- As soon as the persecutions ceased, Origen hastened
to reorganise the work at the School. Its students were to
study grammar, dialectic, rhetoric, arithmetic, geometry,
astronomy, and music. These were to be an introduction to
the study of philosophy. All trends of philosophy were to be
equally studied: Origen's maxim was clear: "prove all
things, hold fast that which is good". His students were to
prove all the philosophies and all the sciences, then hold fast
that which was good in any and all of them. Having
searched and proved, they were then to come to the highest
study of all: the Holy Scriptures. For all other studies were
but stepping stones leading up to this supreme goal.^9
And not only were all subjects to be studied, but all
those who came to study were accepted: men and women,
old and young. Origen could not refuse any seeker after
knowledge.
The pagan world, up to the time of Origen, and in
spite of the efforts of Clement, was still under the impression
that Christianity was for the lowly and the illiterate. It was
startled to find this young School becoming the very
sanctuary of sciences, divine and human, all in one sweep. It
could not fully express all its admiration and its respect for
Origen, the young teacher whose words had the charm of
magic; whose persuasive eloquence penetrated the hearts,
and whose genuine tenderness won the souls. And though
he was a young philosopher, yet he was different from all
other philosophers. True, they could speak in beautiful
words on sublime principles but their teaching ended with
their words. As for Origen, he was not satisfied with
teaching about temperance, justice and love; he believed that
without good works all teaching was sterile, and he offered,
in his person; the living example of all the virtues which he
preached, thus inspiring his students to follow in his
footsteps.^10 His very life was the magnet which attracted
elle
(Elle)
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