The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-28

has been witnessed, and the number Of can
didates has been signally increased. The
restriction, however, Of the functions Of the
university to the framing Of programmes OF
study, and to the examination Of students,
has made 1t an imperial rather than q local
or metropolitan institution. It's examine
lions, indeed, have been characterized by
thoroughness and fairness, and have com.
handed the confidence Of teachers and stu.
dents In all parts Of the United Kingdom.
Nevertheless, q strong feeling has grown up
among men Of erudition and science that
the largest city In the world ought to
possess an organized university Of Its own.
which should coordinate the scattered teach
Ing agencies In the British metropolis, fur.
nish help and guidance In other ways than
by examinations. and make London q great
seat Of learning.
A movement to this end has been go.
ing on for some twelve years, and the
several stages Of It arc set forth In the Feb.
ruary number Of the Nineteenth Century.
The writer, Sir JOSHUA FITCH, first recalls
the failure Of Lord SrLDoRNE's commission
In 1888 to arrive at . satisfactory conclu.
sion with regard to the reorganization Of
university teaching In London. and the sub.
ssquent withdrawal by the Government Of
an alternative scheme, which contemplated
the establishment Of a second academic
body In London under tho name Of tho
Gresham University; he then points out
that In 1894 . second Royal Commission,
under tho Presidency Of Lord CowPEn,
reported In favor OF q third and moro prao-
tlcable plan. The main recommendations
Of this report have been received with
approval by the principal scientific
bodies In the metropolis, as we'll As by
the Senate and Convocstion. or general
body Of graduates, of the London University
itself. A considerable advance was made
last year toward the solution Of tho ques-
ton. In July, 1895. the Government intro
duced In the House Of Lords q bill designed
to give effect to the recommendations of the
Royal Commission, and, In accordance with
the precedents established In the case Of tho
older universities, TO provide for the ap-
polntment Of q statutory commission to
frame the necessary ordinances and regula-
lions. The proposed measure passed the
second and third reading In tho upper
house, but, owing to the pressure Of other
business, the Government declined to press
the bill In the House Of Commons. and, con.
%sequently, the matter wa postponed until
the present session Of Parliament.
Until thes statutes are framed, the precise
nature Of the proposed university can be
only broadly described. We may say, how.
ever, that the general purpose is to unite In
one thoroughly organized university all the
teaching bodies In the British metropolis
which have shown themselves qualified to
give q liberal, q scientific, or q professional
education. The pecuniary resources Of these
bodies are to be materially Increased, their
methods Of research and study revised, and
new institutions are to be established to
whatever extent may be deemed necessary.
When such q scat Of learning Is once
founded, 1t Is believed that the help
to be given from the public funds will
be largely supplemented by private en-.
dowments. To the outline of the scheme,
however, embodied in the bill which passed
the House OF Lords, certain objections wero
made, on which some stress is likely to be
laid when the project comes up In the House
OF Commons. The bill, 1t should be men
TONED, imposes on the statutory Commits
sioners the duty Of making regulations In
conformity to the commissions
dalton that mo grant Of money should be
made for any purpose In respect of which
any privilege Is granted or disability i'm.
posed on account Of religious belief" The
authorities Of Kings College, in London,
have protested that to apply this prohibit
ton to them would be virtually to ex.
clude that college from a share In the
ordinary funds Of the university. The
charter Of Kings College contains a pro-
vision that no person who does not declare
himself q member Of the Church of England
shall be competent to I'LL any office In the
college except the professorships OF Oriental
literature and modern languages. Those
who are familiar with the life OF FREpER-
IcK DENIsoN MAURICE will remember that
he was required by the Council of Kings
College to resign his professorship on the
ground that his views of the eternity of
future punishment appeared to that body to
be unorthodox. The provision of the char.
ter above quoted Is obviously ~unfavora-
bic to the interests Of learning. It
obliges the Council to select Of two
candidates for the professorship Of
chemistry, for example, not the better
Ses eAo JAW "ho pLoltobtb dll6-
glance to the Church Of England; it thus
offers to candidates for Office a premium on
insincere professions Of religious belief.
Besides, the existence Of such a require
ment, however suited to a small private
society, is manifestly inconsistent with the
deliberate judgment Of Parliament ex-
pressed In the abolition of religious tests
at the older national universities of Oxford
and Cambridge.
Another objection to the plan of recon
struction proposed for London University
Is urged In the supposed interests OF the
non-collegiate or privately educated gradu-
ates. These, constituting about a third of
the whole number. are scattered all over
tho country n In the colonies. They al.
lege that, while the present composition of
tho Senate and the examining bodies Of
London University secures absolute Impair
tiality, commands the confidence of
provincial colleges and private schools, an