30 PRESIDENT S ADDRESS. 



investigations have been doled out to him. I have deemed it 

 very desirable to place before you this evening some of the 

 opinions which have been expressed on these topics north of the 

 equator, because I am convinced that many of our administra- 

 tors, politicians, educationists, and commercial men are wholly 

 unaware of the strong remonstrances which have grown to quite 

 a literature during these four years, and are probably under the 

 illusion that in South Africa the chemist has now the oppor- 

 tunity, if he cares to make use of it, to help the Union, with 

 eclat to himself, safely through some of the difificulties resulting 

 ifrom the war. I have, in fact, heard such a view seriously ex- 

 pressed. The idea is, of course, perfectly absurd. At the same 

 time it falls to the chemist in particular to do all that in him lies 

 to aid production during this time of crisis, and to assist those 

 directly engaged in the work of production, whether it be the 

 manufactures or agriculttire. And those who have it in their 

 power to strengthen the chemist's hands in such a work will 

 themselves not only be aiding the State, but will be assisting to 

 bear up the lofty principles for the maintenance of which 

 amongst men Britain and her Allies are contending. 



Thoughts somewhat akin to these were well developed by 

 the American chemist, James R. Withrow, President of the Ohio 

 Academy of Science, whom I have more than once quoted in 

 the course of these remarks, and now I close by commending to 

 your attention the concluding paragraph of his able and thought- 

 ful address : 



It has become so evident in this war that the intelligent and scientific 

 criminal is a terrible menace, and dislodging him at times such a weary 

 and fatal task, that we must find some way of preventing our leaders and 

 groups or classes, whether governmental or industrial, from becoming this 

 kind of danger. Have we not reached the time when we are willing to 

 turn to the One Who ordained civil government for our good, acknow- 

 ledge that He ordained it and not we ourselves, and make our leaders 

 or rulers " whom God and this people shall choose " — " men fearing God 

 and hating covetousness "? 



