We  must  turn  from  this  most  interesting  man
to  an  era  of  the  catechetical  school  which  is  hot
shrouded  in  doubts.  S.  Jerome  speaks  of  Pantaenus
as  the  head  of  the  catechetical  school :  he  describes
him  as  being  "  of  great  prudence  and  erudition,"
and  adds :  ^  "  Many  of  his  commentaries  on
Holy  Scripture  are  indeed  extant,  but  his  living
voice  was  of  still  greater  benefit  to  the  Churches."
It  seems  probable  that  the  last  sentence  refers  to
his  arduous  work  as  a  teacher  of  the  catechumens.
In  one  of  his  Letters,'^  S.  Jerome,  writing  to
Magnus,  an  Orator  of  Rome,  has  occasion  to  run
through  the  list  of  Christian  writers.  Herein  he
describes  Pantaenus  as  having  "a  great  reputation
for  learning."  Pantaenus  was  at  first  a  famous
philosopher  of  the  Stoic  school :  on  his  conversion
to  Christianity  he  became  the  instructor  of  the
catechumens.  S.  Jerome's  story,  that  on  account
of  his   great  reputation    for   learning  he  was  sent

*  Lives  of  Illustrious  Men,  chap,  xxxvi.  "  Epistle  LXX.
112    PRIMITIVE  CHRISTIAxN  EDUCATION

by  Demetrius,  bishop  of  Alexandria,  to  India  to
preach  Christ  to  the  Brahmans  and  philosophers
there,  may  not  be  true.  If  true,  it  proves  that
the  ecclesiastical  authorities  of  the  second  century
adapted  means  to  ends  with  more  wisdom  than
some  of  their  successors  have  done ;  and  again,  if
true,  it  is  a  proof  that  the  primitive  Christians
valued  erudition  in  the  most  flattering  way  by
using  it  to  the  best  possible  advantage  when  they
despatched  scholars  to  evangelise  scholars.
