Zeph Stewart, Master of Lowell House, will go on a sabbatical for the second semester of next year. During his four-month leave, Giles Constable '50 Henry Charles Lea Professor of Medieval History, will act as House Master.

Stewart said yesterday that, since his sabbatical was approved by the Corporation only last Monday, his plans are still indefinite. He said that he may do research for a book on the cultural background of the New Testament.

Stewart added that he intends to leave Cambridge and live with his wife and children near a library with adequate material on Early Christian Rome. "Only by getting away from Cambridge and leaving the responsibilities of the House and the duties of different committees far behind, will I have time to devote to research," he said.

Constable, who was chosen for the post at Stewart's suggestion, received his A.B. from Harvard in 1950 and his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa in 1957. In addition to History 112, "Medieval History," he teaches a graduate seminar here.

Constable served as Head of North House at Radcliffe from 1963 to 1967. "During this time my wife and I established a certain style in contacting the students which we think will help us in getting to know the residents of Lowell," he said.

The British-born Constable said that he will make no major changes in Stewart's policies on such matters as parietals, coed housing, and the choice of tutors.

"My wife and I would perhaps like to have the bells rung more often because we rather like them," he said. "But we just don't feel it's within our prerogative to fill F, G, and H entries with girls while the Stewarts are away."

Constable added that he agreed with Stewart in the belief that the image of the House should not be stamped on the individual. He asserted that "the House should be there only to serve the student."

Stewart's decision to go on sabbatical follows a similar announcement made earlier in the week by Richard T. Gill '48, Master of Leverett. During Gill's full-year leave of absence, Jerome H. Buckley, professor of English, Will serve as acting House Master.