The British Library: Breathing life into old books

How the British Library is breathing life into old books | Roly Keating | Comment is free | Observer.co.uk.

And here is another interesting digital library story, this time on the historic British Library (posted March 30, 2013). We have indeed entered the digital age, and it is transforming the resources libraries provide and the way research can be done. In my own limited experience I am also finding that a day does not pass without my own use of digital resources on the internet or library computer, or without helping someone else do so. And I do not doubt but that your experience is the same, regardless of your occupation or educational status.

Here is an excerpt from the article linked above; to read the rest of it, go there.

There are huge challenges in rethinking the roles of an institution such as the British Library, but also many opportunities. The digital age is full of creative potential – people can find what they want quickly, which frees up energies to go even deeper with their research. The library is one of those very old words that is turning out to have valuable new meanings. Creative curatorial library skills, such as indexing, cataloguing, giving access and helping people find the material they need at the right time, turn out to be exactly the disciplines that are driving the global information economy.

These skills underpin the business model of Amazon or Apple or Google. This is why great memory institutions are going into partnership with digital organisations. Google is the British Library‘s partner in the digitisation of a quarter of a million of our 18th- and 19th-century books.

We are increasing access, but we’re also enabling new forms of research. People can now explore a whole corpus of work as a data set as well as atomise bits of literature.

Roe at 40: Who’s Winning the Abortion Battle?

Roe at 40: Who’s Winning the Abortion Battle? | Christianity Today.

As we approach the 40th anniversary of Roe v.Wade next Tuesday (Jan.22, 1973-2013 ), David Gibson at the Religion News Service  (RNS) offers a summary of where the battle currently is (posted Jan.18, 2013). It may seem to us, given the support that the abortion rights cause has at present from our president and his administration, that defending and preserving the life of the unborn is a losing (even lost) cause. But, as Gibson shows, the pro-life cause is fighting and winning the battle in other ways. Here is the beginning of the “CT” report; read the rest at the link above.

Four decades after Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion, many opponents of the decision are in a celebratory mood while those backing abortion rights are glum, feeling that momentum is turning decisively against them.

Yet in reality, little has changed in the fiercest and most protracted battle of the nation’s bitter culture war.

Instead, what’s really going on is a case study in the psychology of movement politics, where activists have to rally supporters with cries of alarm without making them despair that all is lost. At the same time, they must offer evidence that their efforts are paying off without leaving them complacent.

It’s a difficult balancing act, and lately the abortion rights camp has been the one to sound the warnings.

“As memories of women dying from illegal pre-Roe abortions become more distant, the pro-choice cause is in crisis,” Kate Pickert wrote in a bleak—for Roe supporters—and eye-catching Time magazine cover essay this month.

Pickert pointed to the growing number of state-level actions to restrict access to abortion services—the Guttmacher Institute’s annual review found that in 2012 there were 43 such provisions in 19 state laws—and the decrease in abortion providers nationwide, from 2,908 in 1982 to 1,793 in 2008.

Pregnancy centers run by conservative Christians as alternatives to abortion clinics have been proliferating as well, and there have been concerted—and often successful—efforts to cut or bar government funding of Planned Parenthood.

May we remember that being pro-life – with regard to the unborn as well as to every neighbor of ours (the elderly too!) – is rooted in true love of our neighbor for Christ’s sake (obedience to the 2nd table of God’s law, especially the 6th commandment). And may we remember that this love of neighbor is in turn rooted in true love of the Father of Jesus Christ – the Triune God – the Maker and Giver of life and the only Lord of life and death.

450th Anniversary! C.Olevianus and the Heidelberg Catechism

As we will be noting and celebrating throughout this year, the Heidelberg Catechism is 450 years old (see my other Thursday posts this month)! In fact, the anniversary of the actual date of its first publication is a few days away – Jan.19, 1563.  Last Thursday we mentioned and quoted from one of the authors of the “HC”, Zacharias Ursinus. Today we mention the other author of the catechism, Casper (or Kasper) Olevianus (or Olevian) – 1536-1587. From the M’Clintock and Strong Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature (1877) we find a good summary of the life, labors, and influence of Olevianus, especially as it relates to the “HC”.

Olevianus, of course, did not find it very difficult to occupy his time elsewhere. He was asked for from many quarters, but he preferred the university town of Heidelberg, whither he went as court preacher and professor of philosophy, and where he rendered, in 1560 and in the following years, great services to the Reformed theology. In connection with Ursinus, he prepared the Heidelberg Catechism, and afterwards the Palatinate Liturgy. Indeed, Olevianus labored with the greatest zeal for the complete organization of the Church in the Palatinate, entertaining well-grounded hopes that it might become a nursery for pure doctrine for the whole of Germany. He turned his attention especially to the calling of competent preachers and teachers, of whom there was yet a pressing need; and scarcely was he a quarter of a year in Heidelberg when he wrote to Calvin, requesting him to send over the Order and Discipline of the Church at Geneva, that he might lay them before the consistory for examination and adoption, which, in regard to Church government, favored his views. Calvin with great cheerfulness sent him the outlines of the Genevan Church polity, together with many valuable suggestions in regard to it. The Genevan Reformer especially recommended to Olevianus the temperate and prudent introduction of this Church order, because he as well as Beza feared the impetuosity of this spirited youth. Olevianus, however, did not at once succeed in introducing a fully self-sustaining order of discipline, entirely independent of the civil power. Rather, he had to be satisfied with constituting synods of ministers, without elders, and arranging matters so that–agreeably to the questions eighty-one to eighty-five of the Heidelberg Catechism, and in accordance with the Palatinate Church, of which he was, without doubt, the principal author–the necessity of ecclesiastical Christian discipline, to be administered by the congregation, or those ordained and authorized for that purpose, was meantime at least acknowledged; while as yet, however, no independent presbyters or boards of elders were actually established for the administration of discipline.

…As a reformer, the efficiency of Olevianus consisted principally in his successful preaching, and in the excellent and well-adapted order and government which he introduced into the Church. His talents and his taste indicated that his vocation was rather in this sphere than in that of author, or even theological professor. It was his labor and influence that accomplished the introduction of the Presbyterian form of Church government and discipline into the Palatinate, first applied by Calvin to the Church in Geneva; extending and perfecting the system, however, so as to include the government of the Church by synods. Thus Olevianus exerted a most important influence in giving shape and character to the Reformation; receiving and introducing ideas of government which have not only since been widely adopted by Scotch, English, and Irish Presbyterians, but which have confessedly entered into the peculiar republican principles of our American civil government. What writings he has left belong principally to preparations for the Heidelberg Catechism, and such as were published in its defense or explanation. Around it, as in the case of Ursinus, his laurels will be perennially green; and, as being one of its authors, he will be longest and most gratefully remembered by the reformed Church.

You may find biographical information on this significant Reformation character in Prof.H.Hanko’s book Portraits of Faithful Saints and on Wikipedia. There are  a few significant works by and on Olevianus. His Exposition of the Apostles’ Creed has been translated and is in print, and his covenant theology is explored in this study by L.Bierma (Both available in the PRC Seminary library). I hope that you will continue to learn more about this important Reformation catechism and its authors as we commemorate the 450th anniversary of the “HC” this year.

The Heidelberg Catechism – 450 Years of Gospel Comfort

Heidelberg Catechism.

This year marks the 450th anniversary of the first publication of the Heidelberg Catechism (1563), the unique, beautiful, and precious confession that arose out of the Protestant Reformation in Germany during the 16th century. This is a significant anniversary for all Christians, but especially for those of Reformed Christian heritage (and not just German!). The beloved “HC” makes up part of the “Three Forms of Unity” (confessional basis) for Dutch Reformed churches (embracing also the “Belgic or Netherlands Confession” and the “Canons of Dordt”). For a basic introduction to the “HC” visit this page on the PRC website.

There are many things being done to promote and publicize the commemoration of this anniversary in 2013 – tours of the city of Heidelberg, exhibitions (see below), conferences (including our own Seminary’s Oct.17-19 of this year – scroll down to bottom of page.), new books and articles, websites, etc. It is my intention to introduce you to a few today and then throughout this year call attention to other things as they become available. I also plan to quote from various works on the “HC” – all so that we may learn to appreciate even more the treasure we have in this Reformed instruction book.

The first item I call your attention to today is the website link above, due to launch in a few weeks. I don’t know much about it, or who is producing it, but it appears it could be an important source of information, so you will want to bookmark it and return to it in the months ahead. This is what the site is stating at this point:

Heidelberg-Catechism.com is coming soon! Our goal is to launch on Jan 19, 2013, D.V.

With the upcoming 450th anniversary of the Heidelberg Catechism, the site will seek to educate and promote this confessional Reformed treasure, which summarizes the fundamental teachings of the Bible.

Completed in 1563, the Heidelberg Catechism has been used in Reformed churches for almost 450 years. This new website will provide you with easy access to sermons, teaching outlines, journal articles, videos and other resources which will help you understand and use the Catechism.

Another significant place for information is this site based in Heidelberg, Germany. The organization responsible for it is preparing a number of exhibits on the “HC” and a major new publication in connection with the 450th anniversary. Here are a few paragraphs from the website on these things:

It is planned to celebrate the jubilee with a joint exhibition project on the subject of the Heidelberg Catechism at three locations: in the Heidelberg Palace, in the Kurpfälzisches Museum in the city of Heidelberg and in the Paleis Het Loo in Apeldoorn (Netherlands). The cooperation partners are Staatliche Schlösser & Gärten Baden-Württemberg (SSG), the Kurpfälzisches Museum of the city of Heidelberg (KMH), the Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg, the Paleis Het Loo in Apeldoorn, the Johannes A Lasco Library in Emden and the international Refo500 project.

…“Power of faith” is the title of an exhibition to be held from 12 May to 15 September 2013 featuring various top-ranking exhibits kindly lent from Germany and abroad and combined with items held in collections based in Heidelberg and the metropolitan region. It is to be accompanied by a publication in several languages containing articles on the history and adoption of the Heidelberg Catechism, along with a catalogue.

I could wish that I were part of a group visiting Heidelberg this year – what an exciting time it would be to travel there and see the sights and participate in some of these events! Perhaps another time, when it is not so busy. But at least we can participate from a distance. I hope you will join me in celebrating this significant anniversary. Perhaps we can commit to memorizing the wonderful 1st Q&A of the catechism:

Question 1. What is thy only comfort in life and death?

Answer. That I with [a] body and soul, both in life and death, [b] am not my own, but belong [c] unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ; who, with his precious [d] blood, hath fully [e] satisfied for all my sins, and delivered [f] me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me [g] that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair [h] can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be [i] subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures me [j] of eternal life, and makes [k] me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him.

Christian Anniversaries in 2013

Back catalogue – Christian anniversaries in 2013 | Joy Horn.

At the end of the year and at the begining of a new year (and sometimes in between) I love lists and summaries (Not all, but most! Can you tell?). And as a Reformed Christian I love being able to see the “bigger” and “broader” picture of things – in the world and in the church. It helps me appreciate the work God has done and is doing in the world and in the church as a whole throughout the world. That’s why this list linked above also grabbed my attention. From the website “Evangelicals Now” comes this list of notable anniversaries  in Christian history to be commemorated in 2013. However, I did notice an anniversary that is notably absent: the 450th anniversary of the Heidelberg Catechism (1563-2013)! For that, see my next post.

Here are a few to get you started:

The monk Columba sailed from Ireland, with 12 companions, and after a perilous journey landed on the island of Iona in 563. He founded a monastery there to train young men for the evangelisation of the North Picts.

The Thirty-Nine Articles, defining the position of the Church of England, were sanctioned by Convocation in 1563. Historically, all clergy in the Church of England have been required to subscribe to them.

Daniel Rowland was born in 1713, and became one of the foremost leaders in the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist movement in the 18th century. For much of his life he served as curate first to his brother and then to his own son at Llangeitho, Cardiganshire, and was such a compelling preacher that thousands flocked to hear him on Communion Sundays.

The list even has a few in the book anniversary section:

Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, started writing the City of God in 413, as a direct consequence of the sack of Rome in 410.

John Foxe’s Actes and Monuments, popularly known as Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, was first published in 1563. Many homes possessed a copy, and the book profoundly affected Elizabethan England.

John A. Robinson’s Honest to God was published by SCM Press in 1963. Robinson, who was Bishop of Woolwich, spoke of God as ‘the ground of our being’ and questioned the validity of traditional credal statements, such as that Jesus Christ ‘came down from heaven’.

Ancient copy of Ten Commandments, Codex Bezae, etc. go digital – NBC News

Ancient copy of Ten Commandments goes digital – Technology & science – Science – LiveScience | NBC News.

NBC News and others reported on this significant news last week (Dec.12, 2012), which is worth your time checking out.

The Cambridge Digital Library has just made available thousands of pages from fragile religious manuscripts for Internet users’ perusal, including a 2,000-year-old copy of the Ten Commandments, known as the “Nash Papyrus.”

Before the Dead Sea Scrolls were found by a Bedouin shepherd in 1947, the “Nash Papyrus,” also called “The Ten Commandments,” was the oldest known manuscript containing a text from the Hebrew Bible. It gets its name from the Egyptologist Walter Llewellyn Nash who purchased the manuscript from an antiquities dealer in 1902.

The text is among several important religious documents that were made public in a series of high-quality zoom-friendly images by the Cambridge Digital Library, which draws on the British university’s vast collection of manuscripts. [ See Images of the Religious Texts ]

…Other texts posted include an ancient copy of the New Testament, called the “Codex Bezae,” which contains all four Gospels (though the only complete one is the Gospel of Luke) and the Acts of the Apostles in both Greek and Latin. The Codex Bezae, thought to date from the late fourth or early fifth century, includes the oldest copy of the story of the adulterous woman (John 7.53-8.11). The phrase “let him who is without sin, cast the first stone” comes from that story.

The latter is significant because it came into the hands of T.Beza, Calvin’s successor in Geneva, and was given by him to Cambridge. We have a facsimile copy of this codex (ancient book) in our Letis collection at the PR Seminary. You may visit the Cambridge digital collection here.

Archival Treasures: Michigan State Census, 1884-1894

Michigan State Census, 1884-1894 « Seeking Michigan.

Looking to do a little family history from the 19th century in Michigan? The “Seeking Michigan” blog (tied to the Michigan Historical Center) now allows you to search the census records from the state of Michigan from 1884 and 1894. What is interesting about these old records is that, besides being handwritten, they include all the names living at a certain address, relationships, and occupations. Just for fun I typed in “Terpstra” and called up some interesting “relatives” – one of whom was listed as a slave in Blendon Township in 1884! So search your own name and perhaps discover a part of your family tree you didn’t know about – and maybe don’t want to!

This was the notice I received Monday, Nov.26, from the Michigan Archives about these records:

The Archives of Michigan today announced that more than 62,000 Michigan state census records from 1884 and 1994 (this date has now been corrected – it should be 1894 – cjt) are now available to search and print for free at www.seekingmichigan.org.

“These records will help family history researchers track important data, such as more extensive information about women and children,” said Jessica Miller, archivist at the Archives of Michigan. “In Michigan prior to 1884, only numerical data about women and children was collected.”

The state of Michigan conducted its own regular and special censuses at various times throughout history. Between 1854 and 1904, they were conducted every 10 years. Until 1884, census takers recorded names and occupations only for men over the age of 21. They collected only numerical data about women and children.

In 1884, however, the information collected expanded considerably to include, among other statistics, the names of all residents, their ages and the number of years they had lived in Michigan. The 1884 and 1894 state census records fill in gaps created when the 1890 federal census was destroyed in a 1921 fire.

Miller noted the collection of state census records is incomplete because many of the documents have been lost over time. She said two stories are told about why the state’s copies of the schedules no longer exist — they may have been donated to a paper drive during World War II or destroyed in a 1951 state office building fire. A complete list of the counties and years available online can be found atwww.seekingmichigan.org under “Discover.”

The Archives of Michigan is grateful to the Library of Michigan and the Burton Historical Collection at the Detroit Public Library for their help in making these records available.

At the link  above are detailed information about these census records and instructions about how to search them.

Miscellaneous Book Notes: J.Calvin, C.Brands, etc.

In this post I combine several book and ebook notices that crossed my desk and screen in the last few days – significant enough to note here, small enough to put together here. So here are three items for your reading interests.

1st, “Desiring God” is now offering 3 free ebooks biographies on John Calvin. Here’s their note and links:

…We’re offering three free ebooks to help you dig deeper into the life of John Calvin.

• With Calvin in the Theater of God
• John Calvin and His Passion for the Majesty of God
• Portrait of Calvin by T. H. L. Parker (foreword by John Piper)

We like to think of Hebrews 11 as a divine summons for us to read Christian biography. Flawed but faith-fueling saints. Stories of grace. Deep inspiration. Some of the most worthy entertainment in the world are the stories of men of whom the world was not worthy.

2nd, I received this special note from Carol Brands, author of Little White Farm House in Iowa (visit this blog post of mine on it), about her second volume in this series, Little Yellow House in Iowa (see this earlier post):

One final Prepublication Extension! I again extend appreciation to all those who have already ordered. Over one-half of the prepublication cost is covered! Book 2 is now at the printer, who needs three weeks to print the books. Those who paid postage should receive the book before Thanksgiving, D.V. All others should receive it ASAP after Thanksgiving. This gives buyers an extra three weeks – until Nov. 17 – to get the prepublication price. If you’d like Book 2: Little Yellow House in Iowa, at the prepublication price of $10, contact Carol Brands at her email, carolbrands@email.com, or mail remittance to her address, 271 160^th Avenue, Edgerton, MN 56128. Be sure to mention which church the book is to be sent to. Many thanks!

And finally, I just finished writing a couple of brief book reviews for The Standard Bearer. The two books I noted are Envisioning Hope College: Letters written by Albertus C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps, Jr., 1857-1875 and The Two Empires in Japan: A Record of Church-State Conflict. If you are interested in reading them sooner rather than later, you may click on this pdf link: SBBookNotes2012-2

Thanks for your attention – and happy reading!

Digital Library of the Week Archive | I Love Libraries

Digital Library of the Week Archive | I Love Libraries.

For our Archival post this week we refer you once again to the “I Love Libraries” website of the American Library Association (it has been some time!). It features a “digital library of the week” from around the world (the above link will take you to their archived list of these libraries). Recent ones include “Trove”, which features the history of Australia and Australians; “Amtrak”, a history of the U.S. railroad; and the “American Academy in Rome”, which includes photographs on the archaeology, architecture, and art of the ancient city.

Go to the the link above, check out the list, and visit any of these archival libraries that interest you. It’s amazing the places you can visit through the world’s archives!

Bringing History to Life – Google Cultural Institute

Bringing history to life | Official Google Blog.

In our Archives feature today, we refer you to another amazing Google digital project : the Google Cultural Institute. Google has been working with museums around the world to digitalize and make available historical and cultural collections of interest to the world. Yesterday (Oct.10, 2012) they announced that they had added 42 new historical collections online. This is from Google’s official blog:

Today you can discover 42 new online historical exhibitions telling the stories behind major events of the last century, including Apartheid, D-Day and the Holocaust. The stories have been put together by 17 partners including museums and cultural foundations who have drawn on their archives of letters, manuscripts, first-hand video testimonials and much more. Much of the material is very moving—and some is on the Internet for the first time.

…Among others you’ll see:

• Tragic love at Auschwitz- the story of Edek & Mala, a couple in love who try to escape Auschwitz
• Jan Karski, Humanity’s hero- first-hand video testimony from the man who attempted to inform the world about the existence of the Holocaust
• Faith in the Human Spirit is not Lost- tracing the history of Yad Vashem’s efforts to honor courageous individuals who attempted to rescue Jews during the Holocaust
• Steve Biko- a 15-year-old’s political awakening in the midst of the Apartheid movement featuring nine documents never released in the public domain before
• D-Day- details of the famous landings including color photographs, personal letters and the D-Day order itself from Admiral Ramsay
• The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II- an account of the 1953 Coronation including color photographs
• Years of the Dolce Vita- a look at the era of the “good life” in Italy including the fashion, food, cars and culture

…The historical collections are the latest chapter in the work of the Google Cultural Institute, following the Art Project, World Wonders and the Nelson Mandela archives. We’re working closely with museums, foundations and other archives around the world to make more cultural and historical material accessible online and by doing so preserve it for future generations. 

You can explore the many exhibitions at www.google.com/culturalinstitute. 

At Google’s blog link above, you will also find a helpful video explaining this project (now embedded below). I continue to be amazed at what Google is doing in the digital realm. While sometimes we may fear what they may do with all their scanned information, they are also certainly serving us by making available historical material we would otherwise never get to see.