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interest in new fields of study, and will thus aid in the general 

 diffusion of knowledge, that Mr. Morris K. Jesup has commissioned 

 me to donate to your Society the specimen which you have given 

 such a distinguished place in your court of honor. The Diplodocus 

 represents one of Nature's final efforts towards the establishment 

 of physical supremacy. For many millions of years after the age 

 of these gigantic reptiles Nature pursued a different ideal until it 

 is our good fortune to live at a time when intelligence conquers 

 over mere bodily strength and when right and justice prevail over 

 brute force. 



Second, as a delegate from the American Museum of Natural 

 History to the dedicatory exercises of a sister institution, I bring 

 most cordial greetings. 



The present is not an era of educational museums — it is the 

 beginning of an era. 



Museums there are, and museums there have been, — reposi- 

 tories of objects of art and science, structures often of archi- 

 tectural beauty, and frequented by seekers after information. 

 Generally such institutions have exerted even a passive educa- 

 tional influence and have been mildly stimulative of scientific effort. 

 It is only recently that they have become active instruments of 

 instruction and aggressive agencies for the promotion of science. 

 The museum of the past has been used for the installation of 

 scientific specimens. The museum of the future will add to this 

 the instillation of scientific ideas. 



Scientific research and educational activity are indicative of 

 the culture of a community; they are considered by civilized 

 people as commendable and as worthy of support. Therefore, 

 there is ample reason for the belief that we are at the beginning 

 of a period of museum development that, properly directed, will 

 mean a great deal for science, for art, and for education. Proper 

 direction recognizes among other things the relations between the 

 community and the institution as well as the relations between 

 the institution and the community. 



Fortunate is the scientific museum the growth of which oc- 

 curs under the combined influence of men of science and men 

 of affairs. I congratulate you that upon your assumption of larger 

 responsibilities this combination already exists. 



