Show CO J circulating THE BIBLE I 1 rnE glebas been much efrost made and means spent by christians in the publication and circulation of that book boob called the bi bible bibie lb leyland and this effort and expenditure have not been confined to christian populations only but translations of the same book studiously prepared have been sent into many nations and tongues of those who were not considered christians the purpose was no doubt the same wherever circulation inoculation was pushed and results were always anticipated more tangible and valuable than the cost of product production loh low and circa circulation lation or it would argue against such investments everywhere however leaving out the probable or expected results jn in heathen lands suppose we ask of christendom a few questions which seem to suggest themselves and to grow out of a consideration of this apparently self imposed work we say self imposed because there are no pretensions made as to any special or divine call to this mission such as the assumed or understood character of the book might imply men engage in this from notions correct or incorrect for no reason or for reasons scarcely understood because of tradition education or want of other employment because the book is considered to possess some such influence as a charna charra or because of some feeling of reverence towards it or shadow of worship thus imitating the use of amulets the custom of having a horseshoe over the door the devoting of a comer corner to the semblance of the cross etc ete 6 a something handy bandy and pleasant to have in the house not for use particularly but as a sort of fetish a savior or mone tone and respectability bl lity and justify the assumption of be being ing grod good christians in many cases case to basure be sure it is meant to be read that as mechanically a chapter every morning or a chapter every eveni evening ilg tig or a chapter on the sabbath day clay tut but but each time with sone bone vague or half formed idea of a duty and even aven sacrifice br of privilege as to conning the Iffie word of now athe the book as to it ibs its contents is considerably varied we e have history and narrative law and commandment man dment poetry and prophecy prophet b biography ardd arid proverbs the words of man of angels and of god but nut to this age it is an old book the jast line ine 1 was written eighteen hundred years ago it is a book rook of marvels and miracles toa to a religious beligio us ad to a skeptical world because of 16 its antiquity its facts are mainly bayons proof most of its apparently common things have become od solete they may be numbered among the lost arts and so far as general and present human experience goes might be unrecorded and forgotten admitting the book to be true where does the benefit come in in to us those who take most pains to circulate jt it insist most strongly that its record of mans experience is unfitted or unnecessary now there was a time they allow when god was interested terestea in te rested in communed with him when besent he sent bent his messengers angels oranges or botell his will when prophets and seers were among the people who could give the word of the lord there Thero were vere revelation and inspiration for ages among mankind there was warning for fr impending t calamity reproof for sins of omission or commission I 1 words of cheer for the righteous and comfort for the oppressed but that was long ah long ago in the new i testament there is mention made of jesus men called him savior thenh then and do now he transmitted similar power to his apostles and believers he tain order pointed a certain course promised certain results but even that is long ah ab long ago now when we read and study and compare christendom with this book for the circulation of which such vast pains as ia taken we ask how about this grand past how about this revelation how about these prophets this savior that gospel what benefit is it to know that such blessings privileges and opportunities once existed it they are for r ever passed away Is it kind to taunt the blind with graphic pictures of a sunlit world Is it kind to tell the tho hungry of the banquet once enjoyed by others Is it pleasant to hav have ethus thus rudely pointed out our ignorance by a recital of some intelligence unreachable rea nea pliable to us or do men thus engaged realize the longings which such reading must create the intense and bum ing conclusion that thit while vaunted civilization may have some good points its glory is utter darkness combar compared with IV th that glory once known when communion with the heavens was the characteristic of thee thed best and noblest of the sons of earth and will they when circulating reading or recommending this bok indulge in any hopes or give any countenance to the idea thata that a restoration of this ancient order and glory is either desirable possible or to be expected and should there be those id ri this territory where special effort is now being made for the dissemination ta on of this book who bellve the rei re i cord ai as it is who have the old faith in god the old faith in angels the old faith in prophets the old faith in inspiration revelation and communion with the heavens if there are those who have faith in im jesus and in his gospel in in his ordinances and church and even say they are in possession of the ancient gifts the andelt power the thi ancient practices of Patri patni patriarchs arms aros and men of god will these zealous men these bible circulating and bible selling men give any more cie credence dence to what they hear than did to jesus the scribes and pharisees Pharis ees of old by allme alime all ali means ang ani read nead the bible study 14 it interest yourselves in dinits its contents comparette compa rethe stealthily creeping organizations you see that which the e book record records sand and also aiso learn from it if holy choly men of lof old oid wrote and spoke by the holy ghost that god is the same yesterday today to day and forever that while cathe the letter ietter kelleth kil kii leth 11 it is f the spirit bri ngeth life and that unto us is given in a more sure word of prophecy cyl unto which wa wedo do well to take heed beed asunto a light shining in a dark place and th that at is the present voice of god in his living priesthood it whose official utterances ara are ara to us scripture and the ever oy espres pres ent evidence of communion with the heavens as of old during th e pas past seven years yean it appears atthe thattie th mines mines of the united states have yielded about of gold |