OP ARTS AND SCIENCES. 527 



devoted to commerce. The pursuit of Science for its own sake was 

 little understood or appreciated. There was no adequate teaching, 

 and those of us who can remember the lectures in Holden Chapel 

 will realize what must have been the difficulties of a young beginner. 



When the College lost its Professor of Chemistry, it was not easy 

 to fill the position. The same necessity which had called a young 

 Divinity student to the Professorship of Physics, placed an untried 

 youth in the chair of Chemistry. The choice was justified, however, 

 by the result. 



To a keen mind and power of analysis Cooke added a gift of lan- 

 guage and clearness of statement which made him a natural lecturer. 

 It was said of him that he recalled the manner of Faraday ; and 

 whether he was explaining the mysteries of Science, describing the 

 recently discovered Pharaohs, or treating of the higher issues of 

 religious thought, the same ciiarm marked his discourse. With uncer- 

 tain muscles which often seemed to imperil the success of an experi- 

 ment, there was no hesitancy in thought or utterance. All was clear, 

 logical, and convincing. I never had the opportunity of hearing him 

 at Cambridge, but I have often listened to his public lectures, and can 

 bear witness that few lecturers held the attention of their audiences 

 more completely than he, or gave more pleasure. 



Professor Cooke did not confine himself to one subject of thought. 

 He was many-sided. His religious lectures were marked by the same 

 cogency of reasoning, purity of style, and apt illustration as any of 

 his scientific discourses. 



Professor Cooke lectured eight times before the Lowell Institute, 

 and I cannot better indicate the breadth of his studies than by enumer- 

 ating the subjects of these lectures. 



In 1855 and 185G he lectured on "The Chemistry of the Non- 

 metallic Elements." 



In 1860 and 1861, on "The Chemistry of the Atmosphere as illus- 

 trating the Wisdom, Power, and Goodness of God." 



In 1864 and 1865, on "The Sunbeam, its Nature and Power." 



In 1868 and 1869, on "Electricity." 



In 1872 and 1873, on "The New Chemistry." 



In 1878 and 1879, on " Crystals, and their Optical Relations." 



In 1887 and 1888, on ''The necessary Limitation of Scientific 

 Thought." 



In 1892 and 1893, on " Photographic Sketches of Egypt." 



This last course recalled his travels and embodied the study and 

 reflections of a cultivated mind amidst the monuments of that wonder- 



