Evening star., 1928-04-12

Babylonia, and still others In northern
Mesopotamia, near the Black Sea. In
all, DR.. Duncan said, several hundred
locations of Eden have been advanced
none OF which stands up under analysis
Their Geographical knowledge.
The knowledge of geography possessed
bq the biblical writer's was very crude,
DR.. Duncan said, and they could be ex-
cused for the apparent discrepancies OF
their facts with the actual geography
Of a regicn they had never seen.
Most scientists, DR.. Duncan said. now
think that man originated In Central
Asia, which he agreed was the most
likely birthplace OF the human race.
The reasons for placing Eden there. he
said. were: The finding in Java OF the
500, ,0O0- -year-oid bones of pithecan-
thropus erectus, the earliest known pre-
human; the finding there of two species
of anthropoids, the gibbons and oran-
outans, which most closely resemble
man: the discovery OF bones Of primates
very close TO man: the fact that Mon
golia is the oldest dry land on the
globe, that 1t is centrally located and
that most of the domestic animals
originated there.
DR.. Truman Nicholson Of the Smith
sonian Institution declared that recent
explorations in Central Asia had proved
rather disappointing. since no human
artifacts had been found of any great
age. The weight of evidence, he said.
seems TO be for placing the Garden Of
Eden OF anthropology In the Sivilak
hills OF India Central Europe. how
ever, still has q good argument for It's
claim as the birthplace OF man. DR..
Nicholson said.
Adam and Eve Debated.
Then the debate switched to Adam
and Eve. or rather the first parents Of
the human race. Could the human race
have descended from single, pair OF
individuals? DR.. Miehaelson was
asked.
Most anthropologists. he said.
would answer yes IN a minute. but
will not be so rash. There may have
been two pairs or possibly more. But
the ancestors of the race were GER
tainiy small group. by no means so
many as hundred"
DR. NJ Martinovitch of Columbia
University. considered one OF the worlds
greatest authorities on the history of
Central Asia. said he didn't believe the
human race came from there, II never
heard OF anybody coming from there"
he said. Throughout history. as far
back as we can go, 1t has been a place
OF passage. Huns. Turks. Mongols and
all the rest have come through there
put IT never has been home for any
body"
Other Racial H0melands.
Rev. DR. Philo L. Mills Of Catholic
University then presented a paper on
The Journey OF Gilgamesh TO the
Isles OF the Blest" which also touched
indirectly upon the Eden discussion
This was an old Babylonian story In
which DR.. Mills believed that the home
land OF the race was described as In the
Himaiayan Mountains.
Dr. George A. Barton Of the Univer-
sity OF Pennsylvania added 10 the dis
ctisslon an account OF some seals re-
Gently found In India which bear fig-
ufes closely resembling some OF those
found In excavating the ruined settle
ments OF Summeria, the fiist civilized
people In Western history. He said
that the identity, however. still was very
much In doubt
Prof. A. " Williams Jackson OF Co
lumbla University read paper on the
| probable physical appearance OF Mani,
| who founded religion that for q time
was the greatest competitor of Chris
| tiantty In Rome and who was fiayed
alive In 274 AID.