Note and Comment

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 18, 1908

Waning Regard for the Scriptures

At Boston a short time ago, Cardinal Gibbons was asked whether he believed the people of America were growing better, from a religious point of view. His reply is worthy of note:—

In their respect for religion I am afraid the people of America are not what they were fifty or sixty years ago. For instance, our statesmen of America fifty or sixty years ago showed a familiarity with, and a regard for, the Holy Scriptures and the Word of God, which I am sorry to say does not present itself to-day. I remember one speech of Daniel Webster, which contained fourteen quotations from Holy Scripture, which showed Mr. Webster's study of the Holy Word, and his respect for its spirit. Indeed, Webster dovetailed his speeches with appropriate quotations from Scripture, showing his innate respect for the Word of God. This practise, I repeat, is neglected by the public speaker of the present day.

We naturally gather from this reply that familiarity with the Scriptures on the part of the layman is a good thing, approved of by the cardinal, and indicative of a good religious condition

among the people; and further, that ignorance of the Scriptures is indicative of decline or retrogression in the religious life of the people. The Bible with which Daniel Webster was familiar was the King James Version. In view of the help of the Bible in bringing about better religious conditions among the people, as thus acknowledged by the cardinal, it can but seem a pity that so many copies have been committed to the flames by Roman Catholics, and that, too, in the avowed interests of the church.