EDITOR'S TABLE. 



745 



EDITOR'S TABLE. 



THE SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATIONS. 



THE American and British Associa- 

 tions for the Advancement of Sci- 

 ence have again assembled in their cus- 

 tomary annual meetings, the former in 

 St. Louis, and the latter in Dublin. 

 The American meeting was not large, 

 its location being unfavorable to draw 

 people from remote distances in the 

 heat of August. But a fair amount of 

 work seems to have been done, as those 

 who came were interested aud active 

 men in their several departments of 

 science. The chief event of the session 

 seems to have been, as it undoubtedly 

 should be, the delivery of the presiden- 

 tial address. President Newcomb wise- 

 ly chose a topic of general interest, and, 

 moreover, did not hesitate to enter 

 boldly upon the discussion of questions 

 of a high philosophical character, and 

 concerning which the mind of the age 

 has by no means settled down into the 

 repose of unanimity. He considers the 

 scientific method of thinking, as con- 

 trasted with the theological method, 

 and pictures the progress of scientific 

 thought in clearing away the old theo- 

 logical interpretations of Nature, and 

 giving us a new and truer view of the 

 realities and method of the universe. 

 The doctrine of teleology, of final causes, 

 or ends to be secured in the economy 

 of Nature is instructively discussed, and 

 the influence of science in doing away 

 with this mode of viewing the course 

 of things is well pointed out. The ad- 

 dresses given before the sub-sections 

 of the Association were meritorious on 

 their several topics, and we are glad to 

 see that Prof. Grote, in his address on 

 " Education as a Succession of Expe- 

 riences," went into the grounds of sci- 

 entific education, and made a forcible 

 appeal to the body to take a deeper in- 



terest in the work of diffusing science 

 and bringing its influence to bear more 

 directly upon the schools of the coun- 

 try in respect of their scientific teach- 

 ing. He says : 



" The demand has come up from teachers 

 throughout the country that they should be 

 better informed as to the manner in which 

 the sciences may be introduced into the 

 schools, and the matter to be taught. It is 

 the duty of this Association to furnish such 

 information. If we have not sympathized 

 with this inquiry in the past, let us assist it 

 in the future. It is quite evident that the 

 sooner it commits itself, as a matter of prin- 

 ciple, to the furtherance of' science among 

 the people, the more following it will have 

 and the greater influence. The Association 

 must be prepared to demand moi - e time for 

 scientific studies from the public school au- 

 thorities, and it must show that education 

 in this aspect of it is a matter that not only 

 falls properly under its cognizance, but which 

 it is also prepared to take hold of." 



These are wise and weighty words, and 

 we hope they will be heeded in con- 

 ducting the future operations of this 

 body. 



The British Association had a large 

 and successful meeting in Dublin, to 

 one feature of which we desire to call 

 attention, as worthy of imitation by the 

 American society. The British Asso- 

 ciation admits members each year called 

 "associates," which may consist of 

 strangers, citizens, ladies, or anybody 

 who wishes to join without any re- 

 gard to scientific qualifications. They, 

 of course, take no part in the business, 

 and merely enter into social relations 

 with the body for the time being, but 

 they pay the same fees as regular mem- 

 bers. Five hundred associates joined 

 in Dublin, which not only gave fullness 

 to the attendance, and increasing in- 

 terest to the proceedings, but secured 

 $2,500 to the treasury to aid in the va- 



