THE SEMI-CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY 7 



Academy stands ready, whenever called upon by any department 

 of the Government, to " . . . . investigate, examine, experiment, 

 and report upon any subject of science or art " 



As time passes, it will come to be recognized more and more 

 clearly by those in authority that the scientific method is the 

 one most likely to lead to results of permanent value. Briefly 

 defined, the scientific method consists in studying the facts and 

 then drawing the most logical conclusion from these facts. It 

 is most desirable that our Government should utilize to a greater 

 and greater extent this method which is free from partisanship 

 and has only truth to serve. In the long run, the influence of the 

 National Academy upon affairs of government must be felt. 



Farsighted statesmen must see, and do see, that it is well for 

 the country to have a body of workers in the field of science con- 

 nected in some way with the Government, and the day will 

 come when this will be recognized more clearly and more 

 generally than it is today. The question is not what is best for 

 the Academy; it is, what is best for the country. May we not 

 hope that in the near future Congress will see its way clear to 

 emphasize the importance of the connection between the Govern- 

 ment and the Academy by providing it with a proper home 

 which can serve as a center of general scientific activity? This 

 subject has again recently been brought to the front, and there 

 is a possibility that favorable action may be taken. 



By an act of Congress approved June 20, 1884, the National 

 Academy of Sciences was " . . . . authorized and empowered to 

 receive bequests and donations and hold the same in trust, to be 

 applied by the said academy in aid of scientific investigations 

 and according to the will of the donors." 



The funds under the general management of the Academy, 

 and their purposes, should receive some notice at this point, in 

 order that the work of the Academy may be more clearly under- 

 stood. I will go over this briefly. Some of them will be re- 

 ferred to at the time of the award of medals tomorrow after- 

 noon. I do not wish to say anything that will necessitate repeti- 

 tion at that time. 



