TURKEY, VERSIONS OF 596
TURNER
that one text should suffice for all classes, and that two versions would be injurious to the cause of divine trutli, on the ground that it might, with some show of propri- ety, be objected that Protestants liad one 15ible for the rich and learneil and another for tlie poor and unlearn- ed. It is further contended that the necessity for dis- tinct texts does not exist; that the style of Turkish spoken by the Christian populations has materially im- proved in dignity, although not level with that of the Osmanlis; and that it woidd be practicable to educate them to something still higher by means of a version of the Scriptures in pure idiomatic Turkish, without be- ing cast in too lofty and artiticial a mould. In order to bring the whole (luestion to S(>me practical and satis- factory solution, it is proposed that a committee be formed, composed of the best Turkish scholars, of which Dr. Schauffler shall be president, and to which the ex- amination of his translation shall be submitted ; and that authority be given to call in the aid of such literary effendis as may be judged desirable." The committee of joint revisers was formed; but, states the Report for 1874, " after a short experiment the venerable translator (Dr. Schauffler) resigned his position on the Board of Revisers, and handed over the MS. of the Old Test, to the agents of the British and Foreign and of the Amer- ican Bible Society, at whose expense the translation has been made. It is an understood thing that the forth- coming Turkish Bible will be based on Dr. Schauffler's work, so that if he should have to regret that the whole will not be printed exactly as it leaves his hand, yet he will enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that he has con- tributed in a pre-eminent degree to this work, which was the fondest object of his later years; and that his name will go down to future generations associated with one of the hardest tasks ever attempted — the translation of the whole Bible into Osraanli Turkish." As to the work of the committee, we read in the Annual Report of the British and Foreign Bible Society for the year 1879 the following: "The revision of the Turkish Scriptures has been completed, and the version may be fairly con- sidered a new translation. The committee began their work in .June, 1873, and the last words of the Old Test, were written at eleven o'clock on May 25, 1878. The object of the committee was to produce a complete Bi- ble for the Turks, which would be simple in language and idiom, and intelligible to the uneducated and ac- ceptable to the learned. The committee was composed of the Rev. Dr. Schauffler (who soon retired from the committee). Dr. Riggs, the Rev. R. H. Weakley, and the Rev. G. F. Herrick, and these called to their help the Rev. Avedis Constantian, pastor of Marash, and two Turkish scholars, one of whom soon withdrew, and was replaced by a very learned man from the banks of the Tigris. One of these Turkish assistants became a first- fruit of the new version. The New Test, was first printed (Constantinople, 1877), and a second edition, in smaller form, was ready in time to send to Russia for the Turkish prisoners; and the printing of the Old Test. was completed in December, 1878. The Turkish gov- ernment, to prevent the publication of the version, in- sisted that each copy should bear the imprimatur of the Imperial Coinicil of Public Instruction, so that the cop- ies go forth with the permission of tlie Turkish govern- ment ; and what was meant for a hindrance has turned out to the furtherance of the work. The American Bi- ble Society has shared with this society the labors and expenses of this great work." As to the MS. of Dr. Schauffler, which, as has been stated above, was handed to the agents of the British and Foreign and the American Bible Society, the translator has completed his final re- vision. " The parts," states the same report, " were not ready in time to be used l)y the revision committee, as had been intended. The MSS. of the Old Test, (except the Pentateuch and Isaiah already published) are now deposited in the strong-room of the American Bible House, New York, to the joint account of the British aod Foreign and the American Bible Society."
II. Turkish- Armenian. — This is, properh' speaking, a Turkish version, but printed in Armenian letters, and accommodated to the dialectic peculiarities wliich pre- vail among the Armenians of Asia iNIinor. A Turkish version in their peculiar dialect, and written in their characters, was commenced in 1815 by an Armenian ar- chimandrite named Seraphim, in concert with another Armenian. An edition of live thousand copies of the Testament was printed at St. Petersburg in 1819. Mr. Leeves, agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society, devoted much time and trouble to the preparation of a revised edition. The work was afterwards taken up by the missionaries of the American Board of ^Missions; and in 1843 the entire Scriptures were printed in Smyrna at the expense of the American Society, the translation having been made by the Rev. W. (ioodell. Subsequent editions of the Armeno-Turkish Scriptures have been printed at the American Mission press on behalf of the British and Foreign Bible Society.