Oxford and the Rhodes Scholarships

by R. F. Scholz; Stanley Kuhl Hornbeck

PREFACE

The primary object of this book is to present, in concise form, a large variety of facts which have been and are, in one way or another, of value or importance to those who are interested in the Rhodes Scholarships.

The frequency and the diversity of the inquiries which have been made, both officially and unofficially, and especially the questions which have been asked by and of Rhodes Scholars, have suggested the practicability of an attempt to compile an elementary reference-book which shall contain answers to many of these queries.

It must be clearly understood at the outset that this volume is in no way official, having been in no way authorized or approved by the Rhodes Trust or by Oxford University. For the fact of its appearance and for its form and contents the authors (or, perhaps better, the ‘editors’ of the material which it contains) must and do assume the sole responsibility. Yet for the facts which it contains we have had recourse to official or semi-official publications, and for accuracy we plead the authority of these sources.

Inquiries have varied from such simple questions as ‘How many Rhodes Scholars are there in Oxford?’ to, ‘How may a Rhodes Scholarship be obtained; how does Oxford differ in system from an American University; what courses of study can I pursue at Oxford?’ It is hoped that the facts contained in the following chapters will answer a large number of these questions, and that they may not only save much time and perplexity for those who are especially interested in the Rhodes Scholarships, but that they may be of considerable additional use in explaining many points which are popularly misunderstood or overlooked with regard to the Rhodes Scholarships and their relation to Oxford.

Our purpose to compile at once a short record and a working handbook has made our task largely that of selection and arrangement. We have drawn freely for information upon many sources. Thus, the first chapter is based almost entirely upon facts set forth in Mr. W. T. Stead’s Last Will and Testament of Cecil John Rhodes; the second chapter is merely an arrangement from a copy of Rhodes’s Will; the third rests upon information obtained from Dr. Parkin’s written statements, especially from an article in the London Times of October 13, 1904, and from an address before the Royal Colonial Institute (December, 1904), and from answers which have been given to direct questions; the fourth is based on published ‘Memoranda’ of the Rhodes Trust; and the sixth represents a condensation or rearrangement, with some personal comment, of information from the official publications of the University of Oxford (see also Bibliography, [p. 169]). The fifth and the seventh may be said to have more of the personal colouring, but they, too, represent impressions gained from various reading and comparison of opinions, as well as of those of personal experience.

The division into Parts I and II has been determined by the fact that the first four chapters (Part I) deal largely with matters outside Oxford, while the remainder (Part II) deals rather with Oxford phases of the question. In addition to the desire to present general information it has been our constant purpose to meet the questions—first, of the person who is considering whether he wishes a Rhodes Scholarship; second, of the person who is an intending candidate; third, of the elected Rhodes Scholar.

This motive has prompted the addition of considerable matter in the form of an Appendix which contains: a List of the Rhodes Scholars up to date; a List of the Committees of Selection; a set of questions illustrating the qualifying examination; a list of the members of the Instructional Staff of the University; a Lecture List illustrating the Oxford ‘Honour School’ Lectures; a list of Affiliated and Privileged Universities; and a Bibliography. We have endeavoured by means of a complete Index to make it possible to find at once the information, so far as herein contained, which one is seeking.

Although disclaiming all or any official authorization, and wishing to involve no one in the responsibility for the appearance or the character of these chapters, we feel that it would be misleading and ungrateful not to acknowledge our indebtedness to those without whose assistance much of the information could not have been obtained, or could only have been obtained with great difficulty. We have occasion to thank, for very material assistance and for many valuable suggestions, Dr. G. R. Parkin, Mr. F. J. Wylie, and Mr. H. T. Gerrans. Dr. Parkin and Mr. Wylie, as officially connected with the Rhodes Trust, have given us access to Memoranda, and have given information on many points connected with the Scholarship System. Mr. Gerrans, Fellow of Worcester College, has explained and furnished information on many difficult points in the Oxford system, and has otherwise considerably simplified the problem of arrangement and publication. Our thanks are due also to Mr. L. Cecil Jane of University College for very helpful suggestions. For whatever errors or shortcomings may be discovered we alone are responsible.

Readers should also bear in mind that the ‘System’ of the Rhodes Scholarships is still to some extent in its trial stages, and that changes in its methods and machinery may still be expected.

Our sole incentive for the production of such a book at this time lies in a desire to meet what has seemed a present need for a collection of information upon the Scholarships as they exist. We would only justify this attempt in so far as it may accomplish this end.

R. F. S.
S. K. H.

Oxford, February, 1907.