The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-06-29
oxrORD AND
COMPULSORY GREEK
(chfistian Science Monitor.

Anyone whoshas followed the dis
cusSicn which spread itself over sew
eral weeks,Srecsntly, in the columns of
The Times of London. on the much
vexed question OF the advisa bility or
inadvisability of compulsory Greek
must, surely. have come to the con
eIusicn thar within the amhit OF such
discussion was no place for the
mere student" 10 obtrude himself.
When such great alumni as Professor
Gilbert Murray, who ts, of course.
Re9ius professor of Greek at Oxford
and the Master of University. to men
ton no others. join issue with tremen-
dcus erudition, humber lights may
well look on In simple and single
thankfulness that the question OF
compulsory Greek or compulsory any
thing should have called forth such
refreshing exhibition of scholarship.
Whatever may be the rights and
wrongs Of the case, Prof. Gilbert Muir
rays position, az set forth In his
opening letter to The Times Is quite
plain. In the year Is12. council pro-
posed the complete abolition Of
Greek az necessary subject at Re-
SpcnSacnx; hut the proposal WAS de-
feated by congregation. Thereupon.
Professor Murray and the professor
at astronomy proposed compromise
By which the students OF natural
mo did not seek honors, should be
excused Creek. while 1t should still
remain necessary for all who sought
honors In literary subjects This com
promise was duly passed in congre-
cation. that IL TO say, by the resi-
dent teachers, but the Greek defense
committee issued an appeal to con-
Of NJ As, who promptly came mp
and defeated IL, This term council
again brought in a statute abolishing
Greek entirely as a necessary sub
jecf. and in this case IL passed con-
Eregation; Professor Murray himself
voting for the statute. as preferable
10 leaving the old Responstons en-
defense committee has again APP
reared on the scene, and is about to
call upon convocation to throw out
the proposed statute and 10 bring in
the compromise OF 1912 sIf this is
done" declares Professor Murray. II
shall OF course, vote for my own
proposal"
That. In nutshell, lis the Issue
round which has ranged all manner
OF pleas and arguments. from Pro-
lessor Murray's strong desire that Ok
ford should maintain itself a univer-
sity sui generss. and not look upon II
a. a necessary fest of progress that
che should come into line with every
other university, TO the perfectly de-
hghtfnl letter If DR.. Macan, Master
of Tniye rsity, deprecatins this appeal
to ssthe Oxford Pharisee In most OF us
Professor Murray however In his re-
My 70 his critics makes il clear that
his desire to seem Oxford a. university
sui Eeneris as far as compulsory!
Creek is concerned. arises from no
Oxford phariseeism. but from a firm
conviction that IL In only ''by some
differentiation OF function that the
universities can best serve the needs
Of the nation
And vet no one can read the Reefus
professors letters, or those OF many
others who Joined in the discussion.
without being convinced that the 'ad-
yccaey OF compulsion arises from a
belief that Greek is dying fast" to
use Professor Murrays own expires
sion. and cannot take care OF itself"
- the Head Master OF Sherborne 30
vigorously insists II can. The whole
question, however. seems TO 90 very
much deeper than this Before the
Availability Or tna6visabsiity Of com
Duiscry Greek can be decided, II
mHnt ~ necessary 10 decide the cues
EOn, What Il compulsicn. Mr. Law
ingstcna, writing from Corpus Christi.
hlnt& At the answer when he very
3srtineas1y asks OF DR.. Norwood,
1eAd AAater Of MARLBOROUGH. Does
-. thoAs think that this university IL
p1I ~ make latin, Eugitsh. and
Ao1loxtep eonpuisory. DO boys
learn what tbsy like.