THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 1927. LONDON UNIVERSITY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20191, 31 August 1927, Page 8

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 1927. LONDON UNIVERSITY.

This is a year of centenaries and bicentenaries of famous men. It is also the centenary of the greatest, though not the oldest, educational institution in the British Empire. In 1827 the first stone of the buildings for a new college at London—University College —was laid by the Duke of Sussex. At present there are nearly ten thousand internal students from all parts of the world at that university. In addition there is a vast host of external students, as may be gathered from the fact that for the years 1926-27 lately closed no fewer than 1585 external candidates were examined for degrees. The total number of candidates for all examinations was 33,220. A century ago, when British people had barely made acquaintance with Australia and New Zealand, Oxford and Cambridge were the only universities in England. Religious barriers to the highest educational advantages closed the way to those who did not accept the ThirtyNine Articles. The rise of London University not only swept away the religious barrier; it opened up the pathway of freedom to all the newer modern universities (both in the Homeland and overseas) that have, as it wore, descended by spiritual generation from the one great parent. It must not be forgotten that the freedom of the teaching in London University is in a measure due to the free spirit of science. It was William von Humboldt who secured the Lehrfreiheit or teaching freedom for the Berlin University, and kept from it the manacles of creeds. From Humboldt the poet Campbell, the gifted author of “ Hohenlinden ” and “ Lochiel,” in whose mind “ coming events cast their shadows before,” caught the vision of the university that was to be and wrote to Lord Brougham a letter which was later to become famous through being published in The Times of February 9, 1825. In the post-Waterloo period in England there was a heightened interest in the already growing educational activity, analogous to the interest in our own day. Lord Brougham did a great deal to spread “ useful knowledge,” as it was called, among the people, while Dr George Birkbeck and others founded the Mechanics’ Institutes. In 1814, Wordsworth, with eager enthusiasm, had in “ The Excursion ” called upon the nation to provide schools for all, prophesying— Change wide and deep and silently performed This land shall witness; and as days roll on Earth’s universal frame shall feel the effect, Even till the smallest habitable rock Beaten by lonely billows hears the songs Of humanised society, and blooms With civil arts. In the same spirit Campbell worked for the establishment of the new college—“ the only important event,” he says, “ in my life’s little history.” When the University College opened its courses in 1828 it offered for the first time in the history of English universities science subjects as a foundation of medicine—chemistry and biology came definitely on the scene. In addition, English, French, German and Italian were allotted chairs and so the modern university began its career. Its admission of women students to the classes in Italian in 1831 marked another modern step. By 1871 women had access to all courses except the medical. To this day Cambridge aims at being a man’s university, as women can receive only titular degrees. Oxford admits women, but the cables have recently told of the definite limitation in number. No doubt the time is nigh when a women’s university will arise. Why not ? We have girls’ high schools everywhere. The cables, also, have recently told of the purchase of the Duke of Bedford’s property of eleven acres near the British Museum for about half a million sterling. .The London Univeristy, thus, has a magnificent site for its new building. The negotiations for the purchase had hung fire for a long time owing to lack of funds, the Government grant towards the object being inadequate. But suddenly came the magnificent gift from the Rockefeller Foundation which was established by its charter to promote “ the well-being of mankind throughout the world.” The president of this great American Foundation said in his letter announcing the gift: “ Wo firmly believe that the development of a university centre in London has an importance which extends far beyond the metropolitan area and the boundaries of the British Isles.” These are gracious words coming with a groat gift from a great people. More and more London is the centre of the Empire, the granary of the spiritual wealth of our past, the focus

of our labours in the present. Over 300 years ago Francis Bacon saw in a vision the scientific society of the New Atlantis and set in its Solomon’s House where it was declared that “ the end of our foundation is the knowledge of causes, and secret motions of things; and the enlarging of the bounds of humane empire, to the effecting of all things possible.” Such is the aim today in London, for the New Atlantis is there, and the new temple is to arise therein. It is proposed by Dr Maxwell Garnett, in a letter to The Times, “ that just one American sky-scraper, a cathedral of learning, double the height of St. Paul’s, be built on the site at Bloomsbury.” It is a great thought; it will, if realised in stone, be a permanent reminder of the possibilities of human effort, and of the spiritual ties that bind together all who love learning and truth. Those who pursue knowledge know no geographical boundaries. Father Thames has seen many noble structures arise since first Julius Caesar is fabled to have laid the foundation of the Tower of London. Westminster and St Paul’s are almost things of life, keeping the past vital for all who can understand. The new university looks into the future,. It too is alive, not with memory so much as with hope.