PRESIDENTIAL ADDRHSS. 3 
beyond the facts he so industriously gathers together. Con- 
sciously, or unconsciously, he is helping to solve the riddle of 
the Universe by collecting evidence which may, perhaps, 
enable us to ascertain the laws which the Creator has im- 
_ posed upon His work. He is seeking the truth, partly, no 
‘doubt, out of curiosity, but partly because he feels that a 
knowledge of the truth is of the greatest importance to the 
human race. We can never know the whole truth about 
the Universe, but we can make an approximation to it; and 
we may even hope to get some dim idea of why it has been 
called into existence, and what is the purpose of its Creator. 
Thus, pure science culminates in a Natural Philosophy. 
That is, a philosophy buit up on an observational basis, 
which tries to harmonise and explain all observed facts. 
And this Natural Philosophy must, of course, vary with our 
knowledge, and get more and more precise as that knowledge 
increases.* 
We have lately heard a good deal about the strides made 
in applied science during the nineteenth century, and we 
are all agreed as to their importance. In pure science, also, 
we have heard much of another great feat of the last 
century, namely, the establishment of the theory of evolu- 
tion. In this case, all acknowledge its importance, but all 
are not agreed as to its meaning, and some still think its 
teaching to be decidedly hurtful. This is a subject to which 
I have given much thought for the last thirty years; during 
which time a great change has taken place in scientific 
opinion, and it is to this change that I wish to direct your 
attention this evening. It is quite possible that I may 
have over-estimated the growth of the change; for we, who 
live in the Southern Hemisphere, are not so advantageously 
placed for recognising contemporary scientific opinion as 
those who live nearer the centres of scientific activity. But, 
whether the change be slow or rapid, it is unquestionably 
going on, and there can be no doubt about its importance. 
I am quite aware that the theme I have selected is an 
ambitious one. But if our ideas are ever to crystallise 
into some definite shape, it is necessary that a general survey 
of the position should occasionally be made, and I do not 
know a better opportunity than the presidential address 
to an Association like this, where all branches of science are 
represented. I do not claim to speak with authority, nor do 
I wish to pose as a philosopher ; but I will give you a simple 
* The term “ Natural Ph losophy,”’ was formerly limited to the study we 
now call Physics ; but as this use has been altogether abandoned, I hope 
that I may be allowed to r vert to the still earlier and truer meaning of 
the term. 
