American Minute with Bill FedererWhen Congress printed the Bible… |
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In colonial America, Bibles had to be imported from Britain as the British government strictly regulated their printing. It was illegal to print Bibles in the English language without a license from the King. Licenses were only granted to Oxford and Cambridge University presses and a printer in Scotland. The Revolutionary War interrupted trade with the King’s authorized printers in Britain resulting in shortages of the King James Authorized Version, which was used by clergy, courts of justice and in education. In July of 1777, three clergymen signed a petition to the Continental Congress: “To the honorable Continental Congress of the United States of North America now sitting in Philadelphia. Honored Gentlemen,
We therefore think it our duty to our country and to the churches of Christ to lay this danger before this honorable house, humbly requesting that under your care, and by your encouragement, a copy of the Holy Bible may be printed, so as to be sold nearly as cheap as the common Bibles, formerly imported from Britain and Ireland, were sold. The number of purchasers is so great, that we doubt not but a large impression would soon be sold…
Our sincere prayers shall ever be for your welfare and prosperity, and we beg leave with the greatest respect to subscribe our selves.
The Committee reported to Congress, September 11, 1777, that it had: “…conferred fully with the printers, etc., in this city and are of the opinion, that the proper types for printing the Bible are not to be had in this country, and that the paper cannot be procured, but with such difficulties and subject to such casualties as render any dependence on it altogether improper…”
“The use of the Bible is so universal and its importance so great that your committee refers the above to the consideration of Congress… The Committee recommends that Congress will order the Committee of Commerce to import 20,000 Bibles from Holland, Scotland, or elsewhere, into the different parts of the States of the Union. Whereupon it was resolved accordingly to direct said Committee of Commerce to import 20,000 copies of the Bible.”
In a panic, the Continental Congress evacuated Philadelphia before action could be taken on the Bible resolution, fleeing to the City of Lancaster, then to York, Pennsylvania.
On September 26, 1777, British General William Howe occupied Philadelphia, expecting that the war would soon be over as European countries surrendered when their capital was captured. The war continued and in 1780 a motion pertaining to the printing of Bibles was again made in Congress by James McLene of Pennsylvania and seconded by John Hanson of Maryland:
“To the Honorable The Congress of the United States of America Humbly Sheweth
“That your Memorialist has no doubt but this work is an object worthy the attention of the Congress of the United States of America, who will not neglect spiritual security, while they are virtuously contending for temporal blessings. Under this persuasion your Memorialist begs leave to, inform your Honors that he both begun and made considerable progress in a neat edition of the Holy Scriptures for the use of schools, but being cautious of suffering his copy of the Bible to issue forth without the sanction of Congress,
And further, your Memorialist prays, that he may be commissioned or otherwise appointed & authorized to print and vend editions of, the Sacred Scriptures, in such manner and form as may best suit the wants and demands of the good people of these States, provided the same be in all things perfectly consonant to the Scriptures as heretofore Established and received amongst us.”
In January of 1776, Robert Aiken began printing the journals of the Continental Congress. In early September, 1782, Robert Aitken sent a message to Congress informing them he had nearly completed his Bible, “accomplished in the midst of the Confusion and Distresses of War.”
“REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS ON MR. AITKEN’S MEMORIAL THE Committee to whom was referred a Memorial of Robert Aitken, Printer, dated 21st January, 1781, respecting an edition of the Holy Scriptures, report,
that they also recommended it to the two Chaplains of Congress to examine and give their opinion of the execution, who have accordingly reported thereon; the recommendation and report being as follows: ‘Philadelphia, 1st September, 1782. He undertook this expensive work at a time when, from the circumstances of the war, an English edition of the Bible could not be imported, nor any opinion formed how long the obstruction might continue. On this account particularly he deserves applause and encouragement.
We are, with very great respect, Your most obedient humble servants. The two Chaplains of Congress at this time were: Rev. George Duffield, pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, who helped form the Presbyterian Church in the United States; and Rev. William White, rector of Christ Church, who helped organize the Protestant Episcopal Church in America and was the first president of the Bible Society of Philadelphia – the first Bible Society in the United States.
“REPORT OF THE CONGRESSIONAL CHAPLAINS Gentlemen,
Being ourselves witnesses of the demand of this invaluable book, we rejoice in this present prospect of a supply; hoping that it will prove as advantageous as it is honorable to the Gentleman, who has exerted himself to furnish it, at the evident risque of private fortune. On September 12, 1782, Congress approved of Robert Aitken’s printing of the Bible. Called ‘The Bible of the Revolution’ it was the first English-language Bible printed in America and the only Bible ever authorized by an act of Congress: “ENDORSEMENT OF CONGRESS
In 1940, the Rev. Edwin A.R. Rumball-Petre located 28 copies in institutions in America and abroad, and 22 in private collections.
Houston Baptist University’s Dunham Bible Museum; and
This made Jane Aitken the first woman ever to print the Bible. Search AMERICAN MINUTE archives Join Bill Federer at the 125th Anniversary Celebration of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock
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