president's address SECTION D. 105 



Though soundly based on experience of its results and strongly 

 supported by the general predilection for prying into nature shown 

 by civilised man, it is yet liable to be questioned by prejudice or 

 negatived by that more contemptuous opponent Avhich in its 

 monopolising ignorance arrogates to itself the style of practical 

 common sense. A friendly feeling towards Science, rising into a 

 genuine delight in its intellectual charm, must antedate the emulation 

 ■which will, we may hope, direct an irrigating stream of new laborers 

 into our fields ; a vivid expectation of its matei-ial rewards must 

 precede the emulation which will suffer no one of our communities 

 to be long distanced by the rest, in their endeavor after that which 

 is even now seen to be the foundation of national leadership — pre- 

 eminence in the dominion of mind over matter. To foster this 

 feeling and this expectation is vmdeniably the fundamental purpose 

 of the body of which we are members. To this end our sections 

 invite their hosts to accompany them in their researches, to par- 

 ticipate in the discussions which at once enliven and enlighten their 

 proceedings, to criticise proposed applications of theory to practice, 

 to bring forward new discoveries or speculations of their own; for 

 all this they know to be the most efficient means of eliciting 

 curiosity, arousing interest, and demonstrating that Science claims 

 no more at their hands than she deserves Hut it is also a means 

 which may safely be left to those whose function it is to supply 

 our sections with the fruits of study. Whether he who is required 

 by his office to open the business of a section with an introductory 

 discourse should, like his colleagues, address himself on that 

 occasion to a subject of detail and therefore of limited interest 

 and not rather use the opportunity of aiding the cause in less 

 abstruse fashion by inviting the friends of the section to meditate 

 on themes of more general moment is, of course, a matter of 

 opinion. In adopting the latter course I may perhaps be laying 

 myself open to the charge of taking a too partial vicAV of the intent 

 of the Association ; still I am apt to think that by so doing I shall 

 best consult the interests we all have at heart. But, purposing 

 to speak for the moment on Some biological genei*alities alone, I 

 find myself under the necessity of soliciting the forbearance of 

 those among my hearers who will necessarily find what I have to 

 fsay trite and jejune. Perhaps their forbearance will be extended 

 to me the more contentedly if it should appear to them that in 

 this, as in other instances, it may be useful to have the memory 

 refreshed concerning matters with which we are perfectly familiar 

 but not always in mental contact. 



The unity, the continuity, and the nature of that which is the 

 one mine for biological exploitation — life — are among the many 

 questions which, on presentment, woxdd be likely to generate a 

 desire to know ho\v or to what extent they have been solved by 

 systematic inquiry. These may be chosen for consideration, 

 though it be with undue brevity. 



