The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-06
OLDTESTAMENT Wonders
A Unique Bible Museum at Har-
ward University.
Collections illustrating the Range of
Semitic History - 4 Branch of
Learning Founded by Jacob II.
Schif, of New YorL-MnteriaI That
Adds Interest to Biblical Narrative.

| CAMBRIDGE. Mass, Jan. 5.-The new
! building which is in process of erection
for Harvards Semitic Museum. through
the generosity of MIR. Jacob H. Schiff Of
New York, calls attention to one of the
most interesting special collections in the
country-a museum illustrating the life
and thought of the Semitic peoples, an
cient and modern, including the Babylo-
I, nian-Assyrian. the Arabian, the Phoeni-
clan. the Moabite. the Ethiopian, the Syr-
ian. and other branches, with the Hebrew
Palestinian, so called, as the nucleus and
central feature of the whole. 1t is, in
fact, in the broad and scientific sense. a
Bible museum; intended not only to illus
trate the instruction given in the Semitic
department at Harvard, but to be work
ing aid to serious Bible students every
where, both in the University and out of
it.
There are Oriental museums, in which
Semitic collections form an important
part, and there are strictly Biblical mu-
seums, but there Is no other Semitic mu-
scum, at once comprehensive and exclu-
sive, in the world. It was founded in 1889,
by gift of $4,000 from Mr. Schiff, who
has recently been appointed one OF a new
committee to report to the overseers on
the condition of the Semitic department.
then as now under the charge of Prof.
Toy and Prof. Lyon. Other gifts, mainly
from the same benefactor, have brought
the amount which the university has been
able to spend on objects for the museum
up to nearly $4,000, until now. and for
some years past,the collection has quite
outgrown the narrow quarters assigned to
IL in one of the galleries of the Peabody
Museum. Accordingly, in 1899, Mr. Schid
offered to give S25, 600 for a building, pro-
Elded as much more were secured from
other sources. When nearly $4,000 had
been raised in accordance with these
terms. Mr.. Schiff announced that he would
give the entire $4,000 for the new build
ing If the other donors were willing. as it
proved they were, that their subscriptions
should go to the increase of the collection
Later when the plans of the new museum
were submitted by the architect, Mr.. ii.
w. Longfellow, Of Boston, Mr. Schiff fur
Their increased his gift to $50. 900, to cover
the estimate of the contractors. 1t is
hoped that the building may be ready for
occupancy some time this year. It will
be three stories in height, with commo-
diou5 lecture rooms and a library for The
Semitic department on the ground floor.
and the exhibition halls on the second and
third.
The $4,000 available for the purchase
OF further material should make the Sem
lite Museum the most important Biblical
colection-for so in the main one mlpi
consider it-in this country. and enc of
the most interesting and instructive in
the world. As has been said. the aim is
TO make 1t of the widest usefulness to
8tbitcal and Semitic students everywhere.
Besides its use to the students in the
college proper and in the Graduate
School, 1t is situated, it may be noted. |
In the immediate vicinity of the Harvard
Divinity School. and within short els |
lance also of the Episcopal Theological !
School in Cambridge; while in Boston ard |
Its suburbs are theological schools Of the |
aiethodist, univeTsalist. Baptist, and !
Catholic churches. Besides this availa- |
bil!ty for professional use. SO to speak. it |
Is hoped to offer from time to time to the |
public. especially teachers in Sunday |
schools and Bible classes, courses of lee |
lures on Biblical and Semitic subjects. to
De directly illustrated by the collections
n the museum. The year before last, for
a course was given by various
SPECIALISTS. which treated, with this con-
'tant reference to objects in the museum,
iuch subjects as the vegetation of Pales-
Inc. past and present; Palestine under
he Greeks. the Romans. and the Mos