New-York tribune., 1900-03-10
EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS.
NEWS FROM THE COLLEGES AND UNI
yFRsITIES-NOTES OF INTEREST.
-.E AMERICAN SCHOOL FOR ORIENTAL
STUDY AND REsEARCH-ITs
OBJECTS.

study and research from original sources are rap
t5y being recognized important factors In the
soreIopuent of the higher branches of education
hr the directors of American educational nstitu-
lions Among the results OF this insight and en-
-gv are two notable exampes-the American
cbools al Rome and Athens. II is now proposed
IN establish a school in Palestine to be known as
.ra American School for Oriental Study and Re
search.
This schoo! will be founded the same lines as
the American schools already established at Athens
and Rome. which have been OF the greatest value
.o American students in classical languages and
archaeology. 1t is expected that the school
will prove Of equal value to students OF Oriental
literature and history and of Biblical literature.
The best commentary Of the Bible has been found
N be a residence of couple of years in the East
Uhere not only the life in the villages and towns
NAV be studied advanta geously. but that OF the
desert. well Heretofore opportunity has
been given TO students who have had desire to
pursue such studies. to those who have been
fortunate enough TO have private means sufficient
To allow them 10 travel in the East.
The Society of Biblical Literature devised the
ran OF Offering assistance to students desiring to
study the customs OF the people Of Palestine and
il was deemed best that this aid should be given
through the medium OF society or school
which could offer certain number of scholarships
each year and would provide such instruction In
whatever city the society should see fit 10 estab-
lish such school BY locating the school some
m,
become factor in enlarging the work OF research
on all sldes-for example, in Egypt on one side and
in AssyTia the other.
The importance of a school of this character can
hardly be estimated The archaeological study of
the East is growing and more important. The
splendid work done in eXcavating in Palestine by
Frederick J. Bliss, American. has shown what
sort OF material ii is possible find under the so.
10 explain the lives and the customs of the ancient
people of Biblical times The idea of this school
conceived in 1895 by the Society of Biblical Liera
ture and Exegesis, has been warmly approved by
the Oriental School, believing that such a school in
the would add greatly to the study Of and the
scholarship in the Oriental languages this ex
tract from their vote will show:
TIE Oriental Society cannot express too warmly
approval Of this enterprise. believing that such
a school would give new impulse to Biblical and
Oriental scholarship.
The Archaeological Institute Of America has also
approved of the proposed school, and has agreed to
affiliate with It under the conditions and rela-
tions which now exist with the schools at Athens
and Rome All that is needed now Is fund to
IF feIowshiPs Of not less than 500 each, TO be
peted for by the students of such colleges and
school and give financial aid for the establishing
Of the same. AS already said. the work Of Ameri-
educational institutions is more advantageously
carried through the medium of these European
aRe @ II news Us Ren TO wc5 o 70
Many of the universities have already come for
pledged themselves to the amount Of 500 year for
hve years. The institutions which have so re-
sponded are Harvard University, the University of
Pennsylvania Columbia University. princeton The
illogical Seminary, New-York University Colgate
University, the University OF Cincinnati Trinity
College, Yale University. Boston University, Bryn
Mawr College. the General Theological Seminary. of
New-York. the Episcopal Theological School of
Cambridge, Mass, and the Auburn Theological
Seminary.
The plan for the school calls for a fund of at
least 10000 for the erection and equipment Of a
suitable building. the purchase of library, for the
salary OF resident director and the prosecution of
vacation tours for exploration and research. This
fund viii be raised by subscription The ArchsPo-
logical Institute heads the list with 500.
Dr. Richard ]. II. Gottheil, professor OF rabbinical
literature and the Semitic languages in Columbia
University, and who is a director in both the So
ciety OF Biblical Literature and the Oriental So
ciety, has been ardent supporter of the pro-
posed school. II at his suggestion that Co
iurnba agreed through her trustees. to Join with
the other universities and colleges In this country
in approving OF the school and by pedging 10 its