learning.
Laurie says, "The great Alexander, in founding Alexandria, connected
Europe, Asia, and Africa, not merely by mercantile bonds, but in their
intellectual and literary life. Here arose, under the Ptolemies, a
complete system of higher instruction, and libraries such as the world
had not before seen. The books were lodged in the temple of Serapis, and
accumulated to the number of seven hundred thousand. They formed the
record of all human thought, until they fell a prey to internal civic
and religious dissensions. The Serapeum dates from B.C. 298,
and, after recovering from the fire of B.C. 48, it finally
disappeared about A.D. 640."

Under the stimulus of these surroundings, and with such an abundance of
literary material at command, pagans and Christians vied with each other
in their search for truth. But the pagans had better schools and better
means of preparing themselves for intellectual combat. Christian
teachers were called upon to defend their faith against subtle
philosophers and trained thinkers, who had had the advantage of
excellent schools. In order to meet this apparent defect and fortify
themselves against their skillful opponents, the Christians established
the catechetical school at Alexandria, the most celebrated school of its
kind at that period. It took the name _catechetical_ from the fact that
the method of instruction was largely that of catechising, though
lectures were also given. Many pagans had been converted to
Christianity, and it was necessary that they should be taught the reason
of their faith, in order that they might maintain their ground when they
came in contact with unbelievers. This was particularly necessary, if
Christianity was to hold its own, in a city like Alexandria, where so
many learned men had gathered. It was also necessary for the extension
of the new faith among men of superior intelligence. Thus the object of
the catechetical school was to instruct learned men in the doctrines and
usages of the Church, to prepare believers to meet the arguments of the
philosophers, and to train teachers.

While it was a sort of theological school, it also taught philosophy,
rhetoric, grammar, and geometry. From the nature of things it will be
seen that the catechetical school was for adults only, and it may be
called a kind of university, whose chief attention was given to the
study of the Scriptures and the promulgation of religious doctrine. The
catechetical school was much