HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-G OSSJF. 



217 



NOTES FOR WINTER WORK. 



Some Aspects of Scientific Association. 



I&, 1^^^^^}. EMBERSHIP of a 



S:ff&' °.is\'>^7il5 ' society established 



for the purpose of 

 promoting research 

 and diflusingknow- 

 ledge in some 

 branch of science, 

 possesses so many 

 advantages that 

 one is apt to over- 

 look the obliga- 

 tions imposed by 

 it, as well as the 

 special character 

 of the benefits to 

 be derived from it. 

 It is useful from 

 time to time to 

 revert to the con- 

 sideration of these ; 

 and if in the re- 

 marks which follow there is nothing strikingly novel, 

 or eminently sensational, I would venture to remind 

 my readers of a statement to be found somewhere in 

 Hannah Moore's works, to the effect that though the 

 office of a reminder is more humble than that of an 

 instructor, it is often quite as necessary. 



One of the first things we are prone to overlook 

 is that our rights, as members of a society, are 

 indissolubly linked to certain definite obligations. 

 In this respect we do not differ from the general 

 body of mankind. All men insist more strenuously 

 on the maintenance of their rights, or what they take 

 to be their rights, than they do on the observance of 

 the obligations which those rights inevitably imply. 

 Take the simple instance of the right to speak freely 

 in support of any particular view ; it carries with it 

 the obligation to be deferential, and observant of 

 that degree of courtesy which is perfectly consistent 

 with the most zealous advocacy of our opinions. I 

 write with special reference to the smaller natural 

 No. 322.— October 1891. 



history and microscopical societie?, and field-clubs 

 which do so much good wherever they are established. 

 It is not unusual in such associations to hear the 

 complaint made by some of the more critical 

 members that subjects are brought forward without 

 due regard to the attainments and proficiency of the 

 general body of subscribers ; or, as I myself have 

 heard it expressed, that science is made to put on 

 "too much side." It is undoubtedly the right of 

 members to claim that matters shall be put before 

 them in such a way as will be best calculated to 

 benefit the majority ; that is, in interesting language, 

 and in terms which the majority may comprehend. 

 It is only in this way that societies can be kept 

 together, and science be made even more popular than 

 it is already. But the right indicated runs in double 

 harness, so to speak, with a distinct, but often 

 disregarded obligation. It is assuredly the duty 

 of those who attend the meetings of scientific 

 societies to bring with them a certain amount of 

 preparedness, and beforehand to familiarise them- 

 selves with points which are likely to be discussed ; 

 or, where this cannot be done for want of books or 

 for other reasons, to consult a friend who may be 

 able to render the required aid. No scientific 

 society can be reasonably required to supplement the 

 want of all preparation on the part of its members. 



Closely related to the matters just considered is the 

 suggestion sometimes made that simplicity of subjects 

 rather than of phraseology is needed, meaning 

 thereby that elementary objects and methods should 

 be more frequently dealt with. Now this is a point 

 on which there is ample room for opinions to differ ; 

 but without entering into any lengthy discussion of 

 these, it is obviously the duty of every member of a 

 society to educate himself up to the level of his 

 fellow-members. Half the pleasure and the profit of 

 taking up with a hobby and joining a society, lie in 

 the fact that one has mainly to educate himself, and 

 thereby to undergo a certain amount of self-imposed 

 discipline. It is not felt to be a discipline at all, 



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