46 



NA TURE 



[July 14. 1923 



The success of this method adopted for the creation 

 of a highly qualified and well-acknowledged directorate 

 has been most evident, conspicuous alike in home 

 employment and in foreign and colonial engagement. 

 Certain broad principles have been laid down and 

 enforced to ensure that a course of study, coupled with 

 practical training properly supervised, has produced 

 a satisfactory and prescribed result, and, in order to 

 maintain for the corporate body a voice of accepted 

 authority, the strictest conditions of admission have 

 been enforced. 



Until recently it has been with this part of the 

 problem of training that the great engineering and 

 chemical institutions have been principally concerned. 

 Realising the vast potentialities and responsibilities of 

 their professions, they have rightly demanded from 

 those desirous of entering the highest qualifications 

 obtainable. The direction of scientific industry has 

 risen to demand the fullest knowledge of the relevant 

 sciences ; and it is to ensure the possession of this 

 knowledge that each institution, jealous of its entrants, 

 has laid down examinational tests which have been 

 carefully considered by practical experts, and bear 

 considerable weight in the formulation of higher 

 schemes of study. 



In every industry, however, it has to be recognised 

 that success 'comes not alone through the guidance of 

 a trained, well-informed, and open-eyed directorate, but 

 that there must be also an adequate supply of skilled 

 and educated under-oflficers and men. It is therefore 

 of the greatest interest to notice the recent extension 

 of activity of several of these high professional associa- 

 tions, which, with the assistance and active co-opera- 

 tion of the Board of Education, have now taken within 

 their purview schemes of study and examination 

 whereby opportunity of close association with the 

 professional body is given to those skilled or scientific 

 workers who are ready to devote the time requisite 

 to follow an approved course of theoretical study, 

 which for the National Certificates may be taken in 

 evening or part-time classes. 



It is to be hoped that this further advance, recognis- 

 ing unity of interest and consequent inter-dependence 

 between the professional worker and those actually 

 engaged in the operations of production, may lead to 

 the creation of a band of officers of industry, competent 

 to undertake the effective direction of one or more of 

 the many departments into which the fabric of a great 

 industrial undertaking is now divided, or to come 

 forward to take charge at a call of emergency. 



There can be no doubt that we have in this new and 



wider outlook, which has been brought about by wise 



co-operation of the highest representatives of our great 



industries with the Board of Education, a possibility 



NO. 2802, VOL. 112] 



of most far-reaching consequence, likely not only to 

 influence with advantage the whole provision of relevant 

 educational opportunity, but also to produce a far 

 wider moral and psychological effect upon the worker, 

 who will in this way be able to see opportunity of 

 clearer relationship within one body between the man 

 of directing professional qualification and himself. 



British scientific industry has often in the past 

 suffered from want of this association, and it is to be 

 hoped that other professional institutions with in- 

 dustrial purpose may feel able to follow the enlightened 

 example of those which have instituted a movement 

 likely to bear the best of fruit. 



A special feature of the schemes of collaboration 

 so far arranged by the Institution of Mechanical 

 Engineers, the Institution of Electrical Engineers, and 

 the Institute of Chemistry with the Board of Education 

 for the issue of National Certificates and Diplomas is 

 the guarantee of standard \-ouched for by the appro- 

 priate institution in conjunction with the Board, along 

 with the allowance of reasonable variation in arrange- 

 ment of the subject-matter of the approved courses 

 to ensure satisfaction of the needs of local trade 

 specialisation. The examinations are conducted 

 locally but under the surveillance of appointed central 

 assessors. Certificates and Diplomas thus authenticated 

 should be able to claim world-wide acceptance of value 

 where similar work is required to be undertaken, while 

 the schemes should give to the several institutions a 

 most valuable means of encouragement towards the 

 training of the higher grades of supervisory workers. 



Evolution and Christian Faith. 



(i) Evolution and, Christian Faith. By Prof. H. H. 

 Lane. Pp. xi-l-214. (Princeton: Princeton Uni- 

 versity Press ; London : Oxford University Press, 

 1923.) 95. net. 



(2) Origin and Evolution of Religion. By Prof. E. 

 Washburn Hopkins. Pp. v 4-370. (New Haven: 

 Yale University Press ; London : Oxford University 

 Press, 1923.) 155. net. 



THE two books before us are of interest not only 

 in themselves but also as illustrating important 

 types of mental activity in America. Both books deal 

 with religion. Yet the author of one is a professor of 

 zoology and of the other a professor of Sanskrit. 

 Prof. Lane writes from the Christian point of view, 

 and combines an expert knowledge of biology with 

 religious earnestness. His work is the outcome of a 

 series of lectures in which he was asked by students 

 to describe the theory of evolution and the salient facts 

 on which it is based, and to discuss the eflect of accept- 



