The Bible Story

by Newton Marshall Hall; Irving Francis Wood

Every parent desires to have the children of the home gain an acquaintance with the best that is in the Bible. Heretofore no text has been prepared which exactly met this need, giving appropriate passages for children of various ages. These volumes are especially designed to make "Sunday afternoon" reading attractive to children, putting the fascinating stories of the Bible in the same dress and on the same footing with the secular classics which have [{10}] always charmed. With such an arrangement it is believed that the child will read the Bible as freely as any book.

The plan of the Readers gives unity to each story and selection. Each story or episode is given in a complete form, and not merely as an extract. Passages which are clearly not relevant to the story or which involve unnecessary difficulties to a young reader are omitted. Obsolete words are modernized. Many versions, both ancient and modern, together with the original texts, have been compared in determining the translation. In every case the graphic, pictorial word which would appeal to the imagination of the child and enlarge its vocabulary has been sought. At the same time the effort has been made not to impair the literary strength and beauty of the older versions. Nothing has been omitted which is suitable to the mind of the child, and everything has been arranged with the end in view of meeting the needs of the child.

This series does not aim to supplant the ordinary texts of the Bible nor to take the place of the common versions any more than literature readers take the place of literature. The editors have endeavored to select such passages of the Bible as are particularly suited to the child's mind, to present them in a novel and attractive form, and thus to arouse the interest of children, stimulating them to more careful study in later years.

This series is not, however, intended simply for children's reading. The editors believe that for general [{11}] reading for the older members of the family no version of the Bible will be found more satisfactory.

There is no Book which so lends itself to illustration as the Bible. Palestine in relation to the New Testament has been called a "Fifth Gospel." For the child especially the actual locality is the best commentary on the text and the best means of arousing interest in the text.

The Bible makes contact with the great civilizations in a way which is not fully appreciated. The attempt has been made to illustrate very fully the contact with Egypt in the Old Testament and with Greece and Rome in the New Testament.

The editors believe that the three hundred and fifty illustrations which have been provided form a collection which has never been surpassed in fullness and accuracy. Many friends have freely offered their fine collections. A large number of pictures taken by friends are unique in their individual interest, and have never before been published. We are especially indebted to the following: Prof. David G. Lyon, D.D., of the Department of Semitic Languages of Harvard University, Prof. H. G. Mitchell, D.D., of the Department of Theology of Boston University, Rev. Warren J. Moulton, Ph.D., of Athol, Mass., for the use of valuable private collections; the Departments of Greek and Latin at Smith College, the Public Library at Springfield and the Forbes Public Library at Northampton, Mass., for [{12}] constant courtesy and the use of rare books, photographs, and engravings; Miss Clara L. Bodman, Miss Julia W. Snow, Mr. S. E. Bridgman of Northampton, and Prof. Louis F. Giroux of the International College, Springfield, for the loan of photographs; Mrs. Fontaine Meriwether of Sedalia, Missouri, for selections from a remarkably fine collection of views personally taken while on a trip to the East; Rev. Frank L. Goodspeed, Ph.D., and Mrs. Goodspeed for unique and valuable views taken by themselves; W. J. Aitchison, Esq., of Hamilton, Canada, for fine views; the officers of the Palestine Exploration Fund, and the Detroit Photograph Company, for permission to use pictures in their possession; Prof. Arthur S. Cooley, Ph.D., of Auburndale, the well known lecturer, for permission to use unique views illustrating the journeys of Paul; Miss Mary Medlicott of Longmeadow for the use of a rare book.

We are also especially indebted to Prof. Henry D. Sleeper, head of the Music Department of Smith College, for the charming airs to which he has set some of the poems for children in the first volume.

On the literary side the editors wish to acknowledge their indebtedness to Miss Esther M. Carver of Northampton for suggestions from her experience as a teacher, to Miss Caroline M. Yale and Miss Frances W. Gawith of the Clarke School for the Deaf, to Prof. Charles F. Richardson, and Prof. Fred P. Emery of Dartmouth College, [{13}] Prof. Clyde W. Votaw of Chicago University, Mr. William Orr, Principal of the High School, Springfield, Mass. We are much indebted to President George T. Angell for suggestions for the chapter, "Little Brothers of the Air and Fields," in the first volume, also to a very wide circle of friends for their interest and for valuable suggestions, many of which have been incorporated in the work. The help of various versions of the Bible is also acknowledged, as well as the version of the prophets by George Adam Smith. Thanks are rendered to Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co., Messrs. Charles Scribner's Sons, E. P. Dutton & Co., J. B. Lippincott, Biglow & Main, Mr. Theodore E. Perkins, and Charles Ray Palmer, D.D., for permission to use copyrighted material.

Without the co-operation of these and many other friends we feel that so large a measure of excellence as we believe the volumes possess could not have been attained.