The Wycliffe semi-millennial Bible celebration : Convention of Bible societies of New Jersey, Trenton, September 21st and 22d, 1880
Sii^v-4v^'kN««SK5»NS>sS.«^ aacteci»yjftaA'rt\^Ynfraciyaayi¥oxft»Ki^^ .N\\«^iK^«iii«»»ii««iM«9ti!«ii»iiM«!Kti^^ i|inii|'iiii'inipi^iiii<i|iii II mmm mmmmmmmmmmiii^^^ ^\^ -^^'l^ '^ ^i^#^^^^^S^ •^X^X^^'^^i ^t t^« ®h«"%%r ^,,,^. rm,. '% PRINCETON, N. J. Wiesm/e/ /y Shelf.. Number C6.te V. . . .1.. Section ^?i^ iy M \ki THE Wycliffe SemfMillennial BIBLE CELEBRATION. Tre n+o n N.J". CONVENTION OF BIBLE SOCIETIES OF NEW JERSEY TRENTON, SEPTEMBER 21st and 22d, 1880. PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE CONVENTION. Press of AMZI PIERSON & CO., Newark. N. J. •,RLC.MAH1882 CONTENTS 5 9 lo 1 1 Introduction — The Conference, ••.... The Convention,  of the Convention, by Rev. Jas. P. Wilson, D. D., . 21 Address OF Welcome, by Barker Gummere, Esq., . . . 31; Response to the Address of Welcome, by Chas. E. Vail, Esq., . . 27 The Life, Times, and Labors of Wycliffe, by James Strong, S. T. D., . 29 William Tvndale and His Bible, by Rev. William S. Langford, . . 37 The Bible in New Jersey, by Rev. George Sheldon, D.D., . . 46 The English Bible : Its Relations to the English Language and Literature, by Rev. Richard G. Greene, . . . ' . , 52 Divine and Human. Elements in the Bible, by Samuel M. Woodbridge, D.D., 59 The Bible the Book for All Ages, by Rev. J. Fewsmith, D.D., . . 66 The Bible and Intelligence, by Jas. McCosh, D.D., LL.D., ... 74 The Bible in Education, by Rev. William H. Campbell, D.D., LL.D., . 79 Relations of the English Bible to Civil and Religious Liberty, by Hon. ■ Frederick T. Frelinghuysen, . . . . .82 The Authorized Version and the Present Revision, by William Henry Green, D.D., ....... 88 The Bible and the Reformation in England, by Ashbel Welch, Esq , . 95 The Era and Work of Bible Societies, by William J. R. Taylor, D.D., . 98 Closing Address, by the Chairman, (Hon. John T. Ni.\on), . .104 INTRODUCTION. The preliminary movements toward the celebration of the Five Hundredth Anniver- sary of the translation of the Bible into the English language by John Wycliffe, which was completed in the year of our Lord, 1380, are carefully narrated in the statement by the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Origin and Object of the Convention, whose proceedings are contained in this memorial volume. A few facts remain to be stated concerning the Conference, which was held in Trenton, in the rooms of the Board of Trade, February 25, 1880. Sixteen out of the twenty-one county auxiliary Bible Societies in the State of New Jersey were represented as follows : Atlantic County Bible Society, Rev. Thomas Sovreign. Essex County Bible Society, Rev. W. J. R. Taylor, D.D. Hudson County Bible Society, Rev. Paul D. Van Cleef, D.D. ; Rev. Lewis R. Dunn, D.D. Hunterdon County Bible Society, Rev. George S. Mott, D.D, Mercer County Bible Society, Rev. Samuel M. Hamill, D.D. ; Rev. William Harris, Rev. Walter A. Brooks, Rev. James B. Kennedy, Rev. S. Van Benschoten, D.D. Rev. Jesse Stiles, James C. De Cou, Esq. Ocean County Bible Society, S. F. Blackman, Esq. Passaic County Bible Society, Rev. Marshall B. Smith. Somerset County Bible Society, Rev. Philip M. Doolittle. Sussex County Bible Society, William P. Nicholas, Esq. Warren County Bible Society, Rev. William A. Holliday. Rev. George Sheldon, D.D., State Superintendent of the American Bible Society for New Jersey and Delaware, was present ex-officio. THE CONVENTION. By the courtesy of the authorities, the Assembly Chamber, with its adjacent rooms, in the State House at Trenton, was opened for the Convention — a graceful acknowledg- ment of the public sentiment of the good people of New Jersey, who value the Bible as the foundation of their liberties and rights. During all of the sessions the floor of the Assembly Chamber was occupied by the delegates, and a large number of ladies and gentlemen filled the spacious galleries. The pulpit, the bar, the medical profession, the judiciary of the State and of the United States, presidents and professors of colleges and theological seminaries, prominent officers of churches of all the leading Protestant communions, the American and Pennsylvania Bible Societies, and the New Jersey auxiliaries of the parent institution, the religious and sec- ular press, the worthy yeomanry, statesmen, and all the influential classes in the State were represented in this notable assembly of the friends of the Bible. The programme was carried out with remarkable exactness, no speaker or reader exceeding the half hour to which the Executive Committee was compelled to limit them. Much credit is due to the Local Committee of Arrangements, whose minute carefulness and forethought greatly pro- moted the comfort and convenience of the Convention, as well as the promptness of the proceedings. The expenses have been met by special contributions from friends in the Auxiliary Societies, and without diverting a dollar from their ordinary receipts for Bible purposes. The music was admirably led by a double quartette from Princeton College, repre- senting the Nassau Hall Bible Society. Public interest increased until the last moments of the Convention, and the impres- sion made by its proceedings was most happy upon all who were present. PRESIDING OFFICERS. CHARLES E. VAIL, Esq., OF THE Warren County Bible Society. Rev. JOHN MACLEAN, D.D., LL.D., of the Princeton Bible Society. Hon. JOHN HILL, of the Morris County Bible Society. WILLIAM ELMER, M.D., of the Cumberland County Bible Society. Hon. JOHN T. NIXON, OF the Mercer County Bible Society. HONORARY COUNTY VICE-PRESIDENTS. Atlantic — Hon. Enoch Cordery. Bergen — Hon. William S. Banta. Burlington — Charles E. Hendrickson. Camden — Hon. George S. Woodhull. Cape May — Hon. Downs Edmunds. Cumberland — William Elmer, M. D. Essex — Hon. George J. Ferry. Gloucester — Hon. Benjamin F. Carter. Hudson — Hon. A. A. Hardenbergh. Hunterdon — Hon. John T. Bird. Mercer — Hon. E. W. Scudder. Middlesex — Ezra M. Hunt, M.D. Monmouth — Major James S. Yard. Morris — Hon. John Hill. Ocean — Gen. John S. Schultze. Passaic — Col. BenjaIiin Aycrigg, Salem — Quinton Gibbon, M.D. Somerset — J. Dumont Frelinghuysen. Sussex — Hon. Samuel T. Smith. Union — Hon. B. Williamson. Warren — Hon. Charles E. Vail. SECRETARY, Rev. WILLIAM J. R. TAYLOR, D.D. ASSISTANT SECRETARIES. Rev. GEORGE S. MOTT, D.D., Rev. PAUL D. VAN CLEEF, D.D. TREASURER. CHARLES S. HAINES, Esq. ORDER OF PROCEEDINGS. The Convention was called to order by the Rev. James P. Wilson, D.D., Chairman of the Executive Committee. In the absence of Cortlandt Parker, Esq., of Newark, whose attendance as the presiding officer of the first session was prevented by unexpected and imperative profes- sional engagements, Hon Charles E. Vail, of Blairstown, Warren county, who origi- nated the proposal for the celebration, was appointed to the chair. The exercises were then conducted according to the programme. 10:30 A. M. 1. Invocation — By Rev. Abraham Gosman, D.D., of Lawrenceville, N. J. 2. Reading from John WycUffe's version of the Scriptures, I. Corinthians, xiii., by Rev. Dr. J. P. Wilson. 3. Hymn. • Our God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come ; Our shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home. Before the hills in order stood, Or earth received her frame ; From everlasting Thou art God, To endless years the same. A thousand ages in Thy sight Are like an evening gone ; Short as the watch that ends the night Before the rising dawn. Time, like an ever-rolling stream, Bears all its sons away ; They fly forgotten, as a dream Dies at the opening day. Our God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come ; Be Thou our guard while troubles last, And our eternal home. 4. Organization, Enrollment of Delegates, Officers. 12 The Wycliffe Sefni- Millennial Bible Celebration. 1 1 A. M. 5. Statement of the Origin and Object of the Convention — Rev. James P. Wilson, D.D., Chairman of the Executive Committee. 6. Address of Welcome — Barker Gummere, Esq. 7. Response of the Presiding Officer. 8. Hymn. Upon the Gospel's sacred page The gathered beams of ages shine ; And as it hastens, every age But makes its brightness more divine. On mightier wing, in loftier flight, From year to year does knowledge soar And as it soars, the Gospel light Adds to its influence more and more. More glorious still, as centuries roll, New regions blessed, new powers unfurled; Expanding with the expanding soul, Its waters shall o'erflow the world : Flow to restore, but not destroy ! As when the cloudless lamp of day Pours out its floods of light and joy, And sweeps its lingering mist away. 11.30 A.M. 9. John Wychffe : His Times and his Bible — Professor Jas. Strong, S. T. D., Madi- son, N. J. 12 M. 10. WiUiam Tyndale and his Bible — Rev. William S. Langford, EHzabeth, N. J. The Rev. Samuel M. Studdiford, of Trenton, at the close of the morning session, exhibited to the members of the Convention a rare curiosity in the shape of a manu- script work of Wycliffe, in excellent state of preservation ; being a treatise on the Apostles' Creed, the Ten Commandments, and the Lord's Prayer. Mr. Studdiford stated that the book had been presented to his father, the late Rev. Peter O. Studdiford, D.D., of Lambertville, in 1826, by the widow of an English clergyman. As the first pages of the book are missing, Dr. Studdiford could not, at first, ascertain who was its author. Dr. Addison Alexander was greatly interested in it, and endeavored for some time to obtain some clue that might lead to the name of the author; but he met with no success in his efforts. At length Dr. Studdiford somewhere found one the earliest biographies of WycHff"e, which contained quotations from some of his works, and among these there were quota- tions from a work that Wychffe had written on the Apostles' Creed, the Ten Command- ments, and the Lord's Prayer. Dr. Studdiford found, to his delight, that these quotations were from the very manuscript he had in his possession, and thus obtained conclusive evidence that Wycliffe was its author. The manuscript is beautifully written on vellum, with illuminated pages and letters — the gilding in the illuminations being unusually bright aud beautiful. Order of Proceedings. n AFTERNOON SESSION. Rev. John Maclean, D.D., LL.D., Ex-President of Princeton College, Presiding I. Prayer — By the President. 2. Hymn. Come, Thou almighty King ! Help us Thy name to sing, Help us to praise ! Father ! all glorious, O'er all victorious. Come, and reign over us, Ancient of days ! Come, Thou Incarnate Word ! Gird on Thy mighty sword ; Our prayer attend ! Come, and Thy people bless, And give Thy Word success Spirit of holiness ! On us descend. 3 P. M. Come, holy Comforter ! Thy sacred witness bear, In this glad hour ! Thou, Who almighty art. Now rule in every heart And ne'er from us depart. Spirit of power ! To the great One in Three The highest praises be. Hence, evermore ! His Sovereign majesty — May we in glory see And to eternity— r Love and adore. 3.15 P. M. 3. The Bible in New Jersey — Rev. Geo. Sheldon, D.D., Princeton, New Jersey. At this point, the Rev. Dr. Maclean, called the Hon. John Hill, one of the Vice- Presidents, to the chair for the remainder of the afternoon session. 3.45 P. M. 4. The EngUsh Bible : Its Relations to the English Language and Literature — Rev. Richard G. Greene, Orange, N. J, 5. Hymn. A glory gilds the sacred page, Majestic like the sun ; It gives a light to every age. It gives, but borrows none. The hand that made it still supplies The gracious light and heat ; 3 Its truths upon the nations rise, They rise but never set. Let everlasting thanks be Thine For such a bright display ; As makes a world of darkness shine With beams of heavenly day. 1 4 The Wycliffe Semi- Millennial Bible Celebration. . 4.20 P. M. 6. The Bible as Promoting Intelligence— Rev. James McCosh, D.D., LL.D., Pres- ident of Princeton College. 4.50 P. M. 7. The Divine and Human Elements in the Bible— Rev. Samuel M. Woodbridge, D.D., New Brunswick, N. J. 8. Doxology — Benediction — Rev. Lewis R. Dunn, D.D. 7.30 P. M. A public meeting, for addresses, was held in the Greene Street Methodist Episcopal Church, which was crowded with an enthusiastic and representative assembly, William Elmer, M.D., presiding. 1. Anthem. 2. Prayer — By the Rev, John S. Porter, D.D. 3. The Bible the Book for All Ages— Rev. Joseph Fewsmith, D.D., Newark, N. J. 4. Hymn. Peace with her olive crown'd, shall stretch Her wings from shore to shore ; No trump shall rouse the rage of war, No murderous cannons roar. Lord, send Thy Word, and let it fly Armed with the Spirit's power ; Ten thousand shall confess its sway, And bless the saving hour. Beneath the influence of Thy grace The barren wastes shall rise ; With sudden green and fruits arrayed — A blooming Paradise. Lord ! for those days we wait ; those days Are in Thy Word foretold ; Fly swifter, sun and stars, and bring This promised age of gold. 5. The Bible in Education — Rev. William H, Campbell, D.D., LL.D., President of Rutgers College. The next address, on " The Enghsh Bible — Its Relations to Civil and Religious Liberty," was to have been delivered by the Hon. Frederick T. Frelinghuysen, of Newark, N. J., who came to the city for the purpose, but was suddenly taken severely ill, and was obliged to return to his home by the evening train. The Secretary announced the facts to the greatly disappointed congregation, and the exercises were then closed accord- ing to the programme. 7. Hymn. Our land with mercies crowned, This wide enchanted ground, O God ! is Thine ; Our fathers knew Thy fame ; The trophies of their name — Our heritage — proclaim A Power divine. Dear native land, rejoice ! Raise thou thy virgin voice To God on high ; From all thy hills and bays, From all thy homes and ways, Let symphonies and praise Ascend the sky. Order of Proceedings. 15 And Thou, Almighty One, At whose eternal throne She bows the knee ! In all the coming time Bless Thou this favored clime, And may her deeds sublime Be hymns to Thee ! 8. Doxology. — Benediction — By the Rev. Leopold Mohn. The Convention resumed its sessions on Wednesday, September 22, 1880, Hon. John T. Nixon, presiding. 10 A. M. 1. Anthem. 2. Prayer — By Rev. Eldridge Mix, D.D. 10.15 A.M. 3. The Authorized Version and the Present Revision — Rev. William Henry Green, D.D., LL.D., Princeton, N. J. Hymn. Christ for the world we sing. The world to Christ we bring, With loving zeal ; The poor, and them that mourn, The faint and overborne. Sin-sick and sorrow- worn, Whom Christ doth heal. 10.45 A. M. Christ for the world we sing ! The world to Christ we bring, With one accord ; With us the work to share, With us reproach to dare, With us the cross to bear, • For Christ our Lord. 5. The Bible and the EngHsh Reformation — Ashbel Welch, Esq., Lambertville, N. J. 6. Hymn. God bless our native land ! Firm may she ever stand. Through storm and night ; When the wild tempests rave. Ruler of winds and wave ! Do Thou our country save, By Thy great might. For her our prayer shall rise To God above the skies ; On Him we wait ; Thou, Who art ever nigh. Guarding with watchful eye ! To Thee aloud we cry — God save the State ! 11.15 A. M. 7. The Era and Work of Bible Societies— Rev. W. J. R. Taylor, D.D., Newark, N. J. 8. Closing Proceedings. 11.45. A. M. 1 6 Wy cliff e Semi-Millemiial Bible Celebration. The following resolutions were then unanimously adopted : RESOLUTIONS. 1. Resolved, That our most devout thanks are due to Almighty God for raising up for the English nation at so early a date a translator of the Holy Scripture, imbued with the spirit of the Gospel, and so well adapted to his task as John Wycliffe, and that for five centurieathe English-speaking people have been blessed with the pure Word of God in their own tongue, 2. Resolved, That we recognize in this fact the origin and continuance of those political, moral and religious advantages which have so conspicuously distinguished England and America in the past, and are now our joy and hope. 3. Resolved, That the friends of the Bible in New Jersey have occasion to rejoice in the success of the WycHffe Semi- Millennial Celebration, which has attracted to the capitol so many earnest workers and well- known veterans in the cause of Bible distribution, and so many influential advocates of the Holy Scriptures, representing our prominent institutions of learning, and the various professions and material and industrial interests of the State, showing that the Bible retains a strong hold upon the hearts of the people, and con- tinues to excite a deep and far-reaching influence upon all classes of the community. 4. Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention are due to the Executive Committee, and especially to the Secretary, Rev. W. J. R. Taylor, D.D., and the District Superintendent of the American Bible Society, Rev. Dr. Sheldon, for the excellent and comprehensive programme prepared by them, and which has been so faithfully and punctually carried out ; and that the committee be authorized to publish the proceedings, together with the papers and addresses, in a suitable memorial volume. 5. Resolved, That we gratefully acknowledge our obligations to the gentlemen who have read papers and delivered addresses, and that they be requested to furnish copies of the same for publication. 6. Resolved, That we deeply regret the sudden illness of Hon. F. T. Frelinghuysen, which pre- vented the delivery of his address on the "Relations of the English Bible to Religious and Civil Liberty," and that he be requested to furnish a copy of it for publication. 7. Resolved, That the hearty thanks of this Convention be and hereby are tendered to the gentlemen who have presided at its sessions ; to the Local Committee of Arrangements, for the liberal provisions made for the comfort of the delegates ; to the citizens of Trenton, for their generous hospitality ; to the State authorities, for the use of the Assembly Chamber ; to the Pastor and Trustees of the Greene Street Methodist Episcopal Church, for the use of their church edifice ; and to the young gentlemen of Nassau Hall Bible Society, Princeton, for their kindness in conducting the music during all the sessions of the Convention, thus contributing largely to the pleasure and spiritual profit of our meetings. 8. Resolved, That any surplus funds left in the hands of the Treasurer, after paying the expenses of the Convention and printing the memorial volume, be paid over to the American Bible Society for its general work. The Presiding Officer, Judge Nixon, of Trenton, then made a brief closing address, after which the Doxology was sung, and the Benediction was pronounced by the Rev. Jonathan F. Stearns, D.D., of Newark, and the Convention then adjourned. List of Delegates. 17 LIST OF DELEGATES APPOINTED, AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVES OF BIBLE SOCIETIES. [Those who were present are designated by asterisks (*) attached to their names.] .Rev. ALLEN H. BROWN, •Rev. THOMAS SOVREIGN, *Eev. C. E. p. MAYHEW, D. E. IZARD, ATLANTIC COUNTY. J. B. WRIGHT, P. S. TILTON, *J. A. JONES, T. F. WURTS. BERGEN COUNTY. Rev. DANIEL WISE. D.D., Rev. EDWIN A. BITLKLEY, D.D., Rev. THEODORE B. ROMEYN, D.D., Rev. henry M. BOOTH, D D., *ISAAC WORTENDYKE, Esq., Rev. H. B. TURNER, ELBERT A. BRINCKERHOFF, Rev. J. E. VAN DEVENTER, Hon. W. E. SKINNER, ISAAC D. DEMAREST, •HENRY H. VOORHEES. BURLINGTON COUNTY. •Rev. JOHN S. PORTER, D.D. DYLWIN SMITH, •Rev. O. a. KERR, BENAJAH ANTRIM, •Rev. S. TOWNSEND, •LEWIS JEMISON, M.D., WALTER WRIGHT, •Rev. EDWARD B, HODGE, •Peop. G. H. VOORHIS, 'Rev. WILSON STOKES, •Rev. a. K. STREET. Rev. lewis C. BAKER, •Rev. henry REEVES, •Rev. S. E. POST, Rev. V. D. REED, D.D., Rev. J. B. GRAW, D.D., CAMDEN COUNTY. Rev. GEORGE B. WIGHT, Rev. F. R. BRACE, *WALTER M. PATTON, •JAMES ARMSTRONG, M.D, •JOSEPH D. REINBOTH. J. B. HUFFMAN, Rev. EDWARD P. SHIELDS, GEORGE OGDEN, Rev. a. M. NORTH, CAPE MAY COUNTY. •Rev. a. p. JOHNSON, PARSONS TOWNSEND, ABRAHAM REEVES, JOSEPH B. HUGHES. •WILLIAM ELMER, M.D., ENOCH FITHIAN, M.D., •CHARLES BREWER, M.D., •Rev. G. K. MORRIS, JAMES J. REEVES, CUMBERLAND COUNTY. Hon. L. Q. C. ELMER, J. LENHART PRICE, Hon. NATHANIEL STRATTON, •C. C. PHILLIPS, M.D., GEORGE TOMLINSON, M.D. The Wycliffe Semi-Milletmial Bible Celebration. THOMAS N. McCARTER, Esq., *Rev. F. V. VAN VRANKEN, *HoN. FREDERICK T. FRELINGHUYSEN, *CHARLES S. HAINES, *Rev. WILLIAM H. STEELE, D.D., •Hon. THOMAS B. PEDDIE, CORTLANDT PARKER, Esq., •HORACE ALLING, Chancellor THEODORE RUNYON, *HENRY WILDE, •Rev. J. F. STEARNS, D.D., •Rev J. FEWSMITH,  ELDRIDGE MIX, D.D., E. R. CKAVEN, D.D.. A. L. BRICE, D.D., J. H. KNOWLES, JAMES M. TUTTLE, RICHARD G. GREENE, WILLIAM J. R. TAYLOR, D.D. JAMES P. WILSON, D.D., WILLIAM T. FINDLEY, D.D. •Rev. DANIEL THACKARA, A. S. BARBER, WALLACE McGEORGE, M.D., Rev. W. PITTENGER, Rev. C. W. DUANE, JOHN C.LATIMER, GLOUCESTER COUNTY. Rev. A. LAWRENCE, Rev. J. H. O'BRIEN, ROBERT A. BRYANT, Rev. D. MOORE, •george w. bailey, m.d. *bj:lmont perry. HUDSON COUNTY. Hon. B. F. RANDOLPH, Rev. WILLIAM VERRINDER, Rev. C. K. IMBRIE, D.D., M. H. GILLETT, •C. C. VAN REYPEN, CHARLES A. DE WITT, •Rev. PAUL D. VAN CLEEF, D.D., Rev. W. V. V. MABON, D.D., Rev. a. p. FOSTER, •Rev. W. R. DURYEE, D.D., •Rev. D. R. LOWRIE, •Rev. L. MOHN, Rev. W. TUNISON. HUNTERDON COUNTY. Rev. C. F. TRAVER, •Rev. GEO. S. MOTT, D.D., •ASHBEL WELCH, ViceC-hancellor DAVID VAN FLEET, •Rev. J. M. PATTERSON, N. W. VOORHEES, •WILLIAM P. EMERY, W. T. HERR, Rev. G. W. ANDERSON, Rev. a. L. MARTINE, G. W. HERMMER, •Rev. THOMAS E. GORDON, •JACOB G. SCHOMP, W. P. DEMOTT, •Hon. JOHN T. BIRD, •WILSON THOMAS. MERCER COUNTY. •BARKER GUMMERE, Esq., •HUGH H. HAMILL, Esq., •Rev. W. H. NEILSON, Jr., •Rev. W. W. MOFFETT, •Hon. WILLIAM S. WARD, •WILLIAM ELMER, Jr., M.D., Hon. a. G. RICHEY, WILLIAM J. OWENS, CHARLES BREARLEY, •Rev. T. HANLON, D.D., •E. G. cook, •CHARLES E. GREEN, W. H. SKIRM, •Rev. A GOSMAN, D.D., •Rev. S. van BENSCHOTEN, D.D., •Rev. D. R. FOSTER. MIDDLESEX COUNTY. •Rev. WILLIAM H. CAMPBELL, D.D., LL.D., •Rev. JOHN WOODBRIDGE, D.D. , •T. B. TALLMAN, •Rev. B. S. EVERITT, •E M. HUNT, M.D., •JOHNSON LETSON, •D C. ENGLISH, M.D„ •Rev. w. J. Mcknight, d.d., Rev. E. HEWITT, ABRAM VOORHEES, •JOHND BUCKELBW, *J. L. ROGERS, •Rev. SAMUEL M. WOODBRIDGE, D.D. Names of Delegates Appointed. 19 MONMOUTH COUNTY. REvr. J. M. ANDERSON, •Hon. a. C. McLEAN, HOLMES W. MURPHY, Rev. frank CHANDLER, •Rev. WILLIAM REILEY, D.D. •WILLIAM STATESIR, Rev. S. F. WHEELER, Rev. G. C. HADDOCK, •GILBERT H. VAN MATER, Rev. a. p. COBB, Rev. H. a. HENDRICKSON, DAVID A. BELL, •JOHN O. RAUM, Major J, S. YARD. •Rev. albert ERDMAN, •Pkof. JAMES STRONG, D.D. •WILLIAM S. babbitt, •J. H. BRUEN, *WILLIAM W. MARSH, •Hon. JOHN HILL, SELIM F. BLACKMAN, S. C. JENNINGS, Col. WILLIAM L JAMES, MORRIS COUNTY. DAVID A. NICHOLAS, SAMUEL EDDY, JOHN F. CORT, NATHANIEL NILES, JOHN S. McDOUGALL, THEODORE LITTLE, Esq OCEAN COUNTY. Rev. a. H. DASHIELL, Jr. Rev. JOHN HANCOCK, Rev. a. M. NORTH. PASSAIC COUNTY. Rev. MARSHALL B. SMITH, Rev. CHARLES D. SHAW, Rev. JOHN GASTON, D.D., Rev. DAVID MAGIE, D.D., Rev. JOHN A. MUNROB, Rev. JOHN H. DURYEA, D.D. •CoL. BENJAMIN AYCRIGG, WATTS COOKE, GARRETT J. BLAUVELT, *JOHN WORTMANN, •Rev. B.V. D. WYCKOFF. Rev. J. R. WESTWOOD, HENRY M. RUMSEY, Rev. W. A. FERGUSON, •Rev. O. B. McCURDY, Rev. J. J. REEDER, SALEM COUNTY. •Rev. J. S. PRICE, •Rev. B. C. LIPPINCOTT, Rev. J. F. HEILMAN, Rev. W. P. EVANS, CLINTON BO WEN. SOMERSET COUNTY. Rev. J. F. MESICK, D.D., Rev. a. MESSLER, D.D., •Rev. p. M. DOOLITTLB, •Rev. JAMES LE FEVRE, Rev. E. T. CORWIN, D.D., Rev. SAMUEL PARRY, •Rev. WILLIAM R. TAYLOR, •Rev. L. F. burgess. Rev. T. B. CONDIT, WILLIAM P. NICHOLAS, THOMAS RYERSON, M.D. •DAVID R. HULL, •HARVEY B. STRAIGHT, Kev. a. a. HAINES, Rev. A. Mc WILLIAM, •Rev. JOHN HART, J. E. NEGUS, •PETER A. VOORHEES, J. V. D. HOAGLAND, F. J. FRELINGHUYSEN, •Rev. C. H. POOL. •Rev. HENRY STOUT, Mis.-ionary from Japan. SUSSEX COUNTY. WILLIAM H. HART, Rev. E. a. HAMILTON, bartley d. fuller, charles d. thompson, •Hon. S. T. SMITH, 20 The Wychffe Semi- Millennial Bible Celebration. Rev. W. C. ROBERTS, D D., Rev. E. KEMPSHALL, D.D., Rev. J. A. LIGGETT, *Rev. J. U. BLISS. D.D., Rev. H. SPBLLMEYER, *HoN. JOSEPH ALWARD, UNION COUNTY. *Rbv. WILLIAM S. LANGFORD, *Rev. E. H. REINHART, W. W. WELLS, R. W. TOWNLEY, Rev. C. LAREW, •Rev. lewis R. DUNN, D.D. PHILIP H. HANN. P. f. BRAKELEY, M. D.. Hon. WILLIAM H. MORROW, Rev. T. a. SANSON, Rev. a. C. HIGGINS, MOHN WHITE, *Rev. a. M. palmer, WARREN COUNTY. CHARLES SCRANTON, *Rev. C. 8. VANCLEVE, JOHN WEST, *H0N. CHARLES E. VAIL *Rev. H. B. SPAYD, •Rev. W. THOMPSON. NASSAU HALL BIBLE SOCIETY OF PRINCETON COLLEGE. •Rev. JAMES McCOSH, D.D., LL.D., POWERS FARR, •JOSEPH HUBBARD, •E. S. SIMONS, •J. SHOBER, •W. H. McCARTER, •RICHARD D. HARLAN, CHARLES E. DUNN, •GEORGE P. PIERSON, •FRANK E. HOSKINS, *F. W. RUTAN. PRINCETON BIBLE SOCIETY. Prop. STEPHEN ALEXANDER, LL.D., Prop. J. S. SCHANCK, LL.D., Hon. CROWELL MARSH, Rev. WILLIAM HARRIS. •Rev. WILLIAM HENRY GREEN, D.D., LL.D., Prop. J. T. DUFFIELD, D.D., •Rev. JOHN MACLEAN, D.D., LL D. LAWRENCEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL BIBLE SOCIETY. •Rev. S. M. HAMILL, D.D., •HORACE PORTER, •JAMES B. MERSHON, •W. S. VOORHIES. AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. •Rev. GEORGE SHELDON, D.D., District Superintendent for N. J. and Delaware. *Rev. EDWARD W. OILMAN, D.D , Cor. Sec. A. B. S. STATEMENT OF THE ORIGIN AND OBJECT OF THE CONVENTION. By REV. JAMES P. WILSON. D. It devolves on me, as Chairman of the Executive Committee, to give briefly an account of the origin of this Convention, and how it came about. The first pubhc proposal to celebrate the Five Hundredth Anniversary of the Trans- lation of the New Testament into the English language by John Wyclifife, was made by C. E. Vail, Esq., President of the Warren County Bible Society, at the annual meeting, held August 4th, 1879, when, according to "The Bible Society Record" for September, 1879 (p. 138): The Society, on a suggestion contained in Mr. Vail's address, adopted the following resolutions : Whereas, The year 1880 will complete a semi-millennium of the English Bible, the translation of the New Testament by Wycliffe having been issued in 1380, therefore, — Resolved, That this occasion, so suggestive of priceless blessings, should be duly observed by the English-speaking race, through its various Bible societies. Resolved, That the Warren County Bible Society respectfully call the attention of the Managers of the American Bible Society to this matter, and ask them to signalize the occasion in such a manner as in their judgment shall seem best. Resolved, That the Executive Committee of this Society be requested to make provision for some suitable celebration of the same at our next annual meeting. The next official action was taken by The Essex Bible Society, at its annual meeting, held in Newark, November loth, 1879, when the subject was brought to the attention of the Society by the Rev. James P. Wilson, D.D., and was referred to a com- mittee. This committee reported the following minute, which was unanimously adopted, after a very interesting and animated discussion : In view of the fact that the coming year (1880) completes five hundred years of the history of our English Bible, as the pious and learned Wycliffe finished his translation in 1380, we cannot but be deeply impressed by the manifold blessings it has ministered to our fathers and to us. The Essex County Bible Society considers that an event of such importance to Protestants, to the entire English-speaking race, as well as to Christianity it.self, should be signalized by devout thanksgiving 4 22 The Wycliffe Semi-Millejinial Bible Celebration. and praise to Almighty God, together with other exercises suited to an occasion of such singular historic interest. The Society, therefore, cordially invites Bible societies throughout the State of New Jersey to unite with it, by delegates duly appointed for the purpose, in a State convention, to celebrate the semi-millen- nium of our English Bible. Rev. Dr. J. P. Wilson, Rev. Dr. W. J. R. Taylor, Rev. G. M. Boynton, Rev. Dr. A. L. Brice, and Rev. Dr. George Sheldon, are hereby appointed a special committee to make all necessary arrangements. The next action is thus reported in "The Bible Society Record" for December, 1879 (p. 187): The Committee on Anniversaries of the American Bible Society, at its last meeting, December 2, 1879, "heartily approve the suggestion made by the Warren County Bible Society, and rcco/iiiiieiid to the Board the celebration of this semi-millennium in a manner worthy of its importance." Rev. Dr. M. S. Hutton, Frederick H. Wolcott, Esq., and Rev. Dr. McLean, Corresponding Secretary, were appointed a subcommittee to report, at the adjourned meeting, some appropriate plan for this celebration. The Board of Managers of the American Bible Society subsequently decided to celebrate the event in the month of December, 1880, and invited the Rev. Richard S. Storrs, D.D., of Brooklyn, to deliver an oration on the occasion. After repeated conferences, the special committee of the Essex County Bible Society, with the approval of the Executive Committee, determined to request a conference of representatives of the auxiliary Bible societies in New Jersey, for consultation and aid in the proposed convention, and the following circular was issued: * * * * The Essex County Bible Society, at its late annual meeting, unanimously adopted a resolution, proposing, with the aid of its sister societies in the State, a public commemoration of the Five Hundredth Anniversary of the Completion of the Translation of the New Testament into the English Language, by the "Reformer before the Reformation," the immortal John Wycliffe. It is eminently fitting that New Jersey, whose illustrious citizen, the venerable Elias Boudinot, LL.D,, was the principal founder and the first President of the American Bible Society, shall take her proper part in the commemoration of this great historical event by Christians of the English-speaking race throughout the world. It is therefore proposed that a convention for this object shall be held at Trenton, the Capital of the State, about the middle of September, to be composed of delegates from all the auxili- aries of the American Bible Society of New Jersey. That suitable preparations may be made, the undersigned, a committee of the Essex County Bible Society, earnestly request the counsel and co-operation of your Society, by the personal attendance of its representative, or by letter, in regard to the precise time or manner of the celebration, with the good hope that its observance may happily increase the interest of the public in the Bible itself, and in the never- ceasing work of its circulation in our own and other lands. The conference was held, and the result is the meeting here to-day. It is eminently fitting that these observances should be held. The English of Wycliffe's translation is the finest specimen of the English language of that day, and of the scholarship of that day also. I read a chapter out of his New Testament to you this morning. Five hundred years have rolled away, and no mortal man can affix the limits of the influence of that English translation of the Bible. The topics that will be presented and discussed at this celebration have been selected with great care, and with Origin and Object of the Convetitioi. ^J the view of bringing the whole subject as fully before the minds of the people as possibly could be done in the hmited time of such an occasion. Before this first complete translation of the Bible into the English language by WycUffe, the Word of God was a sealed book to the common people. It was part of the poHcy of the Roman conquerors to use the Latin language everywhere, that they might thus extend the influence of their institutions and laws among the nations they had conquered. Whatever difference of opinion there may be as to the name of the person who first preached the Gospel in England, no doubt is entertained of the fact that it was preached there during the first century of the Christian era, and the Latin Scriptures, as far as they were translated, were introduced and used by the people generally. The first translation mto English was by a monk, Caedmon by name, in the seventh century. It was a kind of paraphrastic version of some of the most remarkable parts of the Scriptures that struck his fancy. The translation opens with the fall of the angels and the creation of the world, and then goes on to speak of the history of our first parents, and the deluge, the exodus of the Children of Israel and their final settlement in the Land of Promise, the actions of Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel. It abounds with periphrasis and metaphor. Some portions of the Scripture were translated in the eighth century. There was another translation, called the Durham Book, which is now in the British Museum, and is said to be the finest specimen of Saxon ealligraphy and decoration extant. Its history is quite curious and romantic. When the Danes drove the monks out of their monastery in "Holy Island," they took with them, in their flight to Northumberland, this book— their most sacred treasure. It fell into the sea during the voyage, and, some say, it was three days in the sea, like Jonah, and was cast up on the sands, three miles from shore, by a remarkable ebb tide, and was eventually recovered. It was taken by the Danes in the year 995. The monks made a great deal of the event, and attributed miraculous powers to the Book, and imposed with great success on the ignorant and credulous in those times. Then there came the Anglo-Saxon version of the Gospels, called the "Rushworth Glos," from the name of its former owner, John Rushworth. This is now in the Bodleian Library, at Oxford. Over each Latin line the Saxon is written. This was in the tenth century. Some have said that Alfred the Great translated the whole Bible, or at least some entire Books of the Word of God. But this is a mistake. Had he done so, he no doubt would have taken pains to preserve them, and some would have reached our times. But there is no evidence of this. A monk named Alfric, a pious and learned Saxon, towards the conclusion of the tenth century, translated into the vernacular tongue many portions of the books of the Old Testament. The eleventh century was a dark period, in consequence of the successful invasion of the ferocious Danes, wno laid waste the kingdom with the sword and rapine, and learning and religion departed. In the middle of the fourteenth century Richard RoUe translated the Psalms into English prose. After that arose this mighty man, Wycliffe. He was born in 1324, and reached the culminating point of his popularity and influence in 1374, in his successful opposition to Romish tyranny and usurpation, and in sustaining the crown in resisting Papal aggression. He soon had occasion to see, however, that the support he received from the government was not lasting, and the men who sustained him before 24 The WycUffe Semi- Centennial Bible Celebration. persecuted him afterwards. It is not my province in this explanatory statement to detail the biography of this most illustrious man. That will follow in the course of proceedings in- this semi-millennial celebration. Strong and repeated efforts were made, by trial and persecution in every shape, to bring him to punishment ; but, in the Providence of God, these attempts all failed, and his end was peace and triumph. Some pretend to say that he never translated the Bible; but the testimony of Huss, and WycUffe's own testimony, where he says he was persecuted for this very work of translation, and abundant other corroborative proofs that cannot now be rehearsed, put this matter beyond all possibiHty of reasonable doubt. He died in 1384, stricken with palsy, and was buried with Christian burial. In 1428 the brutal sentence of the Council of Constance, 1415, which condemned forty-five articles of his doctrines, was carried out;, and they took up his bones and burned them, cast the ashes into a little stream called the Swift, which bore them into the river Avon and the Severn, and were carried into that little ocean skirting England, and thence into the whole world, where the truths of that Inspired Word which he translated are fast spreading, and- where they are destined ultimately to prevail. If a monument was ever erected to his memory — any fixed memo- rial over the place of his interment — it doubtless was destroyed by the same ruthless fiends hat tore his body out of its last resting-place. So closes the history of John Wycliffe. We are here to-day to observe this anniversary, and never could there be a day more worthy of observance, or the celebration of which justified higher enthusiasm. May God be with the delegates, and direct our council, and give us wisdom, so that we may be profited, and live upon the strength we get here until our last days. Address of Welcome. 25 ADDRESS OF WELCOME. By BARKER GUMMERE, Esq. Friends and Brother Delegates of the Bible Societies of New Jersey : I am honored by the Committee of Arrangements with the duty of welcoming you to the State Capital on this auspicious occasion. That duty might perhaps have been more fittingly entrusted to a representative of the Essex County Bible Society, to which we owe the suggestion of this Convention, but I feel the more honored that it has been entrusted to the representative of the Mercer County Bible Society. It is refreshing, in this season of conventions, to know that we are gathered together here for no purpose of nomination to political preferment and honor, nor for the agitation of political measures or principles ; nor, though in the halls of legislation, are we met to legislate ; but we meet to commemorate and to celebrate the greatest and most momentous event in the history of the English-speaking people ; and I say it advisedly, to commemorate that event which transformed a ferocious and barbarous race into the imperial race of the world — into the missionary race, in the providence of God, for spreading far and wide over this world of ours the knowledge of the Word of God. For you will observe that, from the date of the translation of the Bible from a dead tongue into the Hving Anglo-Saxon, the character of the race was steadily changed, and the Enghsh people, before then bloody and turbu- lent, became a peaceable and God-fearing people, and enhsted in the great work of spreading the knowledge of the Word of God throughout the world. I say this with a full recollection of the inertness of the Christian people of England for the first four centuries after the translation of the Bible. Holy Spirit which made possible the great work that has raised up this imperial, this missionary, English-speaking people, who are already spread over the four continents, and seem destined in the not distant future to predominate, if not to legislate, over the whole world? I say it was, in truth, the work of inspiration, and we do well to celebrate it. And it was a work of creation ; it created a free State and a free church, and we do well to celebrate it here, in the legislative halls of this State. But while we thus exult and celebrate, let us not forget that the same power which created is essential to conserve, the State, and that the duty is imperatively cast upon us to spread far and wide within these domains of ours the knowledge .of the Word of God, and to maintain a body politic thoroughly permeated with the principles of the Christian religion. The founding of our Bible societies by our fathers, their past activity, is a witness of the faithfulness with which their duty has been discharged. Let our presence here be a pledge of the faithfulness with which we will discharge it in the future. We have something else to do, however, than to pledge, and that is to act ; and it is well in action to look fairly and squarely in the face the duty itself to which we pledge ourselves. In the past century more than one hundred million copies of the Word of God have been printed, translated and scattered, far and wide, over the face of the earth — a most wonderful achievement; when you contrast it with the slow and painful days and nights of toil of the devoted Wycliffe. But, gentlemen, the work of the past is but a tithe of that Avhich we must do in the coming century. Look abroad, look around you, and note the doors that are opened in every direction for the admission of the Scriptures. Look at the enormous population which, in the providence of God, is now ready to receive God's Word at our hands. The millions of Hindoostan and China — the inhabitants of the central plateau of Asia — that enormous population, whose number is only guessed at, which swarms upon the plateau of Africa, and into which our missionaries are now penetrating in every direction. Nay, we find the heathen monarchs themselves are asking for the Word of God, and that preachers of that Word be sent to them. Why, in the next century, do you suppose one hundred million copies of the Bible will be sufficient to answer the demand, when these hungry nations on everv side, these millions, are stretching forth their hands and asking for the bread of life? No, gentlemen; in the next century more than tenfold activity is required on the part of the Bible societies than has been exerted in the past. So, then, we are not only to celebrate the fame of Wycliffe ; we are not only to emulate the example of our founders, but we are to consecrate ourselves before God to the discharge of the great duty now imposed u]Don us ; and let us hope that this occasion, so fraught with interest, and which will be so marked by the ability of those who will address you, will accomphsh the individual consecration of every delegate who attends here to the great work to which our societies are pledged. Let us endeavor, in the meetings of our societies throughout the State, to obtain their pledges to be faithful, through God, to the work of diffusing His Word among the people of the earth. And now I must close; and, as I do so, I most heartily welcome you all on this auspicious occasion — welcome to the Capital — welcome to the halls of this State, and welcome from the hearts of all the people of this community. Response to the Address of Welcome. 27 RESPONSE TO THE ADDRESS OF WELCOME. By CHARLES E. VAIL, Esq. It has fallen to me, in behalf of the delegates present, to respond to the eloquent address of welcome to which we have just listened. It is generally, I believe, considered an honor to be chosen to preside over any assembly, and I esteem it an especial honor to be called upon to preside over a body so distinguished, and upon an occasion so interesting as this. My position, however, is embarrassing, from the fact that I have, with a moment's notice, been thus called upon to take the place of a distinguished citizen from another part of the State — Cortlandt Parker, Esq., of Newark — to whom was assigned this duty, and whose absence at this time no one more deeply regrets than myself. I am sure I speak for all present when I say that we are happy to be here and to participate in these proceedings, commemorative of a man and an event so influential for good through all succeeding time. It is fitting that this meeting should be held in this house. Elias Boudinot, LL.D., our illustrious fellow-citizen, a distinguished member and President of the Continental Congress, and whose signature was affixed to the treaty of peace by which the Mother Country, at the close of the war of the Revolution, recognized our independence, was the principal founder and first President of the American Bible Society, of which all the societies here represented are branches. Nor is this all. Many of our most eminent civilians, whose voices have been heard in these halls, and who have received the highest poUtical honors of the land, have ever been active and prominent in Bible work in connection with the various local societies, and the parent society, as well. It is fitting, also, that this meeting should be held in this city, the beautiful and prosper- ous Capital of New Jersey; which State, always in the van of every good work, had a State Bible Society in successful operation seven years in advance of the organization of the American Bible Society, now known as the parent society. The importance of the event which we to-day commemorate can hardly be overesti- mated. The life and work of Wycliffe were the beginning of an era in the history of the world. That grand old man was not only, as has frequently been said, the Morning Star of the Reformation, and the greatest of the reformers before the Reformation, but he was also the father of our modern English prose. Let what may be said as to prior translations of portions of the Bible into English, or of the whole of it into Anglo-Saxon, 28 The Wyclijffe Semi- Millennial Bible Celebration. his was undeniably the first translation of the entire Scriptures into the English language ; and, for reasons not hard to be discovered, none other, earHer or later, had so marked an effect upon the destiny of the English-speaking race. Is it too much to say of him, that he did more than any other one man to lay the foundations of the enduring prosperity of Protestant England and America ? We do well to celebrate his praises. England, though she has even a greater interest in his memory than we, as he was one of her most illustrious sons, and a graduate of her proudest university, has so far failed to unite with us to do him honor. Whatever may have been her reasons, our duty seems clear, to acknowledge in this way our indebtedness to one through whom we have received blessings great and manifold. We shall do well, also, to consider and cherish the principles which actuated WycHffe, and to emulate his example in studying and spreading abroad the knowledge of the Word of God, as the most hopeful means of still further advancement and blessing. Let it be our task to consider how best we can impress upon those who come to our land, whether from heathen countries or from those nominally Christian, the knowledge and love of the Bible. Let it be our care to see how we can earliest, most powerfully and most deeply, imbue the youths of oar country with the same. Thus shall we best preserve the inheritance of our fathers, overcome existing evils, rise in elevation of character, fulfill our mission upon earth, and enjoy uninterruptedly that blessing of God which maketh rich and addeth no sorrow therewith. The Life, Times, and Labors of Wycliffe. 