4 

 94 BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON. 



I am not in sympathy with those who feel that their dignity 

 is lowered when their investigations lead toward improvement 

 in the physical condition of mankind, but I feel that the highest 

 function of science is to minister to their mental and moral wel 

 fare. Here in the United States, more than in any other country, 

 it is necessary that sound, accurate knowledge and a scientific 

 manner of thought should exist among the people, and the man 

 of science is becoming, more than ever, the natural custodian of 

 the treasured knowledge of the world. To him, above all oth 

 ers, falls the duty of organizing and maintaining the institutions 

 for the diffusion of knowledge, many of which have been spoken 

 of in these addresses the schools, the museums, the expositions, 

 the societies, the periodicals. To him, more than to any other 

 American, should be made familiar the words of President 

 Washington in his farewell address to the American people : 



"PROMOTE, THEN, AS AN OBJECT OF PRIMARY IMPORTANCE, 

 INSTITUTIONS FOR THE GENERAL DIFFUSION OF KNOWLEDGE. 

 IN PROPORTION AS THE STRUCTURE OF A GOVERNMENT GIVES 

 FORCE TO PUBLIC OPINIONS IT SHOULD BE ENLIGHTENED. 



