XXXVI REPORT ON THE HENRY STATUE. 



the universe which the scientist interprets. The existence of a per- 

 sonal God was accepted by him as a well nigh self-evident truth which 

 is as necessary to our confidence in scientific study as to our hopes for 

 man's social and moral well being. The moral and spiritual capacities 

 and destiny of man were regarded by him as dominant facts and chief 

 ends in the universe made up of matter and spirit, facts and ends so 

 important and so pressing as to create the need and establish the truth 

 of the Christian's faith and hope. He believed moreover in no inherent 

 law of progress in human nature or human society as such. On the 

 contrary he asserted often that our supreme hope of such progress, even 

 in scientific culture and achievement, must rest on moral integrity and 

 culture as the supreme conditions. In his closing address to the Na- 

 tional Academy he urged " that moral integrity is essential to conscien- 

 tious fidelity in scientific research," and added, "Indeed, I think that 

 immorality and great mental power exercised in the discovery of scien- 

 tific truths are incompatible with each other; and that more error is 

 introduced from defect in moral sense than from want of intellectual 

 capacity." To the Philosophical Society of Washington he had designed 

 to give, as probably his last formal communication, an address npon the 

 relations of science and religion, and also upon the true import of prayer. 

 This he was not permitted to do, but those who knew him best knew most 

 fully that in prayer he found constant delight and strength. Almost 

 the last lines which he penned contain a positive and tender yet ra- 

 tional confession of his Christian faith. Almost the last words which 

 he uttered were with tearful eyes and from quivering lips, "Upon Jesus 

 Christ as the one who, for God, affiliates himself with man — upon Him 

 I rest my faith and my hope." 



Such a man was Joseph Henry. With eminent truth may we say of 

 Mm, as Wordsworth wrote of Milton : 



Thy soul was like a star, and dwelt apart ; 



Thon hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea, 



Pure as the naked heavens^ majestic, free; 



So didst thou travel on life's common way, 

 In cheerful godliness ; aud yet thy heart 



The lowliest duties on itself did lay. 



For more than fifty years, the most memorable and critical which the 

 sciences of nature have ever seen, he has been indeed a guiding, star to 

 their devotees in all this land, ever shining with a serene yet command- 

 ing light. During the critical years of its young and buoyant life, 

 American science has found much of the guidance and inspiration which 

 it needed in his childlike yet kingly spirit. And now as it rejoices in 

 the security of its position and its ever-increasing honors, it is most fit- 

 ting that its assembled representatives should here gratefully acknowl- 

 edge their obligations to their eminent benefactor and distinguished 

 leader, and cordially welcome this statue, which by its c^ommanding pro- 

 portions gives new dignity to the ground so long honored by his pres- 

 ence and associated with his name. Long may it stand to express to 



