Lithuanian Bible History (3)

**List: Lithuanian Ministry Bible ( Biblija ) Lithuanian... LITHUANIAN. "LITHUANIA, formerly part of the ancient kingdom of Poland, is now chiefly subject to Russia.   Its population, according to the census of 1851, amounts to upwards of 4,000,000.   The Lithuanian dialect is now spoken only by the peasantry, Polish being the language of the middle and upper classes.   Thus excluded from the influences of refinement and civilization, Lithuanian, which is closely allied to the Old Prussian, has preserved its peculiar structure more faithfully than most of the other languages of its class.   It has retained seven cases, three numbers, and three genders; and of all the idioms spoken in Europe, it is acknowledged to approximate the nearest to the Sanscrit.    The first translation of the Bible into this dialect was made at the close of the sixteenth century, by John Bretkius, of Bammeln, near Friedland, and pastor of Labiau.   He afterwards became pastor of the Lithuanian Church at Königsberg.   He commenced the version in 1579, and completed it in 1590.   He did not live to see the work committed to the press, but deposited the MS. in the Koyal Library of Königsberg: the New Testament, with the Psalms, occupying three volumes in 4to., and the rest of the Old Testament five volumes in folio.   The Psalms were corrected and revised by Rhesa, the successor of Bretkius, in concert with other divines; and an edition was published, with Luther's German version, in 1625.   The New Testament was printed at Strasburg in 1700, by order of Frederic I., king of Prussia.   Another translation of the Bible in this dialect, supposed to have been taken from a Polish version, was executed by Chylinski, a native of Lithuania, and a Lutheran.   It was printed in 1660 in London, where the translator died in 1668.   All the copies of this edition appear to have been destroyed, with the exception of a fragment without title, proceeding no further than the Psalms."--1860   S. Bagster   [Info only]    "In 1806, information was transmitted to the British and Foreign Bible Society, that although the province of Lithuania possessed 74 churches and 460 schools, the people were almost destitute of the Scriptures.   An edition of 3000 copies of the Bible was accordingly undertaken by the Society at Königsberg; but, owing to various delays, it did not leave the press till 1816.   In 1824, a new edition of the same appeared, encouraged by the Society; and in 1836, an edition of the New Testament and Psalms, consisting of nearly 5000 copies, was published by the Society at Tilsit.   Subsequent editions have appeared at the expense of the Society, which raise the total number (up to the close of 1859) to 8000 Old Testaments, and 17,113 New Testaments and Psalms."--The Bible of Every Land. (1860, Second Edition)   Samuel Bagster   [Info only] LITHUANIAN.--1860   S. Bagster   [Info only: Gothic Character   n.d. John 1:1-14 unknown.] Lithuanian: Samogit... SAMOGITIAN. "THE Samogitian, which is a dialect of the Lithuanian, is spoken in three districts of Lithuania, namely, Telcha, Schaul, and Rosina.   The Samogitians number about 112,000 individuals, and are with few exceptions, of the Roman Catholic persuasion.   In 1814, the New Testament had been for the first time translated into this dialect, by Prince Gedroitz, bishop of Samogitia, who designed to print 1000 copies at Wilna at his own expense.   The Russian Bible Society agreed to provide 4000 additional copies, and the London Committee paid for the binding.   The edition, when completed, was so thankfully received, that, two years afterwards, the Parent Society made a grant of £250 in aid of a second edition.   It left the press in 1816, and consisted of 5000 copies.   A third edition, also consisting of 5000 copies, was printed about the year 1831, by the monks in the monastery of St. Cazemir, at Wilna.   The Old Testament has not yet been translated into this dialect."--The Bible of Every Land. (1860, Second Edition)   Samuel Bagster   [Info only] SAMOGITIAN.--1860   S. Bagster   [Info only: n.d. John 1:1-14 unknown.]

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