CHAPTER LI
The American Bible Union
[p. 170]
Differences of opinion are fundamental in human society. It is a provision of nature. He who is wise will understand this, and will not be impatient at others for not having the same mind as himself. In no public measure were Baptists ever more united than in the formation of our American and Foreign Bible Society, yet it was not unanimous. A minority opposed it with all their power. Among them were brethren Wayland, Williams, Dowling, Hague, Granger, Westcott, Ide, Brantly. The latter went so far as to admit with the pedobaptists that the word "baptizo" was "untranslatable." The real fear of these brethren was that an endorsement of Judson's Bible would lead to a revision of the English Bible, in which "baptism" might be translated "immersion." And so, they said, we shall no longer be Baptists. When they saw that an overwhelming majority favored a separate Bible Society, they tried to have it confined to scriptures in "foreign languages." They foresaw the final issue. As a Presbyterian said: "How long will they be content to transfer into one language and translate into another?"
They had not long to wait. The Society to print and circulate Judson's Bible went to its work in 1836, and in 1838 it was agreed that so far as our own Bible was concerned the common English version be circulated "until otherwise ordered by the Society." That sufficed to keep things quiet for ten years longer. But in 1849 Spencer H. Cone, pastor of the First Baptist church, New York, and who had been president of the Bible Society from the beginning, assisted by W. H. Wycoff, prepared and published a revised edition of the New Testament in which baptism was translated. And having decided to translate at all, the word must be "immersion;" there was no choice. At the meeting of the Baptist Bible Society in 1850 the book was offered for consideration. Then the storm broke. Some of the brethren could not have been more excited if the Bible itself had been in peril. They began the agitation before the convention met, and stirred up intense feeling. The Baptist press teemed with charges and counter charges. The opposers feared that it would involve the abandonment of our denominational name, and we should be called "Immersers." Yet that does not necessarily follow. The fact that "immersion" is from the Latin would not
[p. 171]
prevent us from continuing to get our denominationaf name from tht: Greek. Presbyterians have not lost their denominational name because "presbuteros" is translated "elder." Episcopalians are not affected because "episcopos" is translated "bishop." The result was that our Bible Society frowned on the translated testament and voted, 167 to 130, "that the circulation of the English scriptures be restricted to the common version." From that moment the Baptists of the country were divided in their Bible work into two hosts.
Dr. Cone took it very hard. He immediately resigned his office and withdrew from the convention. "I cannot serve you longer," he said; "I am crushed." Two weeks afterward, June 10, 1850, the American Baptist Union was organized, "To circulate the most faithful versions of the scriptures in all languages throughout the world."Subscriptions amounting to $6000 were taken on the spot. After a time Thomas J. Conant, one of the first scholars of this country or of any other, was engaged as chief of the staff of translation. The result was the issuing of the Bible Union New Testament, and ultimately of the whole Bible. They are still kept in stock by our Publication Society, and find a steady sale.
But by the organization of the Bible Union the contention that had been confined to a few leaders and to anniversary occasions was by traveling agents precipitated upon the churches. In one place the agents of the Bible Union were welcomed; in other places they were refused a hearing and were permitted only to solicit contributions from individuals. At associational gatherings each side came prepared to offer resolutions, and the debates were as heated as those on Free Missions. The wave of conflict struck the General Association in 1850, at Springfield. The committee on the A. & F. B. S. were divided and brought in two reports. The report favorable to the Bible Union recommended that as soon as an English version was completed which a joint committee from the two Societies should pronounce superior to the old version, it should be allowed to go on the market to be purchased by any who so desired. An exciting discussion followed, and both reports were laid upon the table. At the meeting at Ottawa in 1851 the subject was carefully avoided, but at Upper Alton in 1852 brother Justus Burkley started the ball rolling by offering a resolution commending the Bible Union. After long discussion it was laid upon the table in this harmless form:
[p. 172]
"This body would rejoice in the production of the most faithful versions of the scriptures, and its general circulation."In the meeting at Bloomington in 1853 the Bible Union was included among the national societies, and a committee appointed to bring in a report upon it. That little concession did more to produce harmony than anything else that could be done: The two Bible committees came together and brought in a joint report to the effect that they wished the two would work in harmony and stop fighting. And this probably would have been done but for the pugnacity of a few eastern brethren who were afraid of losing the "denominational. name." The strife ceased in the Illinois General Association, though it continued outside by individuals and the newspapers. And so it was proved that once allow each side to be treated fairly, mutual rights acknowledged, and there is no more trouble.
In cases of disagreement over matters of policy each one should reflect that his own opinion is really of less value than he thinks it is. He should reflect too on the comparative unimportance of convention resolutions. They are usually little read and soon forgotten. Their value is as a bond of union for those in rhe field, and an authoritative background for measures they are pushing. Consider also the importance of peace. As well expect vegetation to flourish on the waves of the sea as the activity of the Holy Spirit in the midst of strife. Yet in this the wisest among us may have no advantage over others. One may have ability and education and experience and titles and yet be the sport of his own shortsighted contentiousness. "The servant of the Lord must [not] strive." The two things worth contending for in this world are God and humanity; let who will have the rest. In 1883 at a General Convention held at Saratoga Springs our two Bible Societies committed their work to our Publication Society; and there it still is. ================ [Edward P. Brand, Illinois Baptists -- A History, 1930, pp. 170-172. -- jrd]
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