LOUVAIN REBUILT

Hokitika Guardian, 6 July 1927, Page 1

LOUVAIN REBUILT

Few tilings during the war excited greater indignation than the sack ot Louvain and the destruction ol the famous university and library. ’I lie Germans maintained that this destruction liad taken place owing t:i the civilian inhabitants of the town tiring from the houses and other paints of vantage on German soldiers. It was Inter proved that these shots were actually tired by some of the Germans themselves, and thus there did not remain even the shadow of an cxeuxe for this wanton destruetioii. The uni-

versify was one ot tlie oldest and most famous in Europe. It was lounded in 1426, and when it was formally opened in the following year there were 6000 students. Erasmus resided at Louvain from 1517 to 1521. at wliieh time the university enjoyed a record Unlearning that surpassed any other educational centre in Europe. As. however, universities began to grow in other countries the number ol students at Louvain diminished, and at the time when the war commenced there were only 1790. It was known as the “Oxford of Belgium.'' and its library of 71).!'3d volumes c attained a mini her of rare manuscripts and early printed book-. 3 he* burning ol this library aas compared at the time to the burning ol the library at Alexandria. as far as the loss to learning was concerned. 'llint is. perhaps, to take rather an exaggerated view ol its value, but numbers of volumes were lost which can never he replaced. Ihe Allies jointly undertook the restoration of the town anil university when the war was over. This university has now been rebuilt, and the library has been replenished, partly with private gift.-, and partly with the aid of the John Hylands Library at Manchester. Handsome as some cl tlie gifts have been. they cannot. of course, adequately replace the hooks that were destroyed. The university as rebuilt was solemnly consecrated by the Papal Nuncio on Tuesday last, the event synchronising with the f.ootli anniversary of its foundation. The restoration of Louvain, of Rheirns Cathedral, and numerous other phu .-s destroyed during tin* war 'hows ihat the material destruction wrought is being rapidly made good. Far h--rapid progress has been made in re-

gard to moral values. Thucydides, ii one of his most famous messages

dwelt on the great moral decline luai followed a great war. lie especially noted tlie decay of truth and a tendency to extol force. Wounds that hurt the soul sink deeper than wounds that hurt the body. The material rebuilding of Europe is nearly complete; the moral and spiritual rebuilding ia work still before us.