NOTES 



The British Science Guild 



The British Science Guild held its last Annual Meeting in the Goldsmiths' 

 Hall on June 8, during which much information was given to the mem- 

 bers through the medium of the speeches of Lord Sydenham and the Rt. 

 Hon. Lord Montagu of Beaulieu. The Address of the former on " Science 

 and the Nation" reviewed the post-war conditions of this country, with 

 special reference to the greatest factor of present-day unrest — the strike. 

 Lord Sydenham dwelt largely on the " psychology of the manual workers," 

 upon whom, he said, " the reign of the machine exercised a profound in- 

 fluence," and traced the bad efiect of that machine on the mind of the 

 worker, showing afterwards how this bad effect might be overcome by 

 science. To quote his own words, " Can the reign of the machine be ren- 

 dered beneficent to all alike ? Can science, which has been the creator of 

 conditions which have favoured the spread of revolutionary ideas, help to pro- 

 vide the antidote ? It is a remarkable fact that, while scientific discovery 

 was transforming the national life, there was no corresponding develop- 

 ment of science-training in circles entrusted with government and adminis- 

 tration. When foreign competition began to be felt, it was quickly realised 

 that some of our industries had fallen behind in utilising the gifts which 

 our leaders of science offered them, and that the Germans had passed 

 us — in the great domain of chemistry especially. If this neglect showed 

 itself in quarters where there were strong inducements to turn science to 

 the fullest account, it was certain to prevail in Government departments with 

 far more serious consequences to the nation. In a lecture delivered nearly 

 seventy years ago. Prof. Tyndall said : ' I state nothing visionary when 

 I say that in a country like ours, whose greatness depends so much upon 

 the applications of physical science, it would be a wholesome and natural 

 test to make admission to the House of Commons contingent on a know- 

 ledge of the principles of Natural Philosophy.' And he went on to make 

 a powerful plea for the study of physics among the manual workers, ' not 

 only as a means of mental culture, but also as a moral influence.' Science 

 has immensely extended its dominion since that day, and has become far 

 more closely connected with the welfare of the nation, and, therefore, more 

 urgently needed in every branch of Government. Yet in Cabinets, in Par- 

 liament, and among our representatives abroad. Governors, Ambassadors, and 

 Consuls, training in science is conspicuously absent. ... As the result of 

 the stern lessons of the war, we have set up much useful machinery for co- 

 ordinating scientific progress, and for providing expert advice. Research 

 has received a new impetus, both from Government and from industrial 

 leaders. These are undoubted gains ; but they will not suf&ce unless the 

 application of what can best be described as the scientific spirit to the solu- 

 tion of national problems is secured, which is the main object of the British 

 Science Guild. We believe that our objects can be attained only by radical 

 changes in our system of education. . . . The British Science Guild holds 

 that it is vital to ordered progress that trained specialists should wield ade- 

 quate authority in the national councils, and that it is essential and possible 



278 



