El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-03-31
THE AMERICAN
ORIENTAL SOCIETY
ITS GREAT WORK IN ADVANCING EDUCATION

, dress congratulated the society that two
| or three American students were then
/, residing in Germany. that greatest re-
| pository of learning, becoming acqualnt-
ed with the Sanskrit language. He look
ed forward with much pleasure TO the
| time when American college students
! could have the benefit of instruction
! in Sanskrit by native American scnoiars'
| Today the American colleges and uni
! versities would not defer even to Ger
many with respect 10 their knowledge
I OF this ancient mother tongue OF the
| Ayran race 1t is also a fact worthy
! of note that the only college in the
/ world devoted exclusively to the study
| of Sanskrit is conducted by American
teachers and American money in Cey-
| lon. One of the most erudire linguists
| in the Buddhist world. a master both
| of Sanskrit and Of the sacred Pail Ian
guage was formerly a barber in San
| Francisco, and although his English
/ still bears the unmistakable stamp OF
| his erstwhile surroundings. his per-
/ lection in oriental languages makes his
position as the Abbot Of a Buddhist mon
! astery secure
Webster Member
| The second president Of the society
was the Rev. Edward Robinson, elected
| in 1876. The active membership Of the
society at that time included such men
as Edward Everett, then president or
| Harvard; Theodore Dwight Woolsey,
/ eminent divine; Noah Webster. the great
| photographer, and Caleb Cushing, New
England's most astute politician.
| The honorary membership included
| the names of many of the great Euro
pean professors. and, most notable Of
| ALL Sir William Bell, who had but re-
Gently. founded the great Calcutta in
g. - To-. 90
| OF Hindustani.
Dr. Robinson had been, in 1871. the
| director of the earliest considerable
American archaeological research expe-
dition. His book Biblical Researches
| in Palestine. Mt Sinai and Arabia had
! marked the beginning of new epoch
of research and study with relation to
| the history and languages Of the peoples
mentioned in the Bible Under DR.. Rob-
inson's leadership the society prospered
exceedingly and soon became recog-
nized as one of the most useful scholar
~ societies in the world
Advance in Education.
Its great progress is indicated by the
fact that its journals show in, its earlier
years lectures delivered and papers read
treating the most elemental features Of
oriental languages. while in recent years
a whole series of papers will discuss
the use Of a single word in some Ian
grage dead for 1000 years.
A feature of the present meeting in
Baltimore will be an address to be de-
livered by professor Eduard Meyer. the
German exchange professor who is in
America as result of the agreement
dent Roosevelt. This fact is, in itself.
a striking commentary on the progress
OF American scholarship during the life
time Of this society.
Although the society always has been
composed of learned linguists its mem
bership is not limited to professed orr
entalists. and any person who Is inter
ested in the orient and its languages
may become a member.
1T has also a section devoted to the
study of the history of religions. and
this section is also open TO any who
may be interested in this subject. For
all this nberality. it remains fact
that the society is composed almost ex-
clusively Of persons whose interest is
that of pure scholarship.
To Broaden Scope.
There is a movement to bring about
a material broadening of the scope of
the society by means of a campaign to
popularize the study of living oriental
languages for political and business
purposes The rise of Japan to a place
among the great powers. the awakening
OF China and the Increasing participa-
ton in western affairs by oriental peo-
pies make it imperative for business men
and dfplomarists TO pay closer attention
TO oriental studies.
The United States government main
tains corps of student Interpreters az
Toxic and Picking. something not med
ed In any country speaking an occidental
language II the colleges would ground
young men fitting for business or
diplomatic service in the Chinese and
Japanese languages. much could be done
TO Increase the American prestige in the
far east The colleges. of course. are
willing, and the American Oriental So
ciety Is more than willing. to assist.
What is needed is the public recogni-
ton of the Importance of this branch
OF education
Invaluable Library.
The American Oriental society during
the 6S years of its life has collected
an invaluable library relating to Asiatic.
African and Polynesian languages. This
library is deposited at Yale university
and is available for the use of all stu
dents.
Annual meetings are held in Easter
week At different colleges and univers-
tiles The meeting in Baltimore TODAY
Will be one Of the largest ever held.
Tomorrow-Grand Opera.