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the ridiculous side of gross sins is perilous to democracy。 It not only is
injurious to personal morals； it is bound sooner or later to injure public
morals。 There is nothing that so persistently counteracts that tendency of
current literature as does the Bible。
＇1＇ Autobiography； p。 252。
From an ethical point of view； 〃the ethical content of Paul is quite as
important for us as the system of Schopenhauer or Nietzsche。 The
organization of the New England town meeting is no more weighty for the
American boy than the organization of the early Christian Church。 John
Adams and John Hancock and Abraham Lincoln are only the natural
successors of the great Hebrew champions of liberty and righteousness
who faced Pharoah and Ahab and put to flight armies of aliens。〃 But aside
from the definite ethical teaching of the Bible there is need for that strong
impression of ethical values which it gives in the characters around which
it has gathered。 The conception of the Bible which makes it appear as a
steady progression should add to its authority； not take from it。 The
development is not from error to truth； but from light to more light。 It is
sometimes said that the standards of morality of some parts of Scripture
are not to be commended。 But they are not the standards of morality of
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Scripture； but of their times。 They are not taught in Scripture； they are
only stated； and they are so stated that instantly a thoughtful man
discovers that they are stated to be condemned。 When did it become true
that all that is told of a good man is to be approved？ It is not pretended
that Abraham did right always。 David was confessedly wrong。 They move
much of the time in half…light； yet the sum total of the impression of their
writings is inevitably and invariably for a more substantial morality。 These
times need the moral steadying of the Bible to make men； not creatures of
the day arid not creatures of their whims； but creatures of all time and of
fundamental laws。
Add the third fact； that our times have and still need the religious
influence of the Bible。 No democracy can dispense with religious culture。
No book makes for religion as does the Bible。 That is its chief purpose。 No
book can take its place； no influence can supplant it。 Max Muller made
lifelong study of the Buddhist and other Indian books。 He gave them to the
English…speaking world。 Yet he wrote to a friend of his impression of the
immense superiority of the Bible in such terms that his friend replied： 〃Yes；
you are right； how tremendously ahead of other sacred books is the Bible！
The difference strikes one as almost unfairly great。〃＇1＇ Writing in an India
paper； The Kayestha Samachar； in August； 1902； a Hindu writer said： 〃I
am not a Christian； but half an hour's study of the Bible will do more to
remodel a man than a whole day spent in repeating the slokas of the
Purinas or the mantras of the Rig…Veda。〃 In the earlier chapters of the
Koran Christians are frequently spoken of as 〃people of the Book。〃 It is a
suggestive phrase。 If Christianity has any value for American life； then the
Bible has just that value。 Christianity is made by the Bible； it has never
been vital nor nationally influential for good without the Bible。
＇1＇ Speer； Light of the World； iv。
Sometimes； because of his strong words regarding the conflict
between science and theology； the venerable American diplomat and
educator； Dr。 Andrew D。 White； is thought of as a foe to religion。 No one
who reads his biography can have that impression half an hour。 Near the
close of it is a paragraph of singular insight and authority which fits just
this connection： 〃It will； in my opinion； be a sad day for this or for any
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people when there shall have come in them an atrophy of the religious
nature； when they shall have suppressed the need of communication； no
matter how vague； with a supreme power in the universe； when the ties
which bind men of similar modes of thought in the various religious
organizations shall be dissolved； when men； instead of meeting their
fellow…men in assemblages for public worship which give them a sense of
brotherhood； shall lounge at home or in clubs； when men and women；
instead of bringing themselves at stated periods into an atmosphere of
prayer； praise； and aspiration； to hear the discussion of higher spiritual
themes； to be stirred by appeals to their nobler nature in behalf of faith；
hope； and charity； and to be moved by a closer realization of the
fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man； shall stay at home and
give their thoughts to the Sunday papers； or to the conduct of their
business； or to the languid search for some refuge from boredom。〃＇1＇
Those are wise； strong words； and they sustain to the full what has been
urged； that these times still need the religious influence of the Bible。
＇1＇ Autobiography； vol。 ii； p。 570。
The influence of the Bible on the literary； moral； and religious life of
the times is already apparent。 But that influence needs to be constantly
strengthened。 There remains； therefore； to suggest some methods of giving
the Bible increasing power。 It should be recognized first and last that only
thoughtful people will do it。 No help will come from careless people。
Moreover； only people who believe in the common folk will do it。 Those
who are aristocrats in the sense that they do not believe that common
people can be trusted will not concern themselves to increase the power of
the Bible。 But for those who are thoughtful and essentially democratic the
duty is a very plain one。 There are four great agencies which may well
magnify the Bible and whose influence will bring the Bible into increasing
power in national life。
First among these； of course； must be the Church。 The accent which it
will place on the Bible will naturally be on its religious value； though its
moral value will take a clos