Tue Kines Counry Branco oF THE Nova ScoTiIAN INSTITUTE OF 
Science: OUTLINE OF PuRPOSES AND AIMS OF THE SOCIETY.— 
By Proressor Ernest Haycock, Acadia College, Wolfville. 
The Kings County Branch of the Nova Scotian Institute of Science 
was organized on May 29th, 1901. The society was formed primarily 
to meet the needs of such Kings County members of the Institute of 
Science as were unable to attend the meetings of the parent society 
at Halifax, and who believed that much personal encouragement and 
stimulus was to be derived from the meetings of such a_ society, 
Furthermore it was believed that there were many others, young and 
old, who might be brought within the sphere of its influence, and that 
the scientific spirit would be stimulated and knowledge disseminated 
by such an organization. 
The highest work in science is investigation of the unknown. By 
such investigation new facts are brought to light and added to the 
existing sum of knowledge, to be handed down as the heritage of 
succeeding generations. The marvellous attainments of the nineteenth 
century, and the civilization of the present, as compared with that of 
the earlier centuries of the Christian era, are due to such an inherit- 
ance, and it is the duty as well as the pleasure of the present genera- 
tion to add its mite to this epitome of progress. The purpose of the 
parent society is to foster this investigating spirit in its members; 
and to add the results of their labors to the body of the world’s 
literature. This will be the chief object of the branch society also, 
and we believe that the papers presented at its meetings will show a 
definite and real accomplishment. 
As a rule the investigator needs considerable preliminary training, 
and a comprehensive knowledge of what is already known about his 
subject, in order to work to advantage, and achieve results that will 
be new to the world. The promoters of this society hope to provide 
this preparation, as far as lies in their power, and since it consists of 
two parts—Ist, training in power of observation, and 2nd, the 
acquisition of facts already known—the work of the society will like- 
wise consist of two parts, the presentation and discussion of the 
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