Select Religious Entelligence,

APOCRYPHA CONTROVERSY.

It appears from what has been elicited in the discussions on this controver sy, that from the year 1812, almost all the copies of the scriptures which have been circulated by the Bible Societies on the continent of Europe, have had the Apocrypha either appended to, or intermingled with the canonical books of scripture. This was done partly to conciliate the Roman Catholics, among whom the Apocryphal books are received as on a level with, and forming a part of the inspired records. In so far, therefore, as during that time grants were made by the British and Foreign Bible Society to the Societies on the Continent, (and these were neither few nor small,) the funds of the Society were partly expended in printing and circulating the Apocrypha, contrary to the principle on which the Society rests, and which is held forth in all their declarations as the corner-stone of their strength and prosperity, viz-" that its sole and only object is the circulation of the holy scriptures, the pure, unadulterated Word of God, without note or comment."* This practice, though it inet with some opposition in the London Committee, was little noticed, and continued almost wholly unknown to the British public till the year 1824.In the year 1821, some gentlemen from Scotland remonstrated against the practice with some members of the London Committee; and in 1822, an animated discussion on the subject took place in that body. Nothing, however, was effected; only that the evil complained of now became more public, and its extent began to be inquired into. In the mean time every exertion was made by individuals to prevail upon the members of the London Committee to endeavour to put a stop to the evil; and other individuals in London were seconding their exertions. But all attempts were unsuccessful. A complaint was then formally tabled at the meeting of the Committee, and a correspondence was opened, during which the most strenuous efforts were made to put an end to the grievance that had been discovered. This happened in the year 1824, when the grant of 500/ was voted to Leander Van Ess. This opposition to the practice of the London Committee has been made on two grounds. First, as being contrary to the grand constitutional principle on which the British and Foreign Bible Society is associated and has prospered, viz-"the printing and circulation of the holy scriptures, without note or comment ;" and in the faith of which all contributions to its funds have been made. And secondly, they oppose the practice on the ground of principle. It is to give the sanction of the British and Foreign Bible Society to the circulation, as equally authentic, and of the same authority with the Word of God, not only of a book which is uninspired, and therefore on a level with other human productions, but of one far below the level of many human productions, as it is abundantly interspersed with falsehoods, false doctrines, superstitions and contradictions of itself and of the Word of God. For "when a Bible Society gives a book, under the name of the Bible, and accompanies the gift with the strong profession, and under the statutory restriction of giving nothing but the pure and unadulterated Bible, then, if there is any consistency on the part of the donor, and simple faith on the part of the receiver, it is clear that the dreams of human folly are put on a footing with the dictates of inspired wisdom; especially when connected with the fact, that the Apocrypha is viewed by those to whom it is given as a part of Revelation." To print and circulate the Apocrypha, therefore, in such circumstances, is plainly to propagate a falsehood, to bring discredit upon Revelation itself, and to injure the cause of religion, by blending it with fables and lies. Such are the grounds on which the Edinburgh Committee have acted; and their firm, consistent conduct has not been without a salutary effect, as the sequel will show. The grant of 5001 was made to Leander Van Ess, under the restriction that the whole of this sum should be expended in printing the scriptures of the Old

*The first grant from the funds, expressly allowing its application to the printing of the Apocrypha, was made in June, 1813.

and New Testament; and that he was to procure other funds for printing the Apocrypha. This restriction, obviously totally useless, was all that could be obtained. All negotiations had hitherto been carried on privately between the Committees themselves. In May, 1825, the Edinburgh Committee published their "First Statement," giving an account of the Facts that had come to their knowledge respecting the management of the London Board, and stating their own unanimous resolution to withhold all contributions till such time as the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society should give ample security for their disbursement according to the constitutional principle of the Society, by "ceasing to allow any grants to Societies who circulate the Apocrypha, and making such changes in their own Board as to warrant the faith that this would be done." This step roused the attention of the public, and the London Committee found themselves compelled to do something. Accordingly, on the 1st of August a special committee was appointed "to consider the proceedings and communications on the subject of the Apocrypha." This special committee, on the 21st of November, reported the following resolution, which was adopted by the Committee, viz:

"That the funds of the Society be applied to the printing and cireulation of the Canonical Books of Scripture, to the exclusion of those Books, and parts of Books, which are usually termed Apocryphal; and, that all copies printed, either entirely or in part, at the expense of the Sosiety, and whether such copies consist of the whole, or of any one or more of such Books, be invariably issued bound; no other books whatever being bound with them; and, further, that all money grants to Societies or individuals be made only in conformity with the principle of this regulation.

This was confirmed at another meeting of the Committee on the 28th, at which Lord Teignmouth, President of the Society, presided. The following extracts from the Minutes of the Edinburgh Bible Society of the 12th of De cember, 1825, shew their proceedings in relation to it.

"The Committee of the Edinburgh Bible Society having maturely considered the Resolution of the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society, dated 21st November, 1825, and communicated by the Rev. Mr. Hughes to the Rev. Dr. Peddie,

"Resolve, that the said resolution is unsatisfactory, inasinuch as it is inconsistent with those views which this Committee deliberately adopted, on the very important subject it involves, and which are explained in their printed statement of the 18th of May last.

"That it is with deep and unfeigned regret that they thus find themselves disappointed in the hopes which they ventured to entertain of renewing their friendly intercourse with the British and Foreign Bible Society. But,

"That they feel it impossible to depart from the declarations contained in the statement above alluded to; for it is plain that a grant of money made to any of the Continental Societies which are in the practice of circulating the Apocrypha along with the Canonical books, indirectly affords to such Societies, in terms of the statement, the means of printing and circulating the errors of the Apocrypha; for it enables Foreign Societies to devote their whole funds to this object, much of which otherwise would be employed in printing and circulating the inspired books themselves. And the effect of the resolution thus is, to apply towards the Apocrypha, funds which notoriously are inadequate for supplying the wants of those numberless quarters of the earth, which are seeking for the pure word of God, but cannot obtain it.

"It does not appear, accordingly, to the Edinburgh Society, that any thing can effectually restore the Bible Society to the purity of its original object, which does not put an effectual check upon the circulation, along with its publications, directly or indirectly, of those books which are declared to be uncanonical.

"The Edinburgh Committee therefore hold that to carry into effect this principle, it is necessary that grants of money or books should be given only to those Societies which profess to circulate the inspired books, and the inspi».

red books alone. Without this, they do not conceive that the Christian world can be satisfied. And they again repeat, what they have already stated in former resolutions, that while without it the Bible Societies are actually doing what is wrong in itself, they are at the same time breaking faith with their subscribers; who have intrusted them with such ample means for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures.'

(Signed)}

"GEORGE Ross, Pres."

A more detailed statement of the grounds on which the Edinburgh Bible Society Committee came to the above resolution, was immediately drawn up and circulated for the information and satisfaction of the public. This was called "The Second Statement," and amounted to above 100 pages, giving a full exhibition of their grievances, and of what they considered necessary to give universal satisfaction on the subject.

On the 16th of January, 1826, the Edinburgh Committee received a letter from one of the Secretaries of the British and Foreign Bible Society, stating that they adhered to their resolutions of the 21st of November. They then resolved to adhere to their resolution of the 12th of December above given.— The subject, however was not at rest in the London Committee, and various modifications of that resolution were proposed and discussed. In the month of April, the London Committee sent a deputation of their number to Scotland. It consisted of the Rev. Mr. Hughes, Percival White and E. N. Thornton, Esq'rs. Though they had no powers to determine any thing definitely, they conferred on the points at issue with great freedom and explicitness.The following are the propositions that the Edinburgh Committee made to the deputation :

"I. That the fundamental law of the Society, which limits its operations to the circulation of the Bible alone, be fully and distinctly recognised; and that the circulation of the Apocrypha, which has hitherto taken place, be explicitly declared to have been a departure from that law.

II. That no farther connexion be held with Foreign Societies which in any manner circulate the Apocrypha.

III. That all Bibles belonging to the Society at home or abroad, in which the Apocrypha is contained, whether interspersed or appended, be immediately and effectually freed from it.

IV. That all stereotype plates belonging to the Society at home or abroad, or in the hands of any of its agents, which contain the Apocrypha, or part of it, be immediately destroyed.

V. That such changes take place in the Committee of Management, as shall afford a reasonable ground of confidence that no countenance shall be henceforth given to the circulation of the Apocrypha."

The Gentlemen of the Deputation agreed to the third and fourth Articles. In place of the first they proposed to substitute the following:

"That the fundamental law of the Society, which limits its operations to the circulation of the Bible alone, be fully and explicitly recognised; and that the circulation of the Apocrypha is inconsistent with that law."

In place of the second Article they propose the following:

"That this Society shall grant no pecuniary aid to any Society circulating the Apocrypha.

"That in all cases in which grants of Bibles or Testaments shall be made, whether gratuitously or by sale, the books be issued bound; and on the express understanding, that they shall be distributed without any alteration or addition."

And the fifth Article they deemed unnecessary.

The result of all the reasonings, and of all that passed was, that the Committee considered there were still additional grounds for holding by the principles which they had formerly adopted, and which they had fully developed in their "Second Statement," the details of which were allowed by the deputa tion to be substantially correct,

A Third Statement was then drawn up by the Edinburgh Committee, and sent to London before the meeting of the Society in May, the object of which was to illustrate the futility of even the amendments proposed as a method of preventing Apocryphal circulation at the expense of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and pointing out numerous ways in which its provisions would be evaded.

In the Report made by the Directors to the public meeting, three resolutions were reported as having been adopted on this subject. They are substantially the same as those made by the deputation at Edinburgh, and of course will not prove satisfactory to that Society. As they show what has been gained by the opposition that has been made, and contain what is now considered the authoritative interpretation of the Society's fundamental law, we give them entire.

"I. That the fundamental Law of the Society, which limits its operations to the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, be fully and distinctly recognised as excluding the circulation of the Apocrypha.

II. That, in conformity to the preceeding Resolution, no pecuniary aid can be granted to any Society circulating the Apocrypha; nor, except for the purpose of being applied in conformity to the said Resolution, to any Individual whatever.

III. That in all cases in which Grants, whether gratuitous or otherwise, of the Holy Scriptures, either in whole or in part, shall be made to any Society, the books be issued bound; and on the express condition that they shall be distributed without alteration or addition."

FARTHER ILLUSTRATIONS OF MASONRY.

The following communication respects an outrage on the laws of the community and the rights of the citizen, of so unparalleled a nature, that did it not rest on the testimony of men of indisputable respectability, and that sanc tioned by a public meeting of the citizens of Batavia, it would be impossible to believe it. The facts alluded to, viewed in detail, show, more than any thing we have yet read of in a civilized country, the power and the disposition which persons, belonging to the self-constituted and superlatively virtuous society of Freemasons, have to trample with impunity upon any laws, and with savage cruelty to sacrifice the comfort, the liberty, and lives of men, to their unhallowed mysteries. It is worthy of notice, that though it is now seven weeks since these events took place, yet till last week, when some account of them was published in the National Observer, they were totally unknown to the public in this city: And so far as we have been able to learn, nothing or next to nothing has yet been done, by those whose business it is to give effect to our laws, to bring those who are guilty to punishment. In all this, there is no mystery when it is considered, that almost all the editors of our public prints, and not a few of our magistrates themselves are members of the fraternity, and it appears will not, or perhaps dare not expose the deeds of their craft by doing their duty to the public. It shall be our endeavour to obtain possession of all the documents and facts, relative to this illustrious display of Masonic virtue, and so far as we may deem them interesting to the public, or of use to guard the readers of the Monitor from the toils of this dark association, they shall not be withheld.

MR. EDITOR

For the Religious Monitor.
HORRIBLE OUTRAGE.

The following transaction is without a parallel in the annals of our country, and is scarcely equalled by the dark and bloody proceedings of a Spanish Inquisition. It appears that a man by the name of William Morgan, a native of Virginia, and for

about eight years past a resident of the village of Batavia, Genesee county, N. Y. a seceder from the fraternity of Masons, was about publishing a book, supposed by them, to reveal some of their secrets, which produced among them no inconsiderable excitement. And on Monday the 11th of September, a band of them armed with clubs, (after an unsuccessful attempt had been made to fire two buildings, which contained printed sheets of the said book, and in which fifteen persons were sleeping at the time,) forcibly seized Morgan, and notwithstanding his loud cries for help, conveyed him to some place not known, and it is supposed by many, that he has been murdered, especially as many of the Masons themselves are bold to declare, that they think he has.— The writer of this article heard a Mason, a man of high standing in this city, justify the conduct of this banditti, at the same time declaring, that "they," Morgan's friends, "might find his bones, but that would be all they would find of him."* There is abundant reason to believe, that the obligations of the fraternity to each other, are paramount to the duty they owe the laws of their country, and every obligation, however sacred or binding. The wife of the unfortunate Morgan, subsequently receieved the most barbarous treatment from these savage monsters, and is now in the most deplorable condition of mind for the fate of her husband. But, Mr. Editor, what will be said of our free civil institutions when it is known, that WILLIAM R. THOMSON, the Sheriff of the county, connived at, and aided in this outrage, and that the influence of the Masons is so great as to prevent the execution of the laws on these offenders, although their names are known!!Governor Clinton, indeed, issued his proclamation for their apprehension, but even this, amounted to little more than a recommendation to the people of Batavia to keep the peace. things excite in every mind, not under the influence of masonic principles, feelings which it is not easy to suppress. We had better be the slaves of the most despotic government on earth, than tamely submit to such outrage. May the spirit of our fathers rise and overwhelm such a system of iniquity!

Such

Let the young men of our country beware how they irrevocably bind themselves to an association, whose operations strike so deadly a blow at the very foundations of justice, humanity, and civil order-who, whilst they claim sole possession of ALL the virtue of Oriental wisdom and Christianity! in the face of day, and in defiance of the laws of God and man, drag from his helpless, weeping family, to secret bondage or death, a free uncondemned citizen of these United States!

A CITIZEN.

We subjoin the following resolutions which were passed by the meeting of the citizens of Batavia, on this subject, Sept. 29.

Resolved, That this meeting deem it a sacred duty to their country, to them. selves and their fellow citizens. to take all lawful means for the full investigation of these outrageous violations of the rights and liberty of a fellow citi

It may be proper to state that a subsequent attempt was made to soften down the expression a little, but with less apparent sincerity, than that with which the sentiment was uttered.