Evening star., 1936-07-13
CATHEDRAL RITES
PRAISE ERASMUS
Or. Born and DR.. Stokes
Explain Scholars Ideals
-: at QuadricentenniaI.

dead 4UU years, mas a message VI plhC-
tcal idealsm for humanity today.
= Such was the keynote Of the quad
ricentennial commemrioration Of the
famous scholars life and work yes
terday. The celebration eliminated
in a special service at Washington
Cathedral, Mount st. Alban. where
Representatives of the Government OF
the United States and of many foreign
lands, the schools and churches of the
District of Columbia, numerous learned
societies and cultivated Washington
In general heard "the pioneer leader
of the Renaissance" praised and his
doctrines expounded.
. DR.. Lester K. Born, author of the
latest study of Erasmus and chair
man of the Washington Erasmus
Committee, told the story of his career
and read excerpts from his writings
to demonstrate the Importance OF his
teachings in the twentieth century.
Born at Rotterdam in 1866, he had
been "a universal man." the speaker
said, living at different times in Eng
land, France, Belgium. Germany,
Italy and Switzerland; corresponding
with kings, princes, popes, cardinals.
teachers, artists, printers and pub
fishers; reading the classics of an
tiquity and interpreting them to his
own era; translating the New Testa-
ment into Greek, advising emperors,
pleading for reform in state and
church, but particularly among indi-
yiduak; exemplifying in himself the
Christian tolerance and charity he
desired to see in others.
Based on Ethical Conduct.
"1t is impossible" DR.. Born de-
clared, "to divorce Erasmus doctrines
of religion. education and social phil
osophy. All three rent upon the same
fundamental of individual RESPONSE
bilty and ethical conduct"
: The sage urged education as a cor
tective for crime and arbitration for
war. He forecast such recent policies
as large public works, advocating the
construction Of public buildings,
bridges, river walls, water systems,
good roads.
But why" DR.. Born asked, IF
Erasmus is all that he is said to be,
have his ideals yet to be realized? The
answer is as simple as 1t IS embar-
RAISING. His ideals can only be brought
to complete fruition after funda-
mental change in human nature. The
effectiveness Of this commemoration
depends upon those Of US who are
participating.
IF there be any truth in the feel
ing that the lessons Of the past can
help us in the problems of the present,
we should turn again to the pages
,of Erasmus. No finer tribute can be
paid to him whose life knew no
boundaries Of space, whose immortal
mind knows no boundaries OF time"
, Rev. DR.. Anson Phelps Stokes, for
3ner secretary Of Yale University, now
canon residentiary at the Cathedral,
discussed the contributions Of Eras-
mus to religion and education, ex-
planning how and why the philosopher
criticised existing practices in the in
stitutions OF his generation.
Urged Freedom Of VIII.
/. Luther was nationalist, Eras-
mus an internationalist, DR.. Stokes
ansisted. "Also, Luther was an op-
ponent Of freedom of the will, Eras-
mus a supporter Of it. The former
became convinced that revolution was
necessary; the latter continued to
trust in evolution.
THE influence of Erasmus may be
summed up by saying that he was
the greatest Christian humanist of
all time. If we would be true to his
example, We should try to restore
to the church of Christ the deep
religious and moral note of the New
Testament"
DR.. George F. Bowerman, librarian
Of the Washington Public Library,
read the lesson and marched in the
procession with DR.. Born and DR..
Stokes.
!, Earlier in the day DR.. Born took
part in an international broadcast
over the Columbia network, introduc-
ing Federal Communications Commis-
sioner George Henry Payne, DR.. Edu-
ard Feer, counselor Of the Legation
of Switzerland, and B. Kleinje Mole
kamp, commercial counselor of the
Legation of the Netherlands, all Of
whom paid tribute to Erasmus as a
worthy mentor for mankind in the
present period Of history.
y An exhibition Of books and prints
,felating to the philosopher will be
opened at the Library of Congress
today. It has been arranged by Mar
fin A. Roberts and David c. Mearns.