ii TRUTH AND TESTIMONY 29 



The pursuit of truth is likely to last as long as the 

 generations of mankind, for rightly understood it signifies 

 the quest for knowledge. In scientific truth there is 

 no finality, and there should, therefore, be no dogmatism. 

 When this is forgotten, then science will become stagnant, 

 and its high-priests will endeavour to strangle new 

 learning at its birth as has been done by the guardians 

 of orthodoxy throughout the ages. 



Since life began upon the earth, there has been a 

 gradual development into new and nobler forms. In 

 size and strength, many animals are mightier than man ; 

 but he is supreme over them because of his knowledge. 

 Every conquest of science brings the human race nearer 

 the day when it will have complete control over the 

 forces of Nature and be able to use them for its own 

 purposes. There must be no resting satisfied with 

 achievements, but persistent endeavour to enter the 

 unknown and bring back trophies from it. The talents 

 with which we are entrusted must be given up with 

 increase ; so that, as one generation succeeds another, 

 its store of knowledge shall be greater. The man who 

 neglects to assist the advancement of his race so far as 

 in him lies is like the slothful servant who buried his 

 talent in the ground ; and he should receive a like 

 condemnation. 



If we merely pass on what we receive the human race 

 cannot develop onward and upward until man is " a little 

 lower than the angels." We shall be like certain little 

 brachiopods or "lamp-shells," which have remained 

 unchanged in form for millions of years, being practi- 

 cally the same in the seas of to-day as they were in those 

 of early geological times. While throughout countless 

 ages the living world has been unfolding from lower 

 to higher forms of life, these molluscan types have 



