第9章

Thatisacomparativelylatefeeling。Itissuespartlyfromthefactthatthisisascientificage，whensciencehashaditsattentionturnedtotheneedsofhumanity。 Anotherresultofourscientificageisthemagnifyingofthenatural，whiletheBiblefranklyassertsthesupernatural。NoefforttogetthesupernaturaloutoftheBible，inordertomakeitentirelyacceptabletothemanwhoscoutsthesupernatural，hasthusfarprovedsuccessful。 Ofcourse，thesupernaturalcanbetakenoutoftheBible；butitwilldestroytheBible。Noristheremuchgaininplayingwithwordsandinsistingthateverythingissupernaturalorthateverythingisnatural。Thereisadifferencebetweenthetwo，andinanagewhichinsistsuponnatureornaturallawsorforcesoreventsasall- sufficientitisalmostinevitablethattheBibleshouldloseitshold，atleasttemporarily。 Regardingallthistherearesomethingsthatneedtobesaid。Foronething，this，too，isapassingcondition。Asamatteroffact，menarenotcreaturesoftime。Theyactuallyhaveeternalconnections，andthegreatoutstandingfactswhichhavealwaysmadeeternityofimportancecontinue。Thefactisthatmencontinuetodie，andthatthemenwhoareleftbehindcannotavoidthesenseofmysteryandawewhichisinvolvedinthatfact。Thefactalsoisthatthehumanemotionscannotbeexplainedonthelowerbasis，andtheonlyreasonmenthinktheycanbeisbecausetheyhaveinthebackoftheirmindstheoldexplanationswhichtheycastintothelowerforms，deceivingthemselvesintothinkingtheyarenewideaswhentheyarenot。 ItoughttobeaddedthattheBiblehasgreatlysufferedinallitshistoryatthehandsofmenwhohavebelievedinitandhavefoughtinitsbehalf。Manyofthecontroversieswhichwerehottestwereneedlessandinjurious。Allthefollyhasnotbeenononeside。Someonereferredtheotherdaytoalistofmorethanahundredscientifictheorieswhichwereproposedatthebeginningofthelastcenturyandabandonedattheendofit。Scientificmenarefeelingtheirway，manyofthemreverentlyanddevoutly，someofthemratherblatantlyandwithareadinessforpublication，whichhastensthemintonotoriety。Buttherehasbeenenoughfollyonbothsidestomakeeveryonegocautiously。IthasbeenremarkedthatinDr。 Draper\'sbookTheConflictBetweenScienceandReligionhemakesscienceappearasastrong- limbedangelofGodwhereasreligionisalwaysagreatass。Thetitleofthebookitselfisnotfair。Innoproperunderstandingofthewordscantherebeanyconflictbetweenscienceandreligion。Therecanbeaconflict，asDr。 AndrewD。Whiteputsit，betweenscienceandtheology。Therecancertainlybecontestbetweenscientistsandreligionists。Scienceandreligionhavenoconflict。 Itisinterestingtoobservehowfarbackmostofthesupposedconflictsactuallylie。Thereisnowarfarenow；and，whileourfathersoneortwogenerationsagofeltthattheymustflytothedefenseofreligionagainsttheattacksofscience，nomanwasteshisstrengthdoingthatto-day。 Thatperiodhaspassed。Thetroubleisthatsomegoodpeopledonotknowit，andarejustfondenoughofabitofatussletokeepupthefightinginthemountain-passeswhileoutintheplainthemainarmieshavelaiddowntheirarmsandarebusytillingthesoil。 Theperiodofconflictispast，partlybecausewearelearningtodistinguishbetweentheBibleasitreallyisandcertainlong-establishedideasabouttheBiblewhichcamefromothersourcesandhavebecomeattachedtoituntilitseemedtosustainthem。TheproperdoctrineofevolutionisentirelycompatiblewiththeBible。ThegreatDr。HodgedeclaredthattheconsistentDarwinianmustbeanatheist。Forthatmatter，Shelleydefendedhimselfbysayingthat，ofcourse，\"theconsistentNewtonianmustnecessarilybeanatheist。\"Butfiftyyearshavemadegreatchangesinthedoctrineofevolution，andtheoldscarehasbeenoverforsometime。Newtonishonoredinthechurchquiteasmuchasintheuniversity，andDarwinisnotanametofrightenanybody。UnderstandingevolutionbetterandknowingtheBiblebetter，thetwodonotjangleoutoftunesobadlybutthatharmonyispromised。 ThedoctrineoftheantiquityoftheworldisentirelycompatiblewiththeBible，thoughitisnotcompatiblewiththedateswhichArchbishopUssher，inthetimeofKingJames，putattheheadofthecolumns。Thatissowithotherscientifictheories。Anyonewhohasreadmuchofhistoryhasattendedtheobsequiesofsomanytheoriesintherealmofsciencethatheoughttoknowthatheiswastinghisstrengthintryingtobringaboutaconstantreconciliationbetweenscientificandreligioustheories。Itishisparttokeepanopenmindinassuranceoftheunityoftruth，anassurancethatthereisnofactwhichcanpossiblycometolightandnotruetheoryoffactswhichcanpossiblybeformedwhichdoesnotservetheinterestofthetruth，whichtheBiblealsopresents。TheBibledoesnotconcernitselfwithalldepartmentsofknowledge。 Sofarasmistakeshavebeenmadeonthesideofthosewhobelieveit，theyhaveissuedfromforgettingthatfactmorethanfromanyotheronecause。 Ontheotherhand，ithassometimesoccurredthatbelieversintheBiblehavebeenquitetooeagertoaccommodatethemselvestopurelypassingphasesofobjectiontoit。Themattermentionedamomentago，theexcisionofthesupernatural，isacaseinpoint。Theeasyandglibwayinwhichsomehavesoughttogetarounddifficulties，bytalkinginlargetermsabouttheprogressivenessoftherevelation，asthoughtheprogresswerefromerrortotruth，insteadoffromhalflighttofulllight，isanotherillustration。Thenimblewayinwhichwehaveturnedwhatisgivenashistoryintofiction，andallowedimaginationtoroamthroughtheBible，isanotherillustration。OneofourlaterwriterstellsthestoryofJonah，andsaysitsoundslikefiction；whynotcallitfiction?AnothertellsthestoryoftheexodusfromEgypt，andsaysitsoundslikefiction；whynotcallitfiction? Well，certainlytheobjectionisnottothepresenceoffictionintheBible。Itisthere，openly，confessedly，unashamed。Fictioncanbeusedwithgreatprofitinteachingreligioustruth。Butfictionmaynotmasqueradeintheguiseofhistory，ifmenaretobeledbyitormasteredbyit。Ifthewaytoberidofdifficultiesinanarrativeistoturnitintopiousfiction，thereareotherinstanceswhereitmightbeusedforreliefinemergencies。ThestoryofthecrucifixionofChristcanbetoldsothatitsoundslikefiction；whynotcallitfiction?CertainlythestoryoftheconversionofPaulcanbemadetosoundlikefiction；whynotcallitfiction? AndthereishardlyanybitofnarrativethatcanbemadetosoundsolikefictionasthelandingofthePilgrims；whynotcallthatfiction?Itistheeasywayout；thedifficultiesareallgonelikeAlice\'scat，andthereisleftonlythebroadsmileofsomemorallessontobelearnedfromthefiction。Itisnot，however，thecourageousnortheperfectlysquarewayout。Violencehastobedonetotheplainnarrative；historicalstatementhastobemadeonlyamask。Andtheonlyreasonforitisthattherearedifficultiesnotyetcleared。Asforthecharactersinvolved，CharlesReade，thenovelist，callinghimself\"aveteranwriteroffiction，\"declaresthattheexplanationofthesecharacters，Jonahbeingoneofthem，byinventionisincredibleandabsurd: \"Suchaman[ashimself]knowstheartificesandtheelementsofart。Heretheartificesareabsent，andtheelementssurpassed。\"Itisnotuncommonforonewhohasfoundthiseasywayoutofdifficultiestodeclarewithawaveofhishand，thateverybodynowknowsthatthisorthatbookintheBibleisfiction，when，asamatteroffact，thatisnotatallanadmittedopinion。TheBiblewillnevergainitsplaceandretainitsauthoritywhilethosewhobelieveinitarespinelessandtoppleoveratthefirsttouchofsomeone\'sobjection。ItcouldnotbeagreatBook；itcouldnotservethepurposesofaraceifitpresentednoproblemsofunderstandingandofbelief，andallshortandeasymethodsofgettingridofthoseproblemsarecertaintoleaveimportantelementsofthemoutofsight。 AllthismeansthatthechangesofthesetimesratherpresentadditionalreasonforarenewedholdontheBible。Itpresentswhatthetimespeculiarlyneed。InsteadofmakingtheinfluenceoftheBibleimpossible，thesechangesmaketheneedfortheBiblethegreaterandgiveitgreateropportunity。 AddthreenotablepointsatwhichthesetimesfeelandstillneedtheinfluenceoftheBible。 First，theyhaveandstillneeditsliteraryinfluence。 Sofarasitsideasandforcesandwordsareinterwoveninthegreatliteratureofthepast，itisessentialstilltotheunderstandingofthatliterature。ItremainstruethatEnglishliterature，certainlyofthepastandalsoofthepresent，cannotbeunderstoodwithoutknowledgeoftheBible。TheYaleprofessorofliterature，quotedsooften，says:\"ItwouldbeworthwhiletoreadtheBiblecarefullyandrepeatedly，ifonlyasakeytomodernculture，fortothosewhoareunfamiliarwithitsteachingsanditsdictionallthatisbestinEnglishliteratureofthepresentcenturyisasasealedbook。\" FromtimetotimethereoccurpainfulremindersofthefactthatmensupposedtoknowliteraturedonotunderstanditbecausetheyarenotfamiliarwiththeBible。Someyearsagoacollegepresidenttestedaclassofthirty-fourmenwithascoreofextractsfromTennyson，eachofwhichcontainedaScripturalallusion，noneofthemobscure。Therepliesweresuggestiveandquiteappalling。Tennysonwrote，inthe\"SupposedConfessions\": \"MysinwasathornamongthethornsthatgirtThybrow。\" Ofthesethirty-fouryoungmennineofthemdidnotunderstandthatquotation。Tennysonwrote: \"LikeHezekiah\'s，backwardrunsTheshadowofmydays。\" Thirty-twoofthethirty-fourdidnotknowwhatthatmeant。Themeaningoftheline，\"ForIhaveflungtheepearlsandfindtheeswine，\" wasutterlyobscuretotwenty-twoofthethirty- four。Oneofthemsaiditwasareferenceto\"goodopportunitiesgivenbutnotimproved。\" Anothersaiditwasequivalenttothecounsel\"nottoexpecttofindgoldinahay-stack。\" Eventheline，\"AJonah\'sgourdUpinonenight，andduetosuddensun，\" wasutterlybafflingtotwenty-eightofthethirty-four。Oneofthemspokeofitasan\"allusiontotheuncertaintyofthelengthoflife。\"Anotherthoughtitwasareferenceto\"theoccasionofJonah\'sbeingpreservedbythewhale。\"Anothercountedit\"anallusiontotheemesisofJonahbythewhale。\"Anotherconsidereditareferenceto\"theswallowingofJonahbyawhale，\"andyetanotherconsideredthatitreferredto\"thingsgrand，butnotworthyofworshipbecausetheyareperishable。\"ItisamazingtoreadthatinresponsetoTennyson\'slines，\"FollowLightanddotheRight——formancanhalfcontrolhisdoom—— TillyoufindthedeathlessAngelseatedinthevacanttomb，\" onlysixteenwereabletogiveanexplanationofitsmeaning!Thelinesfromthe\"HolyGrail\" wereequallybaffling: \"PerhapslikeHimofCanainHolyWrit，OurArthurkepthisbestuntilthelast。\" Twenty-fourofthesethirty-fouryoungmencouldnotrecallwhatthatmeant。Onesaidthatthekeepingofthebestwineuntilthelastmeant\"waitingtillthelastmomenttobebaptized!\" Allthatmaybesolelythefaultoftheseyoungmen。ProfessorLounsburyoncesaidthathisexperienceintheclass-roomhadtaughthimtheinfinitecapacityofthehumanmindtowithstandtheintroductionofknowledge。VerylikelyearnestefforthadbeenmadetoteachtheseyoungmentheBible；butitismanifestthattheyhadsuccessfullyresistedtheefforts。 IfTennysonweretheonlypoetwhocouldnotbeunderstoodwithoutknowledgeoftheBible，itmightnotmattersomuch，butnoonecanreadBrowningnorCarlylenorMacaulaynorHuxleywithentireintelligencewithoutknowledgeofthegreaterfactsandforcesofScripture。 Thevalueoftheallusionscanbeshownbycomparingthemwiththoseofmythology。NoonecanreadmostofShelleywithentiresatisfactionwithoutaknowledgeofGreekmythology。ThatisonereasonwhyShelleyhassomuchpassedoutofpopularity。WedonotknowGreekmythology，andwehaveverylargelylostShelleyfromourliterarypossession。ThechiefpoweroftheseothergreatwriterswillgofromuswhenourknowledgeoftheScripturegoes。 Thedangerisnotsimplywithreferencetothegreatliteratureofthepast。Thereisdangeroflosingappreciationofthemoredelicatetouchesofcurrentliterature，sometimesofacompletemissingofthemeaning。Anoratordescribingpresentpoliticalandsocialconditionsusedafinephrase，that\"itistimethenationcampedforaseasonatthefootofthemount。\"OnlyaknowledgeofBiblehistorywillbringasaflashbeforeonethenationinthedesertatSinailearningthemeaningandpoweroflaw。Yetanintelligentman，hearingthatremark，saidthathecounteditafinefigure，thathethoughttheredidcomeinthelifeofeverynationatimebeforeitbeganitsascenttotheheightswhenitoughttopauseandcampatthefootofthemountaintogetitsbreath!AfterLincoln\'sassassinationGarfieldstoodonthestepsinNewYork，andsaid:\"Cloudsanddarknessarearoundabouthim!GodreignsandthegovernmentatWashingtonstilllives!\"Yearsafter，someonereferringtothat，saidthatitwasabeautifulsentence，thatthereferenceto\"cloudsanddarkness\"wasabeautifulsymbolism，butthatGarfieldhadagreatknackinthebuilding-upoffinephrases!HelackedutterlythebackgroundofthegreatPsalmwhichwasinGarfield\'smind，andwhichgivesthatphrasedoublemeaning。 IfwegobacktoTennysonagain，someonehasproposedtheinquirywhyheshouldhavecalledoneofhispoems\"Rizpah，\"sincetherewasnooneofthatnamementionedinthewholepoem! When，someyearsago，abookwaspublished，TheChildrenofGideon，oneofthereviewerscouldnotunderstandwhythattitlewasused，sincenooneofthatnameappearedintheentirevolume。AndwhenMrs。Wharton\'sbook，TheHouseofMirth，cameoutsomeonespokeoftheironyofthetitle；butitistheironyoftheScripturesandthebookcallsforaScripturalknowledgeforitsentireunderstanding。 Takeevenanencyclopediaarticle。WhocanunderstandthesetwosentenceswithoutinstantknowledgeofScripture?\"MarloweandShakespeare，theyoungDavidsoftheday，triedthearmorofSaulbeforetheywentouttobattle，thenwiselylaiditoff。\"\"Arnold，likeAaronofold，standsbetweenthedeadandtheliving； but，unlikeAaron，heholdsnosmokingcensorofpropitiationtostaytheplaguewhichhefeelstobedevouringhisgeneration。\"[1]Thatisinanencyclopediatowhichyoungpeopleareoftenreferred。WhatwilltheymakeoutofitwithouttheBible?Inawidelydistributedschoolpaper，inthequestion-and-answerdepartment，occurstheinquiry:\"WhocomposedtheinscriptionontheLibertyBell?\"Theinscriptionis，\"Proclaimlibertythroughoutallthelandtoalltheinhabitantsthereof。\"[2]Itistobehopeditwasaveryyoungpersonwhoneededtoaskwho\"composed\"thatexpression! [1]NewInternationalEncyclopedia，art。onEnglishLiterature。 [2]CurrentEvents，January12，1912。 Thisappliestoallthegreatclassics。Therehascomeabouta\"decayofliteraryallusions，\" asoneofourpaperseditoriallysays。Inmuchofourwriting，eitherthetransientorthepermanent，mencannolongerriskeasyreferencetoclassicalliterature。\"ReadersofAmericanbiographymustoftenbestruckwiththeimportantpartwhichliteraryrecollectionplayedinthelifeofaculturedpersonagenerationortwoago。ThesemenhadreadHomer，XenophonandVirgil，Shakespeare，ByronandWordsworth，Lamb，DeQuinceyandColeridge。TheywerenotafraidofbeingcalledpedantsbecausetheyoccasionallyusedaLatinphraseorreferredtosomegreatnameofGreeceorRome。\" Thatisnotsocommonlytrueto-day。EspeciallyistheredangeroflosingeasyacquaintancewiththegreatBiblereferences。 Therearefamiliarreasonsforit。Foronething，therehasbeenagreatincreaseofliterature。 Oncetherewaslittletoread，andthatlittlebecamefamiliar。Onewouldhavebeenashamedtopretendtocultureandnottoknowsuchliteraturewell。Nowthereissomuchthatonecannotknowitall，andmostmenfollowthelineofleastresistance。Thatlineisnotwheregreatliteraturelies。Oncetheproblemwashowtogetbooksenoughforafamilylibrary。Nowtheproblemishowtogetlibraryenoughforthebooks。 Magazines，papers，volumesofallgradesoverflow。 \"TheBiblehasbeenburiedbeneathalandslideofbooks。\"TheresultisthatthegreatestliterarylandmarkoftheEnglishtonguethreatenstobecomeunknown，orelsetobelookeduponasofantiquarianratherthanpresentworth。ThereourPuritanfathershadtheadvantage。 AsPresidentFaunceputsit:\"ForthemtheBiblewasthenormandgoalofallstudy。Theyhadachievedtheconcentrationofstudies，andtheBiblewasthecenter。TheylearnedtoreadthattheymightreadtheliteratureofIsrael；theirwritingwasheavywithnobleOldTestamentphrases；thenamesofOldTestamentheroestheygavetotheirchildren； itswordsofimmortalhopetheyinscribedontheirtombstones；itsMosaiccommonwealththeysoughttorealizeinEnglandandAmerica；itsdecaloguewasthefoundationoftheirlaws，anditsprophecieswerealightshininginadarkplace。Suchaunificationofknowledgeproducedaunifiedcharacter，simple，stalwart，invincible。\" Itisverydifferentinourownday。 Asso-calledliteratureincreasesitrobsgreatliteratureofitsconspicuousoutstandingcharacter，andmanymenwhopridethemselvesontheamounttheyreadwoulddofarbettertoreadathousandthpartasmuchandletthatsmallerpartbegood。 AnotherreasonforthisdecayoftheinfluenceofliteraryknowledgeoftheBibleistheshallownessofmuchofourthinking。IftheBiblewereneededfornothingelseinpresentliterarylife，itwouldbeneededforthedeepeningofliterarycurrents。Thevastfloodofflotsamandjetsamwhichpoursfromthepressesseldomfloatsonadeepcurrent。Itissurfacematterforthemostpart。Itdoesnottakeitselfseriously，anditisquiteimpossibletotakeitseriously。Itdoesnotdealwithgreatthemes，orwhenittouchesuponthemitdealswiththeminatriflingway。 TomeninterestedchieflyinliteratureofthiskindtheBiblecannotbeofinterest。 Thatisapassingcondition，andoutofitiscertaintocomehereandthereamasterpieceofliterature。Whenitdoesappear，itwillbefoundtorevealthesameinfluencesthathavemadegreatliteratureinthepast，issuingmorelargelyfromtheBiblethanfromanyotherbook。 ThatisthemainpointofabitofcounselwhichProfessorBowenusedtogivehisHarvardstudents。ToformagoodEnglishstyle，hetoldthem，astudentoughttokeepnearathandaBible，avolumeofShakespeare，andBacon\'sessays。Thatgroupofbookswouldenlargethevocabulary，wouldsupplyastoreofwords，phrases，and，allusions，andsavethenecessityofransackingameagerandhide-bounddictioninordertomakeone\'smeaningplain。ColeridgeinhisTable-Talkaddsthat\"intensestudyoftheBiblewillkeepanywriterfrombeingVULGARinpointofstyle。\"SoitmaybeurgedthatthesetimeshaveandstillneedtheliteraryinfluenceoftheBible。 Addthatthetimeshaveandstillneeditsmoralsteadying。Everyageseemstoitsownthoughtfulpeopletolackmoralsteadiness，andtheytendtocompareitwithotherageswhichlooksteadier。Thatisavirtuallyinvariableopinionofsuchmen。Thecomparisonwithotheragesisgenerallyfallacious，yetthefactisrealforeachage。Manythingstendinthisagetounsettlemoralsolidity。Someofthemarepeculiartothistime，othersarenot。ButoneofthegreatinfluenceswhichtheBibleisperpetuallytendingtocounteractisstatedinbesttermsinanexperienceofHenryM。Stanley。 ItwasonthatjourneytoAfricawhenbefoundDavidLivingstone，undercommissionfromoneofthegreatnewspapers。Naturallyhehadmadeuphisloadaslightaspossible。OfbookshehadnonesavetheBible；butwrappedabouthisbottlesofmedicineandotherarticlesweremanycopiesofnewspapers。Stanleysaysthat\"strangestofallhisexperienceswerethechangeswroughtinhimbythereadingoftheBibleandthosenewspapersinmelancholyAfrica。\"HewasfrequentlysickwithAfricanfever，andtookuptheBibletowhileawayhishoursofrecovery。 Duringthehoursofhealthhereadthenewspapers。 \"Andthus，somehoworother，myviewstowardnewspaperswereentirelyrecast，\"whileheheldloyaltohisprofessionasanewspaperman。ThisisthecriticalsentenceinStanley\'stellingofthestory:\"Asseeninmyloneliness，therewasthisdifferencebetweentheBibleandthenewspapers。TheoneremindedmethatapartfromGodmylifewasbutabubbleofair，anditmademeremembermyCreator；theotherfosteredarroganceandworldliness。\"[1] Thereisnodenyingsuchanexperienceasthat。 ThatispreciselythemoraleffectoftheBibleascomparedwiththemoraleffectofthenewspaperaccountsofcurrentlife。Democracyshouldalwaysbehappy；butitmustalwaysbeserious，morallysteady。Anythingthattendstogivemenlightviewsofwrong，tomakeevilthingshumorous，tosetouttheridiculoussideofgrosssinsisperiloustodemocracy。Itnotonlyisinjurioustopersonalmorals；itisboundsoonerorlatertoinjurepublicmorals。ThereisnothingthatsopersistentlycounteractsthattendencyofcurrentliteratureasdoestheBible。 [1]Autobiography，p。252。 Fromanethicalpointofview，\"theethicalcontentofPaulisquiteasimportantforusasthesystemofSchopenhauerorNietzsche。TheorganizationoftheNewEnglandtownmeetingisnomoreweightyfortheAmericanboythantheorganizationoftheearlyChristianChurch。JohnAdamsandJohnHancockandAbrahamLincolnareonlythenaturalsuccessorsofthegreatHebrewchampionsoflibertyandrighteousnesswhofacedPharoahandAhabandputtoflightarmiesofaliens。\"ButasidefromthedefiniteethicalteachingoftheBiblethereisneedforthatstrongimpressionofethicalvalueswhichitgivesinthecharactersaroundwhichithasgathered。TheconceptionoftheBiblewhichmakesitappearasasteadyprogressionshouldaddtoitsauthority，nottakefromit。Thedevelopmentisnotfromerrortotruth，butfromlighttomorelight。ItissometimessaidthatthestandardsofmoralityofsomepartsofScripturearenottobecommended。ButtheyarenotthestandardsofmoralityofScripture，butoftheirtimes。TheyarenottaughtinScripture；theyareonlystated；andtheyaresostatedthatinstantlyathoughtfulmandiscoversthattheyarestatedtobecondemned。Whendiditbecometruethatallthatistoldofagoodmanistobeapproved?ItisnotpretendedthatAbrahamdidrightalways。Davidwasconfessedlywrong。Theymovemuchofthetimeinhalf-light，yetthesumtotaloftheimpressionoftheirwritingsisinevitablyandinvariablyforamoresubstantialmorality。ThesetimesneedthemoralsteadyingoftheBibletomakemen，notcreaturesofthedayaridnotcreaturesoftheirwhims，butcreaturesofalltimeandoffundamentallaws。 Addthethirdfact，thatourtimeshaveandstillneedthereligiousinfluenceoftheBible。 Nodemocracycandispensewithreligiousculture。 NobookmakesforreligionasdoestheBible。Thatisitschiefpurpose。Nobookcantakeitsplace；noinfluencecansupplantit。 MaxMullermadelifelongstudyoftheBuddhistandotherIndianbooks。HegavethemtotheEnglish-speakingworld。YethewrotetoafriendofhisimpressionoftheimmensesuperiorityoftheBibleinsuchtermsthathisfriendreplied:\"Yes，youareright；howtremendouslyaheadofothersacredbooksistheBible!Thedifferencestrikesoneasalmostunfairlygreat。\"[1]WritinginanIndiapaper，TheKayesthaSamachar，inAugust，1902，aHinduwritersaid:\"IamnotaChristian；buthalfanhour\'sstudyoftheBiblewilldomoretoremodelamanthanawholedayspentinrepeatingtheslokasofthePurinasorthemantrasoftheRig-Veda。\"IntheearlierchaptersoftheKoranChristiansarefrequentlyspokenofas\"peopleoftheBook。\"Itisasuggestivephrase。IfChristianityhasanyvalueforAmericanlife，thentheBiblehasjustthatvalue。ChristianityismadebytheBible；ithasneverbeenvitalnornationallyinfluentialforgoodwithouttheBible。 [1]Speer，LightoftheWorld，iv。 Sometimes，becauseofhisstrongwordsregardingtheconflictbetweenscienceandtheology，thevenerableAmericandiplomatandeducator，Dr。AndrewD。White，isthoughtofasafoetoreligion。Noonewhoreadshisbiographycanhavethatimpressionhalfanhour。Nearthecloseofitisaparagraphofsingularinsightandauthoritywhichfitsjustthisconnection: \"Itwill，inmyopinion，beasaddayforthisorforanypeoplewhenthereshallhavecomeinthemanatrophyofthereligiousnature；whentheyshallhavesuppressedtheneedofcommunication，nomatterhowvague，withasupremepowerintheuniverse；whenthetieswhichbindmenofsimilarmodesofthoughtinthevariousreligiousorganizationsshallbedissolved；whenmen，insteadofmeetingtheirfellow-meninassemblagesforpublicworshipwhichgivethemasenseofbrotherhood，shallloungeathomeorinclubs；whenmenandwomen，insteadofbringingthemselvesatstatedperiodsintoanatmosphereofprayer，praise，andaspiration，tohearthediscussionofhigherspiritualthemes，tobestirredbyappealstotheirnoblernatureinbehalfoffaith，hope，andcharity，andtobemovedbyacloserrealizationofthefatherhoodofGodandthebrotherhoodofman，shallstayathomeandgivetheirthoughtstotheSundaypapers，ortotheconductoftheirbusiness，ortothelanguidsearchforsomerefugefromboredom。\"[1] Thosearewise，strongwords，andtheysustaintothefullwhathasbeenurged，thatthesetimesstillneedthereligiousinfluenceoftheBible。 [1]Autobiography，vol。ii，p。570。 TheinfluenceoftheBibleontheliterary，moral，andreligiouslifeofthetimesisalreadyapparent。Butthatinfluenceneedstobeconstantlystrengthened。Thereremains，therefore，tosuggestsomemethodsofgivingtheBibleincreasingpower。Itshouldberecognizedfirstandlastthatonlythoughtfulpeoplewilldoit。 Nohelpwillcomefromcarelesspeople。Moreover，onlypeoplewhobelieveinthecommonfolkwilldoit。ThosewhoarearistocratsinthesensethattheydonotbelievethatcommonpeoplecanbetrustedwillnotconcernthemselvestoincreasethepoweroftheBible。Butforthosewhoarethoughtfulandessentiallydemocraticthedutyisaveryplainone。TherearefourgreatagencieswhichmaywellmagnifytheBibleandwhoseinfluencewillbringtheBibleintoincreasingpowerinnationallife。 Firstamongthese，ofcourse，mustbetheChurch。TheaccentwhichitwillplaceontheBiblewillnaturallybeonitsreligiousvalue，thoughitsmoralvaluewilltakeaclosesecondplace。ItisessentialfortheChurchtoholditselftruetoitsreligiousfoundations。Onlymenwhohavesomepositionofleadershipcanrealizetheimmensepressurethatisonto-daytodrawtheChurchintoformsofactivityandmethodsofservicewhicharemuchtobecommended，butwhichhavetobeconstantlyguardedlesttheydepriveitofpowerandconcerninthethingswhicharepeculiartoitsownlifeandwhichitanditalonecancontributetothepublicgood。TheChurchneedstodevelopforitselffarbettermethodsofinstructionintheBible，sothatitmayasfaraspossibledrillthosewhocomeunderitsinfluenceintheknowledgeoftheBibleforitsdistinctivereligiousvalue。Thisisneitherthetimenortheplaceforafullstatementofthatresponsibility。ItisenoughtoseehowtheverylogicofthelifeoftheChurchrequiresthatitreturnwithrenewedenergytoitsmagnifyingandteachingoftheBible。 Thesecondagencywhichmaybecalleduponisthepress。TheaccentofthepresswillbeonthemoralvalueoftheBible，theservicewhichitsteachingrenderstothenationalandpersonallife。ThereseemstobeahopefulreturningtendencytoallusionstotheScriptureinnewspaperandmagazinepublications。Itisraretofindamongthehigher-levelnewspapersaneditorialpage，wherethemostthoughtfulwritingappears，inwhichonanydaytheredonotappearScriptureallusionsorreferences。Whenthatisseriouslydone，whenScriptureisusedforsomeotherpurposethantopointajest，ithelpstorestoretheBibletoitsplaceinpublicthought。InrecentyearstherehasbeenanoticeablereturnofthegreatermagazinestoconsiderationofthemoralphasesoftheScripture。 Thathasbeeninevitablyconnectedwiththedevelopmentofasocialsensewhichcondemnsmenfortheirevilcoursesbecauseoftheirdamagetosociety。TheOldTestamentprophetsarelivingtheirlivesagaininthesedays，andthemorethoughtfulmenarebeingdrivenbacktothemforthegreatprinciplesonwhichtheymaylivesafely。 ThethirdagencywhichneedstomagnifytheBibleistheschool。TheaccentwhichitwillchoosewillnaturallybetheliteraryvalueoftheBible，thoughitwillnotoverlookitsmoralvalueaswell。Incidentalreferencesheretoforehavesuggestedtheimportanceofreligioninademocracy。Buttherearenoneofthegreatbranchesoftheteachingoftheschools，publicorprivate，whichdonotinvolvetheBible。ItisimpossibletoteachhistoryfairlyandfullywithoutafrankrecognitionoftheinfluenceoftheBible。StudytheReformation，thePuritanmovement，thePilgrimjourneys，thewholeofearlyAmericanhistory!WecanleavetheBibleoutonlybytriflingwiththefacts。Certainlyliteraturecannotbetaughtwithoutit。Andifitisthepurposeoftheschoolstodevelopcharacterandmorallife，thenthereishighauthorityforsayingthattheBibleoughttohaveplace。 FortyyearsagoMr。Huxley，inhisessayon\"TheSchoolBoards:WhatTheyCanDo，andWhatTheyMayDo，\"laidabroadfoundationforthinkingatthispoint，andhiswordsbearquotingatsomelength:\"Ihavealwaysbeenstronglyinfavorofseculareducation，inthesenseofeducationwithouttheology；butImustconfessIhavebeennolessseriouslyperplexedtoknowbywhatpracticalmeasuresthereligiousfeeling，whichistheessentialbasisofconduct，wastobekeptup，inthepresentutterlychaoticstateofopiniononthesematters，withouttheuseoftheBible。Thepaganmoralistslacklifeandcolor，andeventhenoblestoic，MarcusAureliusAntoninus，istoohighandrefinedforanordinarychild。TaketheBibleasawhole； maketheseverestdeductionswhichfaircriticismcandictateforshortcomingsandpositiveerrors；eliminate，asasensiblelayteacherwoulddoiflefttohimself，allthatisnotdesirableforchildrentooccupythemselveswith；andtherestillremainsinthisoldliteratureavastresiduumofmoralbeautyandgrandeur。Andthenconsiderthegreathistoricalfactthat，forthreecenturies，thisBookhasbeenwovenintothelifeofallthatisbestandnoblestinEnglishhistory； thatithasbecomethenationalepicofBritain，andisasfamiliartonobleandsimple，fromJohn-o\'-Groat\'sHousetoLand\'sEnd，asDanteandTassoonceweretotheItalians；thatitiswritteninthenoblestandpurestEnglish，andaboundsinexquisitebeautiesofmereliteraryform；and，finally，thatitforbidstheveriesthindwhoneverlefthisvillagetobeignorantoftheexistenceofothercountriesandothercivilizations，andofagreatpast，stretchingbacktothefurthestlimitsoftheoldestnationsoftheworld。Bythestudyofwhatotherbookcouldchildrenbesomuchhumanizedandmadetofeelthateachfigureinthatvasthistoricalprocessionfills，likethemselves，butamomentaryspaceintheintervalbetweentwoeternities； andearnstheblessingsorthecursesofalltime，accordingtoitsefforttodogoodandhateevil，evenastheyalsoareearningtheirpaymentfortheirwork?Onthewhole，then，IaminfavorofreadingtheBible，withsuchgrammatical，geographical，andhistoricalexplanationsbyalayteacherasmaybeneedful，withrigidexclusionofanyfurthertheologicalteachingthanthatcontainedintheBibleitself。\"Mr。HuxleyisanEnglishman，though，asProfessorMoultonsays，\"WedividehimbetweenEnglandandAmerica。\"ButProfessorMoultonhimselfisveryurgentinthissamematter。IftheclassicsofGreeceandRomeareinthenatureofancestralliterature，anequalpositionbelongstotheliteratureoftheBible。 \"IfourintellectandimaginationhavebeenformedbyGreece，havewenotinsimilarfashiondrawnourmoralandemotionaltrainingfromHebrewthought?\"Itisoneofthecuriositiesofourcivilizationthatwearecontenttogoforourliberaleducationtoliteratureswhichmorallyareatoppositepolesfromourselves； literaturesinwhichthemostexaltedtoneisoftenanapotheosisofthesensuous，whichdegradedivinity，notonlytothehumanlevel，buttothelowestlevelofhumanity。\"Itissurelygoodthatouryouthduringtheformativeperiodshouldhavedisplayedtothem，inaliterarydressasbrilliantasthatofGreekliterature，apeopledominatedbyanutterpassionforrighteousness，apeoplewhoseideasofpurity，ofinfinitegood，ofuniversalorder，offaithintheirresistibledownfallofmoralevil，movedtoapoeticpassionasfervidandspeechasmusicalaswhenSapphosangofloveorEschylusthunderedhisdeepnotesofdestiny。\"[1] [1]LiteraryStudyoftheBible，passim。 ButthereisaleadingAmericanvoicewhichwillspeakinthatbehalf，inPresidentNicholasMurrayButler，ofColumbiaUniversity。InhisaddressasPresidentoftheNationalEducationalAssociation，PresidentButlermakesstrongpleaforthereadingoftheBibleeveninpublicschools。 \"Hisreasonhadnoconnectionwithreligion。Itwasbasedonaltogetherdifferentground。HeregardedanacquaintancewiththeBibleasabsolutelyindispensabletotheproperunderstandingofEnglishliterature。\"Itisunfortunateintheextreme，hethought，thatsomanyyoungmenaregrowingupwithoutthatknowledgeoftheBiblewhicheveryonemusthaveifhemeanstobecapableofthegreatestliterarypleasureandappreciationoftheliteratureofhisownpeople。Notonlytheallusions，butthewholetoneandbiasofmanyEnglishauthorswillbecometoonewhoisignorantoftheBiblemostdifficultandevenimpossibleofcomprehension。 Thedifficultiesofcallingpublicschoolstothistaskappearatonce。Itwouldbemonstrousiftheyshouldbesectarianorproselytizing。 ButtheBibleisnotasectarianBook。 ItistheBookofgreatestliterature。ItistheBookofmightiestmorals。Itisgoverninghistory。 Itisaffectingliteratureasnothingelsehasdone。Athousandpitiesthatanypettysquabblingordifferencesofopinionshouldpreventtheyoungpeopleintheschoolsfromrealizingthegrandeurandbeautyofit! Butthefinalandmostimportantagency。 whichwillmagnifytheinfluenceoftheBiblemustnecessarilybethehome。Itwillgatherupallitstraits，religious，moral，andliterary。 Hereisthefundamentalopportunityandthefundamentalobligation。RobertBurnswasrightinfindingthesecretofScotia\'spowerinsuchscenesasthoseof\"TheCottar\'sSaturdayNight。\" OnecanalmostseeCarlylegoingbacktohisoldhomeatEcclefechanandstandingoutsidetohearhisoldmothermakingaprayerinhisbehalf。Anewspapereditorialofrecentdatesaysthisdecayofliteraryallusionistraceableinparttothegradualabandonmentoffamilyprayers。AnsweringPresidentButler，itisurgedthatitisnotsoimportantthattheBiblebeinthepublicschoolsasthatitgetbackagainintothehomes。\"ThoroughacquaintancewiththeBibleisdesirable；itshouldbefostered。 Thepersonwhowillhavetofosterit，though，\" saysthiswriter，\"isnottheteacher，buttheparent。TheparentisthepersonwhomDr。 Butlershouldtrytoconvert。\"Well，whiletheremaybedifferencesabouttheschool，therecanbenoneabouttheplaceoftheBibleinthehome。Itneedstobeboundupwiththeearliestimpressionsandintertwinedwiththoseimpressionsastheydeepenandextend。 So，bytheChurch，whichwillaccentitsreligiousvalue；bythepress，whichwillaccentitsmoralpower；bytheschool，whichwillspreaditsliteraryinfluence；andbythehome，whichwillrealizeallthreeandmakeitseemavitalconcernfromthebeginningoflife，theBiblewillbeputandheldintheplaceofpowerto-daywhichithashadintheyearsthataregone，andwillsteadilygaingreaterpower。