Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 119

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Remarks on the Words Shin and Tr.

FER.

aries to revise the New Testament, should ecparate themselves from the Committec at large, and assert that the insertion of such a term as shin for the translation of theos, will "render the whole work unclassical and con- temptible," without entering a protest against it. Some of those whom they represent, believe shin to be the best word, all things considered; and to designate the revision by such epithets is unnecessary and unseemly.

The writers then mention the discussions which have been held at Shang- hai respecting the adoption of Shing Shin to mean the High God, and of Pi shin to denote that God, or God by way of eminence, in compliance with the recommendation of Mr. Mellor of the B. and F. Bible Society, and the rejection of both terms. They then quote the remarks of scholars and others in England and America, who have read the arguments used on both sides, and propose that Aloah be transferred. This wordis found in the Syriac inscription (See Vol. XIV, pp. 202, 224, note 5) for the proper name of Jchovali, in the phrase Chin Chú O-lo-ooof. Dr. Med- hurst and his collaborators in this letter, propose this word to be used as the appellative name of God, and that it be accompanied by the following explanation: "Wherever Alosh is used, it refers to the beings whom men sacrifice to and worship. They do not know, however, that the most honor- able and without compare is only one Jehovah, besides who no other ought to be worshiped. Jehovah is the proper name of Aloah." In support of this plan of transferring a word, the writers adduce four reasons:

"1. We can not go wrong in so doing. We can not be said to use an improper word. It is sanctioned by the Scriptures: we are therefore right in employing it, unmistakably and incontrovertibly right.

2. We free ourselves thereby from all mixture with Chinese superstition. Those who employ the terin shin, are ever in danger of having it coupled, at least in the minds of the heathen, with kwei, evil spirit. Shin and kwei are correlative terms, and are generally classed together by Chinese speakers and writers. In doing which, the kwci is put first." The term also includes an in- variable reference to the Chinese system of the yin and the yáng, from associa- tion with which the native mind can not escape, if the term shin be used. The word tí also, even when referring to the Supreme, does not allude to a being of infinite perfections like Jehovah. But, by the use of the transferred term, wo free ourselves at once from all these shackles, and are left at liberty to give our own views of the meaning we attach to Eloah, whether in the monadic or gene- ric sense.

"3. We are violating no rules of language; no philological difficulties lie in our way, but those inseparably connected with a new term, which will be rapidly decreasing every day, from the first moment after we have employed it, until they have entirely disappeared."

4. We are much more likely to succeed in creating for ourselves a usus lo- quendi, by adopting a new term and translating it, than we are by taking an old term, diverting it from its proper sense, and applying it to a use utterly revolt- ing to the philological taste of the people.”

They say in reference to the whole subject, "that the time has come when a stop ought to be put to this protracted controversy. The advocates of both terms have found that objections lie against both; the advocates of fi are willing, on account of the difficulties which lie in the way, to rethe from the contest, and adopt the transferred term; the advocates of shin ac- knowledge their difficulties, but scem resolved to abide by their favorite word, with a definition."