|
|
|
|
|
APPENDIX III.
PALI TEXT SOCIETY.
COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT.
Bm. TreasurerW. W. Hosier, Esq., C.I.E., LL.D.
Bm. Secretary c. B. Bbodribb, Esq., B.A., 3, Brick Court, Temple, KG.
Professor Faosbold. Br. Morbib.
Br. Oldebbekq. M. Ehilb Senart.
T. W. Rhys Davids, Chairman.
(Withpower to add workers to their number.)
BankersLondob Joiht-Stook Bake, Princes Street, E.C.
A Pali Text Society has been started on the model of the Early
English Text Society, in order to render accessible to students the
rich stores of the earliest Buddhist literature now lying unedited
and practically unused in the various MSS. scattered throughout
the Public and University libraries of Europe.
The historical importance of these Texts can scarcely he exagge-
rated, either in respect of their value for the history of folk-lore, or
of religion, or of language. It is already certain that they were all
put into their present form within a very limited period, probably
extending to less than a century and a half (about B.C. 400250).
For that period they have preserved for us a record, quite uncontami-
nated hy any outside influence, of the every-day beliefs and customs
of a people nearly related to ourselves, just as they were passing
through the first stages of civilization. They are our best authorities
for the esrly history of that interesting system of religion so nearly
allied to some of the latest speculations among ourselves, and which |
|
|
|
