Presbyterian College - Pac Sac Yearbook (Clinton, SC)

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THE COLLEGIAN 25 zealously collected. The seeds of this learning, which had been carried into England, France and Germany, by great stu- dents, sprang up and yielded fruit which satisied many who hungered for knowledge. Greek and Latin classics were studied with great zeal. The popes lent their aid, estab- lished libraries and encouraged the study of these languages. Hebrew was also studied. New Testaments were published by learned men. Reuchlin was profoundly interested in the study of Latin and Greek and especially in the study of Hebrew. He pub- lished Hebrew grammars and lexicons. Erasmus was another Humanist who was an enthusiastic student of Greek and Latin. Painter says He recommend- ed the study of geography, history and natural science, not for their own sake, but as necessary adjuncts in understand- ing and explaining the classics. usfefl . The Hsms'nfl .iumtrlll ffifiando rb Luther, a great Protestant educator, emphasized the study of ancient languages because, as he says, Languages are the scabbard in which the Word of God is sheathed. They are the casket in which this jewel is enshrined, the cask in which this wine is kept, the chamber in which this food is stored. And. to borrow a figure from the Gospel itself, they are the baskets in which this bread and fish, and frag- ments are preserved. All subjects were subordinated to the study of Latin in the educational system of Melanchthon. The students are required to write and speak Latin correctly. This promi- nence of Latin continues throughout his higher educational training. All through this period of' education, since the rise of Protestantism, we find that a study of the ancient languages and classics occupies the foremost place in the educational sys- tem. They are the very foundations of training during this period. We find that Zwingli, Sturm and Francke advocated the study of Latin, Greek and Hebrew, as the best means of giving a student real intellectual training.

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24 THE COLLEGIAN men upon important subjects. They were taught to converse intelligently and agreeably. Although the system of Pytha- goras was somewhat aristocratic, we admire his teaching that Virtue and health and all good and God are in harmony. The Athenians were worshippers of culture and beauty. Their ideal conception of education was a beautiful soul in a beautiful body. Athens has produced some of the most bril- liant writers, the most profound thinkers, the wisest state- men and most heroic warriors, her civilization was the em- bodiment of beauty, culture and intellectuality. Even those who had no intellectual training received culture by mingling with their fellow citizens, from the beautiful works of art and from the magnificent Greek festivals. The Athenian youth was taught reading. writing. mathematics, poetry, rhetoric. music, philosophy. He was also given moral training. In their earliers days, the Romans were a very grave and serious people. They busied themselves in declaring war, in subduing nations, and in framing laws. Naturally their edu- cation was utilitarian. In Rome, woman was respected and loved. She it was who really controlled the household al- though her husband was nominally, unlimited master. In the Augustan age, when Rome sat upon the throne of im- perial power and fame and gave commands which were obeyed in the farthest parts of the civilized world, when she had gathered into her arms all the culture and intellectuality of Greece, there was provided for her youth an educational sys- tem which was in keeping with her splendor and magnificence. The Roman youth was taught Latin, Greek, poetry, oratory and philosophy. And afterwards if he wished, he could re- ceive professional training in almost any work which he should choose. We find that the study of Latin and Greek was neglected during the iirst period of Christian education. But in 1453 we see that enthusiasm for Latin and Greek learning is fanned into a brilliant flame. Dante, Petrarch and Bocaccio were the forerunners of this wonderful revival of learning. Li- ln-aries were founded and Greek and Latin manuscripts were

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26 THE COLLEGIAN The ancient languages form the backbone of the system of Humanistic education of the eighteenth century. The Humanist claimed that languages were the means of real cul- ture. They taught that a study of these languages would give helpful discipline and reveal almost perfect models of style, and make one better acquainted with the grammatical forms of our language. In the modern educational systems of France and Germany. we find that next to their own native language, Latin and Greek occupy the most important places and receive the great- est amount of attention. In the United States, the study of Latin is begun in our graded schools and continues throughout the college and uni- versity courses. As We survey the educational systems of different nations and compare their advantages, when we compare the Oriental nations with the ancient classical and modern nations, we must admit that a study of ancient languages does more than en- tertain one during his leisure moments. This survey will show us that the study of ancient languages has occupied an important place in the educational systems of every suc- cessful and important nation. This is because words are the records of former thought, and because a knowledge of these words is a knowledge of the facts, thoughts and incidents which they represent. Words are the very instruments with which we think. When we have carefully studied the ancient languages and mastered the words, we are enabled to think better and more logically, our mental grasp is widened and strengthened. One of our great writers has said, Precision in the use and meth- od of our words gives logic and precision to our thoughts. A study of languages will give a person a larger vocabu- lary and enable one to use his words more correctly. Some people have claimed that there is a difference between a knowl- edge of words and a knowledge of things. This is unreasonable, for a real knowledge of words means a mastery of facts. There- fore the increase of one's vocabulary will give a person a great-