66

leave out the versions of Tyndale, of the inspired writer; yet impartial (1534,) Cranmer, (1539,) Geneva, (1557) readers must acknowledge an imand Rheims, (1582,) and confine our- provement in perspicuity in the reselves to a comparison between Wic- vised, over the authorized, versions, lif, (1380,) and the "authorized" (1611,) in some cases. Such for instance as on John 5: 22, 29. Wiclif: "Nyle ze is brought out in Titus 2: 11, where wondre this, for the oure cometh, in the A. V. following the Romish verwhiche alle men that ben in biricls sion of Rheims, reads, "The grace schulen here the vois of goddis sone; of God that bringeth salvation hath and thei that hau do good thingis: appeared to all men," while Tyndale, schulen go in to azenrisynge of luf, Cranmer, Geneva and American Bibut thei that hau do yucle thingis in to ble Union more nearly following the azenrisynge of dome." Greek, read, "The grace of God, which bringeth salvation for all men hath appeared." * *(The effect of the transposition will be at once perceived.)

Authorized, "Maruel not at this: for the houre is comming,in the which all that are in the graues shall heare his voice, and shall come foorth, they that haue done good, unto the resurrection of life, and they that haue done euill, unto the resurrection of damnation."

The American Bible Union says, also, in their Notes, "This arrangement, (which is that of Newcome,) brings out the thought with perspicuIt is not surprising that there should ity." Bloomfield (New Test.) says, have been a greater change in the 230 "Pasin anthropois must be construed, years between Wiclif and King James not with epephanee, but with soteeros, than in the 200 years between King thus: which bringeth salvation to all James and the time when the " com- men, whether Jews or Gentiles. mon version" came into use; still it is (Edition of 1860 with Philological evident there had been a change, in Notes.) the latter period, in the language of the people, and in the diction of the Bible.

In a future number of the AMERICAN FRIEND I may offer some examples of changes proposed in the Old Testament Scriptures.

In conclusion, and taking an impartial view of the subject, one seems hardly warranted in disregarding the query of those opposed to revision, when they say: Have professing Christians, or any considerable portion of them, so fully conformed to the requisitions of the moral law,as set forth in the Decalogue and in Christ's Sermon on the Mount, as exhibited in the version in common use, to warrant them in demanding a higher standard than they unfold?' And the friends of revision are bound to answer, No.

Take another example from Acts, 21: 15. "After three days we took up our carriages and went up to Jerusalem." 66 A modern objector to the truthfulness of the Acts," says Dean Trench, asks 'How could they have taken up their carriages, when there was no road for wheels, nothing but a mountain track between Cæsarea and Jerusalem?" "But 'carriages' is a constant word in the English of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries for baggage, being that which men carry, and not, as now, that which carries them." (Redfield's N. Y. edition of Trench on Revision, p. 28; republished, 1858.) The version Furthermore, they are impressed of the American Bible Union reads, with the belief that however importAnd after those days we packed up ant and desirable a revision of the our baggage and went up to Jerusa- Bible may be, there is something lem." (Preliminary revision of 1858.) vastly more important and equally Dr. Trench, although he admits the within their reach,-even such a redesirableness of a new translation, vision of the heart and life, that every does not appear to charge the trans- one can be, and should be, engaged in, lators employed by King James with that will bring to view every case of wilfully perverting the teachings disagreement between the inspired

word, the original text, impressed on ty in the world,) he availed himself the inner man, and its translation in of leisure to commence examining the life and conversation. And it is tables of mortality. Knowing from comforting to believe that while the summary in the Annual Monitor, scholars are engaged in purifying the letter of Scripture from verbal errors, they and we may, at the same time be seeking for that heavenly influence that can purify the heart from spiritual ones. Christendom may need a revised Bible, but not more than it does a revised heart, one more truly consecrated to the Lord's service. HENRY MILES.

MONKTON, Vt., 3 mo., 1867.

LONGEVITY OF FRIENDS, Of the Monthly Meeting for the Western District, Philadelphia.

THROUGH the kindness of our friend R. S., we are able to present the record for the above Monthly Meeting from 1830 to the present year.

"The number of deaths is 427. Of these 57 were under 1 year of age; 33 between 1 and 10; 23 between 10 and 20; 33 between 20 and 30; 31 between 30 and 40; 29 between 40 and 50; 34 between 50 and 60; 53 between 60 and 70; 65 between 70 and 80; 62 between 80 and 90; and 7 between 90 and 100. The average length of life between 1830 and 1840 was 33 years, 1 month; between 1840 and 1850, 41 years, 9 months; between 1850 and 1867, 56 years, 3 months, and 25 days. The average for the whole period is 46 years and 20 days."

the great_average length of life of English Friends, (about 52 years,) it was a cause of much astonishment to find from the first records examined, that the average for one of our own Quarterly Meetings is only 1814 years, more than 12 years less than the commonly received average for the world. The desire to obtain arguments in favor of abstaining from narcotics was merged, for the time being, into solicitude for the physical welfare of the Society itself.

We have received accounts from

eight Monthly Meetings in Indiana and Ohio, which we have already published. It is probable that we may form from these a pretty accurate estimate of the mortality of Friends in these two States.

It may interest our readers to compare,in one or two particulars, the very gratifying report from the Western District, Philadelphia, with the summary for the eight meetings referred to. In the former the average length of life is 46 years and 20 days; in the latter but little more than one half as great, 23 years, 8% months. In the former 21% per cent. have died under 10 years old; in the latter 44 per cent. or nearly half of all. The Psalmist, in speaking of the godly man, says: "With long life will I satisfy him." Now if it is desirable to have long life and health of body, it may not be unimportant to place before ourselves A year or two since, while listen- some queries of this kind,-Is a resiing to a lecture on Narcotics by Dr. dence in the city more favorable to Palmer, of the University of Mich- long life than one in the country? igan, the suggestion presented itself (Philadelphia Friends can answer this to the writer, that, as intemperance question by consulting the records of and excess where prevalent to a con- their meetings in the country.) Other siderable extent, must diminish the things being equal, can the hardaverage length of human life, the publication of the statistics of a community in which total abstinence is carried out, ought to furnish strong arguments in favor of temperance.

Accordingly, anticipating an opportunity through the columns of a paper of making inquiries of Friends (the most practical temperance Socie

ships of pioneer life make all the difference between Philadelphia and the West? Or is it probable that the region of Philadelphia is more healthy than the West? How much of the difference is to be attributed to peculiarities in social and domestic life? How much to differences in religious: character and habits?

Before a fair comparison can be he has compelled his muse to “grind made we ought to know the ratio of in the mill of use," the number of births to the number of

"A song of praise to Him who filled
The harvests sown in tears,

And gave each field a double yield
To feed our battle-years.

"A song of faith that trusts the end
To match the good begun,

Nor doubts the power of Love to blend
The hearts of men as one.

The eight remaining poems are of a miscellaneous character, yet through all runs the undertone:

"To one fixed stake my spirit clings:
I know that God is good."

"The dear God hears and pities all;
He knoweth all our wants;
And what we blindly ask of him

His love withholds or grants."

To this sweetest of Whittier's volumes we would invite the attention of every admirer of the author, and every lover of good poetry. "THE AMERICAN FRUIT CULTURIST,' by J. J. Thomas. 1 vol. 8 vo. 511 pp. Illustrated by 480 wood cuts. New York: W. Wood & Co. For sale by Nicholson & Bro, Richmond, Ind. THE author of this work is evidently a lover of fruit trees, and would like to see every person engaged more or less in horticulture.

A full account of the leading kinds of apples, pears, quinces, plums, &c., follows. The writer shows that his especial favorite in the fruit line is a delicious pear.

The small fruits come in for a full share of notice, and 30 pages are devoted to an article on grape cultivation, &c.

The book closes with select lists

of fruits, a calender of work for each month, and a carefully prepared descriptive list and index, making the work a complete manual for the fruit culturist.

"ELEMENTS OF LOGIC" Comprising the Doctrine of the Laws and Products of Thought, with a Logical Praxis. Designed for Classes and for Private Study. By Henry N. Day. New York: Chas. Scribner & Co. 12 mo. pp. 236. For sale by Nicholson & Bro,Richmond, Ind. and clear statement of the elements PROF. DAY aims to give a formal of logic. He has studied brevity and compressed his book into a small compass. If he has done this without an improper abridgement of the necessary illustrative examples, its shortness will be an excellence, but it seems to us that the principles of If we would divide mankind into this science specially required clear two classes, those who always try to illustrations. The book has an apkeep secret any important fact they pendix of examples in reasoning and may know, or any discoveries they a copious index. The treatise is based may make and who speak of their on the philosophy of Sir Wm. Hamcalling as being hard to learn, and ilton, from whose lectures copious those who long that others may know extracts are given. It rejects the all that they know if it will benefit names and terms of the schoolmen, them, surely the writer of this book which will better adapt it to popular belongs to the latter elass; with reading and study. We commend it painstaking care he explains every- to the earnest practical teacher, and thing in regard to the propagation to those who wish to become acand cultivation of fruit-trees, and as quainted with this valuable science. the various plans are profusely illustrated, the reader has no difficulty in 'OHIO EDUCATIONAL MONTHLY;' Coumbus. E. E. White, Editor and comprehending the writer's meaning. Publisher.

The first 125 pages are devoted to this subject, beginning with an explanation of the growth of trees, and closing with full directions how to can or dry fruit. A few pages are devoted to nurseries, destructive insects and diseases of trees, and an illustrated glossary of terms used in describing fruits.

THIS periodical, now in its 16th volume, the organ of the Ohio Teachers' Association, is ably edited, beautifully printed, and, we are glad to learn, is well supported. It should be read and patronized by all interested in the educational interests of Ohio, as well as others who need the

influence of a live stirring education- the Dramatist, by E. P. Whipple;

al paper.

'INDIANA SCHOOL JOURNAL' Organ

of the State Teachers' Association,

and of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, is edited by that officer, George W. Hoss, and published by J. J. Parsons, of Indianapolis. It is now in its 12th year, and we hope, for the honor of our State, is well supported by the teachers. "The Education of our Colored Population," in our present number, is copied from its pages.

"THE MICHIGAN TEACHER,' Organ of the State Teachers' Association and of the Department of Public Instruction, is published at Ypsilanti; Wm. H. Payne, resident editor. It is now in its second year, is filled with good matter, got up in excellent style, and is a fit organ for the grand school system of the noble State of Michigan.

"THE SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER,' devoted to the interests of Sabbath Schools, and published at Chicago by Adams, Blackmer & Lyon, is now in its second year, and deserves large patronage for the able manner in which it advocates the interests it represents. We sometimes feel like criticizing it for using the heathen term Sunday, instead of the more appropriate one of Sabbath, but are not at all disposed, on that account, to undervalue its excellent and interesting instructions and lessons.

The above four educational journals are all issued monthly, at $1.50 a year, and consist of from 32 to 40 pages, elegantly printed on good paper, and neatly bound in colored covers. The Ohio Educational Monthly is well worthy of the imitation of the others in having a neat table of contents on the first page of the cover, an arrangement exceedingly desirable on account of its convenience.

"THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY' for June, (Boston: Ticknor & Fields,) contains the sixth installment of Dr. Holmes' Guardian Angel; The City of St. Louis, by James Parton; Russian America, by J. H. A. Bone; The Founders of Montreal, by Francis Parkman; Shakespeare, the Man and

Negro Spirituals, by T. W. Higgintin; A Venetian Experince, Poor son; Golden Chains, by Jane G. AusRichard, Among the Comedians, Reviews and Literary Notices; also two

poems, The Red School House, by Lucy Larcom, and G. L. S., by Whittier, in which he pays a fitting tribute modest, self-denying, Philanthropist of respect and praise to that noble, and Christian, the late George L. Stearns.

Such an array of interesting articles, from so many able writers,speaks well for this widely known Magazine. Its history and success for nearly ten years have demonstrated its worth. The present number closes the 19th volume. Yearly subscription, $4.00. Single number 35 cents. For sale by Booksellers generally.

"THE SABBATH AT HOME,' (American Tract Society, No. 28 Cornhill, Boston,) exceeds in interest all that it We know of no promised to give us. periodical of its class more interesting and instructive, and feel that we cannot too highly recommend it to our readers as a religious monthly of superior worth.

"THF CHILD AT HOME,' (by the same,) Sabbath an excellent illustrated School paper, is published monthly in two editions, a plain one at 30 cents, and a colored one at 50 cents, per annum, with reduced rates on large quantities.

"THE RIVERSIDE MAGAZINE,' (Hurd & Houghton, N. Y.,) for the young folks, maintains its high standing. The engravings are the best of their kind, and there is a charm about the beautifully printed pages that is truly delightful, to say nothing of the entertaining, valuable matter it contains.

RECEIVED from Nicholson & Bro., and to be further noticed, "Progress of Doctrine in the New Testament," considered in eight lectures, delivered before the University of Oxford, England, by T. D. Bernard, and "Bible Pictures," by Geo. B. Ide, both published by Gould & Lincoln, Bos

ton.