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I’m still trying to reconcile a copyright on a 400 year old document.  In my mind I understand the idea of protecting the words and their integrity.  In my heart I’m wondering why the text cannot be freed and speak for itself. 

Imagine if the original Greek manuscript of the New Testament were copyrighted.  Each scribal error would be considered a breaking of copyright – in fact, just copying the original text would have been morally wrong. 

If we had the copyright act transported back to the New Testament times there would have been very few copies available.  All copies would have to have been approved by the original writers – many of whom died without explicit details given as to whether a copy could be made of their writings – although the authors did approve of circulating the original manuscripts.

Personally, I think the integrity of the KJV has withstood millions of copies being made.  In fact, the mere fact that it is one of the most well known English books in the world is testament to extreme copying.  My question?  How many copies were prepared with the express permission of the British monarchy?  Were the rest of the copies bootlegged?  Should they be rounded up and burned as illegal contraband?  OR . . . is there something about the message that far surpasses the matter of control of paper and ink??

OK, I’ve always figured once a person is dead and gone – and given a few years grace – the works of that person should be public property.

Not so for the King James Version of the Bible.  1611 – 400 years ago – is the publishing date we most often reference for the KJV.  The copyright was given to the royal family in Britain.  AND . . . has been renewed with each successive monarch.

At least that’s what the Baptist Standard proclaimed in an October 25th article by  Bruce Lampert.

Now, I understand the idea of protection of what is written.  I’m not so sure I like the lengths to which copyright laws have gone.  But, 400 years???  Oh, and I understand this also applies to the Book of Common Prayer.

As defender of the faith, the British Monarch has the prerogative to be sure the faith remains unsullied and that the written words remain unimpeachable.  My question is, “Is the British Monarchy the best defender of the faith at this point in time?”

Not much.  So far.  Just enough to warn us that winter is on the way.  My next door neighbor figures it should be a good winter.  I’ve heard there will be lots of snow.  My bones tell me “go south”!

Early this morning I stepped out to clean our gutters.  For those in other parts of the country, or in other countries, this means making sure the eavestroughs are clean of debris.

In this case, I had a tall step ladder and circumscribed the house.  Moving the ladder a few feet at a time, I would climb to the top.  Having reached that height, I scooped out leaves and dirt.  As soon as the trough was cleared in one area, I moved on to the next.

Generally this is done on a warmish fall day.  Today, my one open time slot, proved to be a windy day with temperatures just at freezing.  Add to that that I started fairly early – before the sun was up – and the task gives greater fulfilment! 

Or perhaps foolishness. 

Sometimes the line is a little blurred!

And then the snow came.

A decade or two ago I spent time with an archivist by the name of John Sawin. 

John had oversight of the Christian and Missionary Alliance archives – and in his spare time taught and nurtured the fledgling archives at the school where I was working.  While there he deeded to the school binders of bibliographic work he had done.  And also gave me duplicate copies.

Remember, this in the day and age when you could not scan material.  This was all photocopied – basically by hand.  Hundreds of pages.

Today I continued culling some of my shelves.  I came to the binders and wondered whether I had the only copies left of these unique items.  So,  I’ve sent off to the current archivist at the school I was working in.  He is checking.  I don’t expect I have the only copy.  If it does happen that I have the only copy – I will donate them to the school archives. 

That would be a real treat.  To have worked in the archives when they were beginning, and now to contribute to them. 

We’ll see!!