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1847.]

Meeting of the German Oriental Society.

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The following was the number of students in some of the German

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Berlin has the greatest number of students; Heidelberg, the largest number of students in law, 562; Halle, in theology, 457. There are 468 law students at Munich. Of the students in theology at Bonn, 68 are Catholics, and of those at Tübingen, 122 are Catholics. The Universities not enumerated above, are those of Basel, Göttingen, Freyberg in the Breisgau, Erlangen, Griefswalde, Breslau, Münster, Prague and Vienna. The following Universities are exclusively Catholic, Vienna, Munich, Wünburgh, Freyburg, Prague and Münster. The academical year is divided into two terms or semesters, the first opening near the close of October, the last ending about the middle of July. The Universities are supported in part by annual grants from the respective governments under whose jurisdiction they are situated. Few of them are in the possession of any large amount of permanent property, except libraries, cabinets, etc. The University of Leipsic is an exception, which, besides other valuable real estate, owns an entire, large square, near the centre of the city of Leipsic. The third Meeting of the German Oriental Society was held at Jena from Sept. 28 to Oct. 3. The first meeting of this association was held at Dresden in 1844, and the second at Darmstadt in 1845. The general object of the society is to promote and extend the knowledge of Asia and of the countries in immediate connection with it. It will thus be occupied not merely on oriental antiquities, but upon the modern history and present condition of the East. This general object will be attained by a collection of oriental books, Mss., coins, etc.; the editing and translating of oriental works; the publication of a periodical; the awakening and sustaining of all endeavors to promote the knowledge of the East; and by friendly correspondence with similar societies and learned individuals in Germany and elsewhere. The Oriental Journal formerly conducted by Ewald, Lassen and others, is now published at Leipsic, under the auspices of the society. The most prominent original founders of the Society were Profs. Rödiger and Pott of Halle, Fleischer of Leipsic and Olshausen of Kiel. The objects of the association seem to have awakena very general interest among the hosts of the German literati. About 300 members were present, including some of the most eminent scholars of the land. We may mention the names of Hermann of Leipsic, Böckh, Ranke and Lachmann of Berlin, Rost and Wüstemann of Gotha, Sintenis of Herbst, Grotefeud and Kühner of Hanover, Fleischer, Brockhaus, Seyffarth and Wachsmuth of Leipsic, Döderlein of Erlangen, Rödiger and Ross of Halle, Neumann of Munich, Stähelin, Vischer and Gerlach of Basel, Hand, Hoffmann, Göttling and Stickel of Jena, Berrnstein of

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Breslau, Schneidewin of Göttingen, Bergk of Marburg, etc. The meetings were held in a large hall, which was entirely filled. At the upper end, on the left of the president, were some invited guests and thirty or forty ladies. Adjoining the hall, in a convenient apartment, the orientalists proper held their sessions, under the presidency of Prof. Hoffmann of Jena, author of the Syriac Grammar, the edition of the Book of Enoch, etc. The proceedings in this room were conducted simultaneously with those in the principal hall. The assembly in the latter consisted of philologists in the general sense, teachers of gymnasia, etc. The president was Professor Hand of Jena, a gentleman of a dignified and somewhat commanding appearance, apparently about sixty years of age, known by his able writings, especially on Latin grammar and lexicography. On the opening of the sessions of the second day Prof. Hand delivered an address. He said that meetings like that of the Oriental Society were not only useful but necessary. Philology was more and more attacked, and its circle circumscribed. Some would reject as useless all minute unvestigations in grammar, though they would advocate the most particular inquiries into plants and minerals. But philology is not confined to these critical inquiries. It would investigate and teach matters of the highest moment to man. He alluded several times with the marked applause of the audience to a printed letter addressed to the meeting by a teacher in a gymnasium, of the name of Matthiae, who following the late example of the Danish king, styled his communication an open letter." In it he urged the emancipation of the Germans from their devotion to philological studies and an earnest attention to pursuits and inquiries more in conformity with the spirit of the age. Prof. Hand said he hoped that this letter would share the fate of other open letters. Emancipation was not a German word. The laws in relation to the education of the human mind, like the laws of nature, were unalterable. A passion for what was immediately useful was the disease of our times. This society should be a counterpoise against materialism, ignorance and a craving desire for knowing too much. A Latin Salutatory poem was then read by Candidate Tittmann of Jena. This was followed by an essay from Dr. Köchly, teacher of a gymnasium at Dresden, in which he attempted to show the unity of the Hecuba of Euripides. He characterized briefly the three great tragedians. In Euripides, the pathetic element predominates. He then dwelt on the main design of the Hecuba, the course of thought, the necessity of the prologue, and showed that the different parts were connected by a religious element, and that on the offering of Polyxena the return of the Greeks depended. Hecuba found in this event a moral benefit. At the conclusion some remarks were added by Prof. Müller of Naumberg.

Of the exercises on subsequent days, we may allude to the following. Prof. Piper of Berlin, read an essay on the classical element in Dante, and on his influence in the revival of learning. Prof. Lindner advocated the opinion, that languages should be studied successively rather than simultaneously. Prof. Fortlage of Jena read a very long and able dissertation on ancient Greek music. The author maintained that he had found in an ancient Greek poet, the true key which would reveal the

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Meeting of the German Oriental Society.

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character of this music, and settle the long controverted question. The researches of the author will soon be published in a volume. Prof. Döderlein of Erlangen, read a very spirited and witty essay on the character of Thersites in Homer. He contended that the common view of Thersites was a mistake, resting on mistranslations of single words in the original. Not a little Attic salt was sprinkled over this performance, much to the amusement of the audience.

The Oriental Section was opened by Prof. Hoffmann, with a eulogy on Sir Wm. Jones, who was born exactly 100 years ago, i. e. Sept. 28th, 1746. He depicted his most happy classical culture, and his extraordinary knowledge of oriental languages. He was the founder of the first oriental society. Prof. Höfer of Griefswalde gave an account of a hitherto unknown epic poern in the Prakish language. Prof. Kellgren of Helsingfors read a very interesting essay on the relation of the Finnish language to the Turkish, Mongolian, etc. Prof. Bergk of Marburg, on the "Jury" of the ancient Greeks; Prof. Preller, on the "Twelve-god" system of the ancients, particularly of the Athenians, quite instructive ; and Prof. Schneidewin of Göttingen, on an alleged hymn to Apollo translated from Greek into Italian, which Profs. Prutz and Rauck endeavored to show to be spurious.

Among the other proceedings, was the taking up of a subscription to defray the expenses of the printing of the translation of the Arabic commentary of Caswini, edited by Wüstenfeld of Göttingen. The next meeting of the Oriental Society is to be held at Basel, about the 1st of Oct. 1847, Profs. Gerlach and Vischer to be presidents, and Dr. De Wette to preside over the Orientalists.

Much of the time of the members was devoted to social intercourse and enjoyment. The public meetings commenced at 9 o'clock A. M., and terminated at 1 P. M. The society then dined together in a large hall. The remainder of the afternoons and evenings was devoted to social calls, concerts, etc. Some of the members were entertained by examining a very fine collection of curiosities, which Prof. Koch of Jena has lately brought home from his travels in the countries bordering on the Black and Caspian seas.

The students of Jena, once characterized for their duelling propensities, are now, it is said, distinguished by their love of ease and social enjoyment. The list of the professors at the present time, contains some eminent names. Among these, in addition to Profs. Hoffmann and Hand already mentioned, are Carl Hase, author of the Church History, Life of Jesus, Hutterus Redivivus, etc., L. J. Rückert, who was made a professor in Jena in 1844, author of the able commentaries on Paul's Epistles, H. K. A. Eichstädt, professor of eloquence and poetry, author of a great number of publications and editor for many years of the Jena Allgem. Litt. Zeit., H. Luden, the well-known historian, author of the History of the Germans and of many other works, C. W. Göttling, the very distinguished philologist, editor of Hesiod, Varro, author of the History of the Roman constitution, etc. and J. G. Stickel, known by his writings on the book of Job. The whole number of teachers in the university is sixty. The university building is without any pretension. The number of

volumes in the library exceeds 150,000. There is also a valuable museum of oriental and other coins. In past times very celebrated men have taught for longer or shorter periods in this university; among whom may be mentioned Solomon Glass, John Gerhard, Schelling, the brothers Schlegel, Fries, Oken, Hufeland, Griesbach, Döderlein, Eichhorn, Feuerbach, etc.

Allen, Morrill and Wardwell have published a beautiful edition of Select Treatises of Martin Luther, in the original German, with Philological notes and an Essay on German and English etymology. The volume is edited by Dr. Sears of Newton, and contains a great amount of critical information, useful alike to the German and the English scholar. We are gratified with the intelligence that the work has already been introduced into some of our literary institutions, as an auxiliary to the study of the German language. It is an important work for clergymen, as it makes them familiar with the writings and the genius of one whose influence on the church has been great and increasing for three centuries, and whose eloquence has never been deservedly appreciated in our own land. We hope to insert a lengthened review of this volume in a future No. of the Bib. Sacra.

The same publishers have in press an edition of Xenophon's Memorabilia, with critical Notes on the basis of the editions of Kühner and Seiffert, by R. D. C. Robbins, Librarian, Andover Theol. Seminary.

The complete Works of the late Dr. Edward Payson have recently been issued from the press of Hyde, Lord and Duren, of Portland, in three volumes. They contain his Sermons, Select Thoughts, an excellent Introductory Notice by Dr. Stowe of Lane Theol. Sem., and the well known and highly valued Memoir of Dr. P. by Rev. Asa Cummings of Portland. No one can read this excellent memoir without feeling an interest in the sermons, and the perusal of the sermons excites a new interest in the memoir. The influence of Dr. Payson upon his hearers was so great and so good, so unlike to that of ordinary clergymen, and so much superior to that which we expect to see often exerted, that an exhibition of the means of his influence cannot fail to interest the religious and intellectual observer. Such an exhibition is given in these beautiful volumes, and we anticipate from them a highly important and a long continued influence upon our churches.

BIBLIOTHECA SACRA

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THEOLOGICAL REVIEW.

NO. XIV.

MAY, 1847.

ARTICLE I.

TRANSLATIONS FROM THE SERMONS OF PROFESSOR JULIUS MÜLLER OF HALLE.

By Prof. B. B. Edwards.

[To the Englishman or American, no University in Germany has so many attractions as that at Halle. It is associated with the fervent zeal and indefatigable labors of the Pietists of the 18th century. It is also the continuation of the establishment at Wittenberg, so memorable in the annals of the Reformation, and which seems to impose a sacred obligation upon the professors at Halle to adhere to the doctrines of Luther and Melanchthon. To this University the world is indebted, for the revival and extension of Hebrew learning in consequence of the studies and labors of Gesenius. Professor Tholuck's name has long been beloved and honored throughout the Christian world. To his fraternal love and unwearied kindness multitudes of Americans delight to bear testimony. To his instrumentality more than perhaps to that of any other man, Germany is indebted for the happy revival of evangelical religion which has prevailed during the last twenty years. His personal influence is great and is most happily coincident with the effect of his numerous writings. His position is the more important as the University at Halle is in fact the theological seminary of northern Germany. It numbers more theological students than any other University in the country, and the majority of its members belong to that department. Its present VOL. IV. No. 14.

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