Evening star., 1901-12-30
PERIOD OF RENAISSANCE
PHASE OF GERMAN HUMANISM DIS
CUssED BY PROF. STEVENSON.
Other Papers Read Today Before
American Historical Ass0ciation-
Election This Afternoon.

The American Historical Association re-
convened at the Columbian University this
morning at 1890 o'clock. The hall of the
university was crowded with delegates, and
many ladies were in attendance. European
history was the subject Of discussion, and
the papers were read by Prof. E. L. Ste
venson of Rutgers College, Prof. Ephrafm
Emerton of Harvard and Prof. James Har-
vey Robinson of Columbia. Prof. Stevenson
spoke on the spirit of German humanism.
He said, in part
'That~phase of humanism was considered
which had to do with the intellectual life
of the period of the renaissance. In prep
aratfon for the humanistic movement, the
Germans did not exhibit peculiarities which
were strikingly different from those exhib-
tied by other European nations. In their
political, religious, economic, educational
life there was a preparation. The Germans
in time would probably have turned with
enthusiasm to classical literature for new
ideals with the ieaven of inspiration from
Italy, for their whole life exhibited in har-
mony Of feeling with the life of iniquity.
The characteristics of the Italians and of
the Germans in the period were considered.
Italy's Influence was prominent influence,
particularly early in the period of the
renaissance. AS in Italy, SO in Ger
many, humanism developed under pat
here as in Italy. The influence of the hu
manistic movement was considered in its
relations to education, to literature, to
science and to the reformation.
Prof. Emerton's Theme.
1.-THE Chronology of the Erasmus Let
ters'' was the subject Of the paper read by
Prof. Ephriam Emerton of Harvard. He
called attention first to the condition Of the
material down to the recent works Of Rich
ter, Reich and Nichols, and then examined
these works in some Of their more import
ant aspects. He analyZed the attempts to
fix the birth year Of Erasmus, showing how
little value can be attached to contempo-
rary evidence, and how conflicting and in
conclusive Is the witness of Erasmus him
self. OF the letters, he examined three
characteristic groups with especial refer
ence to the place Of each group in chrono-
logical order, and to the sequence Of the
letters within the groups. In conclusion he
expressed the conviction that no result had
thus far been reached which could be re-
garded as conclusive.
Protestant Revolt.
Recent Contributions to the History of
the Protestant Revolt" was discussed by
Professor James Harvey Robinson of Co.
lumbia.
He emphasized the partisan character
of the sources which greatly embarrasses
those who are anxious to form a fairmind-
ed estimate of the issues and the leaders in
the movement. Neither side was capable
of forming just opinion Of their own or
their enemies work. He declared that
Janassen, a Catholic historian, had done
more than any other writer of the past
generation to give us an idea of the spirit
ual life in Germany before the public ap-
pearance of Luther. He urged the neces-
sity of studying the medieval church far
more carefully and impartially, In order
to see the full significance. I'VE know far
too little of the actual workings of the
church before the Protestant schism Even
the way in which it performed it's religious
functions are only recently becoming toler-
ably clear.
we are only just beginning to suspect
the implications of that tremendous term
the medieval church-and so long as that
term is not comprehended in all it's bear
ings no one can do more than guess at the
real issues of the supreme conflict which
lead to the permanent disruption of the
great international ecclesiastical state Of
the middle ages"
Officers to Be Chosen.
Beginning at clock this afternoon the
business meeting of the association will be
held when officers will be elected for the
ensuing year. The council and standing
committees will make their annual report
and memorial addresses will be delivered to
Moses Colt Tyler by Prof. George L. Burr
of Cornell and Herbert Baxter Adams by
Prof. John NJ. Vincent of Johns Hopkins
University. Tonight the delegates will at
tend an informal reception at the Cosmos
Club.
Session Held Saturday Night.
The American Historical Association held
a session in the lecture room of the Column
bian University Saturday night. The meet
ing was devoted to American history, and
two papers of. great interest were read.
Prof Herbert Osgood gave an interesting
talk on the relations between the colonies
and Great Britain. He sketched the polit-
fcal history of the colonial possessions from
the time of the landing in Virginia and
New England to the revolutionary war.
Capt. A. 7. Mahan also made a short
speech. Others who spoke were President
]: e. Rankin of Howard University, Prof.
William Walker of Yale and j. L. EweII
of Howard University.
Mr. Gaillard Hunt followed, and read
paper which related to James Madison and
the religious liberty of the United States.
The Saturday morning session opened
with meeting at the Congressional Lii
brary, where Librarian Herbert Putnam
delivered an address on the relation of the
Congressional Library to the historical re-
search in the United States
Addresses were also made at the morning
session by Prof. Lucy V. Salmon Of Vas
sar, Prof. George l.. Burr of Cornell and
Mr.. Richard T. Swami, commissioner of
public records Of the state Of Massa chu-
sets.
At the conclusion of the meeting the del
egates We're entertained at luncheon by
Librarian Putnam, and were afterwards
escorted through the library. The dele
gates were the guests of honor at a recep-
ton at the home of Mrs. John B. Hender-
son from 4:30 to 8 pm. Special coaches
conveyed them from the convention hall to
the Henderson home. at the head of 10th
street.
PHOTOGRAPHER HURT,
Caught Beneath Elevator at Mail Bag