
and the tntoIerant fanaticism of ,he
fnarisees 1t Is quite natural story
ana one that is just as likely to have
happened as many others that are re-
corded. And when we consider the
action and attitude OF Christ toward
the woman 1t harmonizes perfectly
with His beautiful and exemplary
CHARACTER as revealed in all the 9TH
er incidents of His earthly ministry,
Nothing would therefore appear to
be achieved by its elimination ex-
cept. TO deprive the readers of the
Gosbeis Of one of the, most tense.
lures they contain. A picture that
presents Christ most appeaIingly and
effectively to the weary and the
heavy laden of earth. A story that
has been accepted as true. and that
ages, and which has doubtless been
in the past Is it will be in the
future the inspiration of hope and
OF new ne to many a Magdalene.
who. thro 1xii inipelling necessity, or
"a great bat misplaced love, has
stepped aside from the straight and
narrow way.
Furthermore, 1t has borne q les
son for men and women through all
the ages, and in no age more than
for Its application, for II seems that
| the spirit of fanaticism and intol-
erance is growing day by day among
our people. We see these ugly traits
lmanifesting themselves in the realm
lof religion and toward the habits
Of the Individual citizen. Intolerance
of individual opinion and of freedom
| OF speech. Intolerance of the frail-
ties OF human nature, and unwilling
mess TO. forgive even those who show
the spirit Of repentance and a de-
sire to make amends. we seem to
be living in a hard and caflous age
with little Of the spirit OF compass
sion. what a beautiful and salutary
lesson this story conveys to our own
time; and one II seems so difficult
for us to practice in our human
relationship, the great lesson or tot-
sympathy. and forgiveness,
Could there be more tense, beau
tiful or dramatic picture than these
words of the story present.:
." and Jesus was left alone.
and the woman standing in the midst.
When Jesus had lifted up Himself,
said unto her, Woman. where are
those thine accusers? Hath no man
condemned thee? She said, No man,
Lord. And Jesus said unto her,
Neither do I condemn thee; go, and
sin no more"
Just as Jesus had called the hy-
pocrisy Of the Pharisees of His time,
to their discontinue and dispersion,
so, likewise, does this story rebuke
the Pharisees of our time, and calls
to us to emulate this beautiful and
impressive example of tolerance,
charity, forgiveness and sympathy
with human infrmity.
The elimination of this story from
Judgment, an irreparable loss to
Christian literature
While on this subject it may not
be arrnss to say that to one on the
outside 1t seems that the churches
have lost the spirit of Christ and
have given themselves over to dogma
and to acrimonious doctrinal contro-
versy. When we think of the simple
story of Christ's life, marked as it
was by deeds of love and charity;
and Of His ministrations to the sick.
to the lonely ones and to those op-
pressed by the multitudinous cares
and adversities of life, how trif1ing
and fruitless appear the controversies
between modernfst and fundamental
ist that now rend and divide the
church, paralyzing it in the prose-
cution Of its great mission and alien
atfng men from 1t in sadness and re-
gret
Dogma never saved human soul,
nor do doctrinal discussions influence
men and women to better lives This
is why men absent themselves from
the churches and explains the empty
pews. What mattered 1t to the re-
pentent thief on the cross or to Mary
Magdalene whether or not Christ was
familiar with His wonderful life and
works, and believed His divine power
was equal to their great human needs,
and so IL proved, If He was indeed the
This day shalt thou be with me in
paradise; and it was to Mary, whose
sins He had forgiven, but whose
spiritual needs were great, that He
first appears after His resurrection.
Dogma and doctrine are but dry
husks that give neither spiritual
sustenance nor comfort to the
hungry and lonely soul, but in the
life and precepts of Christ, exempli-
flying tolerance. love. forgiveness, and
|comprehendfng human sympathy man
finds comfort, encouragement, hope,
and the inspiration toward better
things. for: after all. was He not
divine? but also, as He himself said.
/ ~ .1a-
therefore equal to all our needs.
ALEXANDER SIDNEY LANIER.