THE PEOGEAMME 



ON LORD GIFFORD'S CONCEPTION OF " SCIENCE " 



THIS is the first time that a biologist has occupied this 

 place ; the first time that a biologist is to try to carry out the 

 intentions of the noble and high-minded man to whom this 

 lectureship owes its foundation. 



On such an occasion it seems to be not undesirable to 

 inquire what Lord Gifford's own opinions about natural 

 science may have been, what place in the whole scheme of 

 human knowledge he may have attributed to those branches 

 of it which have become almost the centre of men's 

 intellectual interest. 



And, indeed, on studying Lord Gifford's bequest with 

 the object of finding in it some reference to the natural 

 sciences, one easily notes that he has assigned to them a 

 very high place compared with the other sciences, at least 

 in one respect : with regard to their methods. 



There is a highly interesting passage in his will which 

 leaves no doubt about our question. After having formally 

 declared the foundation of this lectureship " for Promoting, 

 Advancing, Teaching and Diffusing the study of Natural 

 Theology in the widest sense of that term," and after 



