Skip to main content
re-worked to include the evidence (and it's implications) in the answer rather than just link to it
Source Link
bruised reed
  • 12.6k
  • 6
  • 46
  • 88

Valid Source! While the exact details may not match the most popular versions of this story - the house being used (ie on an on-going basis) by an actual Bible Society - there is evidence of a kernel of truth from which this story came.

This evidence is found in the wikipedia article on Voltaire's* home in Geneva from 1755 - 1760 "Les Délices" (See in particular the paragraph:"After Voltaire"), which cites an article in reference to the question, by Rev. W. Acworth (1836) from "The Missionary Register." This article verifies the many refutations of the so-called anecdotal evidence of the source. The wikipedia article: "Les Délices" is about Voltaire's - (a nom-de-plume; real name: François-Marie Arouet) - home in Geneva from 1755 - 1760. It gives a brief history of the house; it's infamous occupants; & the - (mouseover reference 6) - reference above which iscontains a clickable link to the full article in GoogleBooks. This)

The article proves the truthverifies some of the questiondetails used to the 'refute' the original story (that this home was never used or owned by a Bible Society per se and is currently being used as a museum dedicated to whether Voltaire's life and works). This source asserts that the home WAS usedowned by the President of the Evangelical Societysociety of Geneva and used during this period as a repository for Bibles.:

I went through Geneva, and was much refreshed by meeting the Committee of the Evangelical Society ... The room where Voltaire's plays were acted ... had been converted into a sort of Repository for Bibles and Religious Tracts. - Rev. W. Acworth (1836). "Bible Notices in Switzerland and Italy". The Missionary Register (London: L & G Seeley) 24: 352

*a nom-de-plume; real name: François-Marie Arouet

Valid Source! See paragraph:"After Voltaire" which cites an article in reference to the question, by Rev. W. Acworth (1836) from "The Missionary Register." This article verifies the many refutations of the so-called anecdotal evidence of the source. The wikipedia article: "Les Délices" is about Voltaire's - (a nom-de-plume; real name: François-Marie Arouet) - home in Geneva from 1755 - 1760. It gives a brief history of the house; it's infamous occupants; & the - (mouseover 6) - reference above which is clickable to the full article in GoogleBooks. This article proves the truth of the question as to whether Voltaire's home WAS used by the Evangelical Society of Geneva as a repository for Bibles.

While the exact details may not match the most popular versions of this story - the house being used (ie on an on-going basis) by an actual Bible Society - there is evidence of a kernel of truth from which this story came.

This evidence is found in the wikipedia article on Voltaire's* home in Geneva from 1755 - 1760 "Les Délices" (See in particular the paragraph:"After Voltaire"), which cites an article in reference to the question, by Rev. W. Acworth (1836) from "The Missionary Register." (mouseover reference 6 - which contains a clickable link to the full article in GoogleBooks.)

The article verifies some of the details used to the 'refute' the original story (that this home was never used or owned by a Bible Society per se and is currently being used as a museum dedicated to Voltaire's life and works). This source asserts that the home WAS owned by the President of the Evangelical society of Geneva and used during this period as a repository for Bibles:

I went through Geneva, and was much refreshed by meeting the Committee of the Evangelical Society ... The room where Voltaire's plays were acted ... had been converted into a sort of Repository for Bibles and Religious Tracts. - Rev. W. Acworth (1836). "Bible Notices in Switzerland and Italy". The Missionary Register (London: L & G Seeley) 24: 352

*a nom-de-plume; real name: François-Marie Arouet

Answered question rather than just providing links only.
Source Link

Valid Source! I did quite a bit of searching & finally wound up atSee paragraph:"After Voltaire" which cites an article in reference to the question, by Rev. W. Acworth (1836) from "The Missionary Register." This article verifies the many refutations of the so-called anecdotal evidence of the source. The wikipedia article: "Les Délices" is about Voltaire's - (a nom-de-plume; real name: François-Marie Arouet) - home in Geneva from 1755 - 1760. It gives a brief history of the house; it's infamous occupants; & the - (mouseover 6) - reference above which is clickable to the full article in GoogleBooks. This article proves the truth of the question as to whether Voltaire's home WAS used by the Evangelical Society of Geneva as a repository for Bibles.

Valid Source! I did quite a bit of searching & finally wound up at:"After Voltaire" which cites an article in reference to the question, by Rev. W. Acworth (1836) from "The Missionary Register." This article verifies the many refutations of the so-called anecdotal evidence of the source.

Valid Source! See paragraph:"After Voltaire" which cites an article in reference to the question, by Rev. W. Acworth (1836) from "The Missionary Register." This article verifies the many refutations of the so-called anecdotal evidence of the source. The wikipedia article: "Les Délices" is about Voltaire's - (a nom-de-plume; real name: François-Marie Arouet) - home in Geneva from 1755 - 1760. It gives a brief history of the house; it's infamous occupants; & the - (mouseover 6) - reference above which is clickable to the full article in GoogleBooks. This article proves the truth of the question as to whether Voltaire's home WAS used by the Evangelical Society of Geneva as a repository for Bibles.

Bold statement to Answer Question way down page of misleading information & assumptions.
Source Link

IValid Source! I did quite a bit of searching & finally wound up at:"After Voltaire" which cites an article in reference to the question, by Rev. W. Acworth (1836) from "The Missionary Register." This article verifies the many refutations of the so-called anecdotal evidence of the source.

I did quite a bit of searching & finally wound up at:"After Voltaire" which cites an article in reference to the question, by Rev. W. Acworth (1836) from "The Missionary Register." This article verifies the many refutations of the so-called anecdotal evidence of the source.

Valid Source! I did quite a bit of searching & finally wound up at:"After Voltaire" which cites an article in reference to the question, by Rev. W. Acworth (1836) from "The Missionary Register." This article verifies the many refutations of the so-called anecdotal evidence of the source.

Source Link
Loading