THE RELATIONS OF THE NATURAL SCIENCES. 171 



ever, been included what we call geology, which is not a separate sci- 

 ence, but the application alike of mathematic and of all the natural 

 sciences to the elucidation of both the physiography and the physiology 

 of our planet. So far as geology concerns itself with the history of 

 past life on the earth, or what is called paleontology, it is biological, 

 but in all its other aspects the relations of geology are with Section III. 

 The logical result of this complex character of geology should be either 

 the separation of paleontology from the other branches of geological 

 study, which find their appropriate place in our Section III ; or else 

 the union of the two sections through this their common bond. 



It w T ill be noticed that in this brief survey of the field of natural 

 knowledge I have not spoken of the technical applications of science, 

 nor alluded to its important aspects in relation to the material wants 

 of life. On this theme, did time permit, I might speak at length. 

 There are two classes of motives which urge men to the pursuit of 

 knowledge ; on the one hand, those of worldly fame or profit, and, on 

 the other, the far nobler sentiment which has the finding-out of truth 

 for its object. It would seem as if, by a spiritual law, the great prin- 

 ciples which are most fruitful in material results are not revealed to 

 those who interrogate Nature with these lower ends in view. Newton, 

 Darwin, Faraday, Henry, and such as they, were not inspired by a de- 

 sire for the praise of men, or for pecuniary reward, but pursued their 

 life-long labors with higher motives; the love of truth for its own sake, 

 the reverent desire to comprehend the hidden laws and operations of 

 the universe. To such, and to such alone, does Nature reveal herself. 

 In the material as in the moral order, the promise of achievement is 

 given to those who strive after knowledge and wisdom irrespective of 

 the hope of temporal reward ; and the history of science shows that it 

 is such seekers as these who have attained to the discovery of those 

 secrets which have been of the greatest benefit to humanity. The ad- 

 monition is to all, that we are to seek first for truth and for justice ; 

 and with this comes the promise that to those who thus seek all other 

 things shall be superadded. 



It is good and praiseworthy to labor to extract the metal from the 

 ore, and the healing essence from the plant, to subdue the powers of 

 electricity and of steam to the service of man. To those who attain 

 these ends the world gives its substantial rewards ; but far higher 

 honors are instinctively rendered to those who by their disinterested 

 researches, undertaken without hope of recompense, have revealed to 

 us the great laws which serve to guide the searchers in these fields of 

 technical science ; to those who have labored serenely, with the con- 

 sciousness that whatever of truth is made known by their studies will 

 be a lasting gain to humanity. " Thus," to repeat words used on 

 another occasion,* " it ever happens, in accordance with the Divine 



* " The Relations of Chemistry to Pharmacy and Therapeutics," an Address before the 

 Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, by T. Sterry Hunt. Boston, IS'Zu. 



