New-York tribune., 1908-01-01
HILPRECHTS REPORT.
DR.. John P. Peters says He Didn't
Instigate ResoIuti0n.

The Rev. Dr. John p Peters. rector Of 81. Aieh-
aeI's Church at No Is West 9th street. ana
one OF the best informed archaeological students IN
the country, returned to New York last night rom
Philadelphia. where he attended the meeting OF the
American Society OF Biblical Literature and
Exesesis at which a resolution was adopted calling
upon Dr. Hermann Yollrat Hilpreeht. OF fAe UNI
versIty OF Pennsylvania. 20 make public reply 70
repeated charges that assertions made oy niEn re-
gardsng discoveries not well founded DR..
Peters explained to a Tribune reporter thGt Ine
press reports Of the Meeting creditinG him with
being behind the resolution were erronsous
II didn't know Of the resolution" he said. until
after it had been introduced referred to the COM
mttee and finally unanimously adopted BY the So
Ciety- had n committee meeting to attend ahd
was rather glad II happened that way. because the
resolution. doubt, Was~the outcome Of papers on
these so-cAlled discoveries read by me and others
l do not know whether the action was taken In
Philadelphia yesterday the spur Of the moment
not"
The passage OF the resolution followed discus
sions OF DR.. Hnprecht's announcements In the
American Oriental Society and other bodies a.
we'll as the publication OF several works snd re-
views. DR.. Hilprecht, who was in charge OF the
last two expeditions sent out by the Philadelphia
university reported that he had discovered tablets
in what he called the Temple Library at Nippur-
There eleven in all, and several or them are
in the university museum Dr. Peters, VINO
was then connected with the archaeological depart
ment OF the university. in charge OF the first
two expeditions. organizing them and accompany
ing the scientists.
''AH the tablets Dr. Hilprecht alleges that he
dug up" said Or. Peters. either had been, a
matter OF fact. dug up by me or by DR.. Haynes or
had been purchased In a paper I presented before
the Oriental Society in 1895 / showed where each
of the tablets from. and not one came from
the places stated by DR.. Hprecht."
DR.. Peters said that DR.. Hilprecht was a member
of this society. that lie had been informed OF the
meeting and of the character of the paper that
would be read by him. but he did not attend The
following year DR.. Hlprechts colleague. Professor
Morris Jastrow. read paper before the Oriental
Society, and. DR.. Peters explained. went further
into the subject and tried to show that no library
had been found. and that there proper
foundation for the claim Of DR.. Hilprecht. Mr.
Jastrow had further material DR.. Peters said. and
succeeded in placing the tablets precisely than
hitherto. Again DR.. Hilprecht who had been in
formed Of the meeting and the character Of the
paper that would be read. not present.
AT this meeting" said DR.. Peters. there were
present some sixteen OF the best known Oriental
ists including President Gilman Of Johns Hopkins,
Professor Lanman. Of Harvard, and many others
These sixteen men signed a letter. which was sent
to Dr. Hilprecht saying that charges had been
made and calling upon him to make public answer
to them. | did sign that letter. as / was not
present at the meeting. and did not see 1t until
later but the understanding among the sixteen was
that II DR.. HIlprecht did not answer they would
make it public.
'HIIprecht replied to the letter, stating that ne
had a volume in the press at that time and that II
would answer the charges. This book did not ap-
pear until last winter. There was no answer. there
was really nothing in II that properly bore on tho
case. After waiting until every one had had tim
to read digest the book. and after the criticisms
had appeared. these scholars published the letter
! in The Symmetrical Literature a publication OF
| the University OF Chicago. edited at that time oy
! President Harper. Before publishing the letter
! however - HIIprecht informed and invited tc
| answer It u the issue. Nothing was heard
| from him.
DIR. Peters told the correct version OF the vision
! that appeared TO Hilprecht. which has been given
heretofore in varying forms Il discovered in Nip
| pur" he said. IA curious agate ring which had a
| very puzzling inscription. II almost too mi
mute see HiIprecht says in of his books that
| while he working this ring he dreamed that
! a priest came him and told him that he had only
hall the ring and that the remainder Of the inscrp-
J tior was on the other half At later date Dr
Rilprecht changed hts Views with reference to the
! date OF The ring. He seemed TO have gone
/ back the BabyIonisn priest. II was rather
/ picturesque way to get scientific information. He
told me OF the dream; don't doubt that he had u.
What will DR.. Hiprecht do now" Dr. Peters
was asked.
.sVyb,. ran be dop- u,as the repIy