OLD MANUSCRIPTS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 32, 1 November 1932, Page 8

OLD MANUSCRIPTS

Display of Craftsmanship e LESSONS FROM PAST Purchase for the Nation? Hope that the Clemas collection of ancient biblical manuscripts and early printed editions of the Holy Scriptures, now on view at the rooms of the British and Foreign Bible Society, Ballance Street, would be secured for New Zealand, was expressed by the Hon. A. Hamilton, Postmaster-General, when officially opening the exhibition yesterday afternoon. Mr. G. A. Troup, president of the society, who introduced the Minister, said he did not think there was a better collection of early manuscripts south of the equator. As a memento of the occasion he asked Mrs. Hamilton to accept a copy of the New Testament. Minister’s Speech. The Minister expressed pleasure at having been asked to open the exhibition. New Zealanders, he said, lived in a country of new things, and it was interesting to see collections of ancient manuscripts. The distribution of the Bible throughout the world was a noble and important part of missionary work. He understood that the Bible had been translated into more than six hundred languages, and that it was now available practically to the known world. He did not think that there was any book that had a greater influence on the human race.

“I often wonder why this wonderful book is still excluded from our schools,” lie said. “It seems to me that it is the only book, that is excluded. However, the day may come when it will be there."

The Minister said there had been many translations of the Bible, but he thought the most notable was the authorised version of 1611 which had endeared Itself to the hearts and minds of the people in a way that no other translation had done. He had heard it said that that version was one of the best standards of English literature the world had known. “A Wonderful Heritage.’’ “We live in a new country and there is nothing very ancient about it except nature, with her hills and mountains and rivers,” said the Minister. “We have a wonderful heritage, but it is as well to remember that It was not easily bought. It is bought by the sacrifice of generations. We learn this from ancient books, but I sometimes think that the youth of to-day does not realise the great privileges we enjoy >n the modern world. The youth of today takes all these things for granted, and unless we have ancient documents, such as we have here to-day, we are apt to forget the struggles of our forefathers.

“We in our generation have a duty to pass on to succeeding generations the privileges we enjoy and perhaps better privileges if we can. Sometimes I think we are making a mess of things,” continued the Minister. “Things are not going too well just now; something has gone wrong, and we will have to be careful not to pass on to succeeding generations worse conditions than we have experienced for a period at least. A repetition of the trials and hardships of the past might bring out better traits of character, and may be our troubles of to-day are the working of God to drive us back to a more natural life.” The Minister said it was his sincere wish that the Clemas collection would be secured for the nation. The Rev. David Calder, Dominion secretary of the British and Foreign Bible Society, in thanking the speakers, said already a donation of £5/5/- had been made toward the purchase of the collection. He hoped there would be a ready response from all those interested.