study of the king james bible(钦印〈圣经〉研究)-第55章
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literature a vast residuum of moral beauty and grandeur。 And then consider
the great historical fact that； for three centuries； this Book has been woven
into the life of all that is best and noblest in English history； that it has
become the national epic of Britain； and is as familiar to noble and simple；
from John…o'…Groat's House to Land's End； as Dante and Tasso once were
to the Italians； that it is written in the noblest and purest English； and
abounds in exquisite beauties of mere literary form； and； finally； that it
forbids the veriest hind who never left his village to be ignorant of the
existence of other countries and other civilizations； and of a great past；
stretching back to the furthest limits of the oldest nations of the world。 By
the study of what other book could children be so much humanized and
made to feel that each figure in that vast historical procession fills； like
themselves； but a momentary space in the interval between two eternities；
and earns the blessings or the curses of all time； according to its effort to
do good and hate evil； even as they also are earning their payment for their
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work？ On the whole； then； I am in favor of reading the Bible； with such
grammatical； geographical； and historical explanations by a lay teacher as
may be needful； with rigid exclusion of any further theological teaching
than that contained in the Bible itself。〃 Mr。 Huxley is an Englishman；
though； as Professor Moulton says； 〃We divide him between England and
America。〃 But Professor Moulton himself is very urgent in this same
matter。 If the classics of Greece and Rome are in the nature of ancestral
literature； an equal position belongs to the literature of the Bible。 〃If our
intellect and imagination have been formed by Greece； have we not in
similar fashion drawn our moral and emotional training from Hebrew
thought？〃 It is one of the curiosities of our civilization that we are content
to go for our liberal education to literatures which morally are at opposite
poles from ourselves； literatures in which the most exalted tone is often an
apotheosis of the sensuous； which degrade divinity； not only to the human
level； but to the lowest level of humanity。 〃It is surely good that our youth
during the formative period should have displayed to them； in a literary
dress as brilliant as that of Greek literature； a people dominated by an utter
passion for righteousness； a people whose ideas of purity； of infinite good；
of universal order； of faith in the irresistible downfall of moral evil； moved
to a poetic passion as fervid and speech as musical as when Sappho sang
of love or Eschylus thundered his deep notes of destiny。〃＇1＇
＇1＇ Literary Study of the Bible； passim。
But there is a leading American voice which will speak in that behalf；
in President Nicholas Murray Butler； of Columbia University。 In his
address as President of the National Educational Association； President
Butler makes strong plea for the reading of the Bible even in public
schools。 〃His reason had no connection with religion。 It was based on
altogether different ground。 He regarded an acquaintance with the Bible as
absolutely indispensable to the proper understanding of English literature。〃
It is unfortunate in the extreme； he thought； that so many young men are
growing up without that knowledge of the Bible which every one must
have if he means to be capable of the greatest literary pleasure and
appreciation of the literature of his own people。 Not only the allusions； but
the whole tone and bias of many English authors will become to one who
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is ignorant of the Bible most difficult and even impossible of
comprehension。
The difficulties of calling public schools to this task appear at once。 It
would be monstrous if they should be sectarian or proselytizing。 But the
Bible is not a sectarian Book。 It is the Book of greatest literature。 It is the
Book of mightiest morals。 It is governing history。 It is affecting literature
as nothing else has done。 A thousand pities that any petty squabbling or
differences of opinion should prevent the young people in the schools
from realizing the grandeur and beauty of it！
But the final and most important agency。 which will magnify the
influence of the Bible must necessarily be the home。 It will gather up all
its traits； religious； moral； and literary。 Here is the fundamental
opportunity and the fundamental obligation。 Robert Burns was right in
finding the secret of Scotia's power in such scenes as those of 〃The
Cottar's Saturday Night。〃 One can almost see Carlyle going back to his old
home at Ecclefechan and standing outside to hear his old mother making a
prayer in his behalf。 A newspaper editorial of recent date says this decay of
literary allusion is traceable in part to the gradual abandonment of family
prayers。 Answering President Butler； it is urged that it is not so important
that the Bible be in the public schools as that it get back again into the
homes。 〃Thorough acquaintance with the Bible is desirable； it should be
fostered。 The person who will have to foster it； though；〃 says this writer；
〃is not the teacher； but the parent。 The parent is the person whom Dr。
Butler should try to convert。〃 Well； while there may be differences about
the school； there can be none about the place of the Bible in the home。 It
needs to be bound up with the earliest impressions and intertwined with
those impressions as they deepen and extend。
So； by the Church； which will accent its religious value； by the press；
which will accent its moral power； by the school； which will spread its
literary influence； and by the home； which will realize all three and make
it seem a vital concern from the beginning of life； the Bible will be put and
held in the place of power to…day which it has had in the years that are
gone； and will steadily gain greater power。
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