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。