Evening star., 1947-09-14

of todays resurgent Middle East Is
education.
Through the medium Of nearly
stated by American money and per!
of the lands bordering the Eastern
of the democratic way Of life, but
also are absorbing the technical and
specialized skills essential to an ad-
vanced level of life within their
own countries.
1t is not a project evolving from
postwar lone world" doctrine. In
stead, 1t had its beginnings more
than 100 years ago in the modern
awakening of mission groups Ca
tholic and Presbyterian in the first
instance) to the opportunity for
spreading Christianity and knowl-
edge among the unleavened masses
of this history-rich portion of the
globe Two World Wars, despite
their temporary disturbing effects,
have served only to strengthen an
effort which already has reflected
! its significance in the cultural,
political and economic thinking of
| the Middle East countries.
Seek Truth, knowledge
| People whose lands have been
bound by inertia for centuries have
found their age-old concepts shat
tered by these two World Wars. To-
day their minds are not only freed
but are eagerly sought after by
rival ideologies. To their own full
credit is an expanded searching for
truth and knowledge, a fundamental
integrity of intellect.
Today this searching centers prin-
cipally around seven institutions
joined in the Near East College As
sociation, an eighth known as the
American University at Cairo and
some scattered mission schools
Grating independently of each
other.
Largest and most widely known
of these centers of learning perhaps
are the twin institutions. American
University of Beirut and Interna-
tional College at Beirut.
For nearly mile along the high
coast line of the Lebanon and within
the limits of one of the worlds most
picturesque cities extend the build
ings and grounds of the two insti-
tutions. Westward stretches the al
ways-blue Mediterranean and i'm
mediately below is the sharply de-
fined st. George Bay where legend
says the great knight slew the OBJ
noxious dragon and stuffed the
nasty old thing down well. Across
the bay is the pastel-shaded
Lebanon Range, home grounds OF
King Solomon's Cedars.
Founded by Amherst Man
American University of Beirut had
its beginning in 1856, being founded
then as Syrian Protestant College
by DR.. Daniel Bliss, Amherst-edu-
Gated. With a vision that has re-
quired no amendment or qualiflca-
ton since its original expression, DR..
Bliss in the early days of the in
stitution thus outlined its creed
of being:
This college is for all conditions
and classes of men without refer
ence to color, nationality, race or
religion. A man white, black or yel-
low; Christian, Jew, Mohammedan
or heather, may enter and enjoy
all the advantages Of this institu-
ton and 60 out believing in
one God, in many gods or in no
God. But it will be impossible for
any one to continue with us long
without knowing what we believe
to be the truth and our reasons for
that belief"
A medical school was opened at
the university within q year OF its
founding and schools of arts and
sciences, music, pharmacy and other
specialized subjects have followed.
Comprehensive courses are given in
civil engineering, commerce, educa-
ton and industrial chemistry. In
ternational College, serving as a
preparatory school for the univer-
sity, was opened in 1886 and the
total enrolment of the two insti-
| tutions today is more than $500.
More than 40 nationalities are rep
resented among the student body
and although the greatest number,
of course, are drawn from the Mid
die East, the remainder include
about so students from the United
States. To give emphasis to DR..
Bliss pronouncement Of religious
freedom, 1s religions were repre-
sented in the last register Of the
institutions.
Produces Many Doctors
The practical return from this
educational process has been demon
strated many times and in many
ways in the past years, but perhaps
never more dramatically than in the
recent war.
DR.. E. w. Dennis, director of the
hospital laboratories and professor
of bacteriology and parasitology at
the Beirut University, sums UP the
, 1