60 THE KINGDOM OF MAN 



necessary knowledge of Nature. Those who enjoy great 

 influence in the affairs of the University tell us with 

 pride that Oxford not only determines what our best 

 schools shall teach, but has, as a main pre-occupation, 

 the education of statesmen, pro-consuls, leaders of the 

 learned professions, and members of parliament ! 

 Undoubtedly this claim is well-founded, and its truth 

 is the reason why we cannot be content with the 

 maintenance by the University of the compulsory study 

 of Greek and Latin, and the neglect to make the study 

 of Nature an integral and predominant part of every 

 man's education. 



To return to my original contention the knowledge 

 and control of Nature is Man's destiny and his greatest 

 need. To enable future leaders of the community to 

 comprehend this, to perceive what the knowledge and 

 control of Nature are, and what are the steps by which 

 they are gained and increased, is the duty of a great 

 University. To neglect this is to retard the approach 

 of well-being and happiness, and to injure humanity. 



I beg, finally, for toleration from those who do not 

 share my opinions. I am well aware that they are open 

 to the objection that they partake more of the nature of 

 dreams of the future than of practical proposals. 1 That, 



1 The practical steps which would correspond to the views enunciated 

 in this discourse are two. First, the formation of an educational 

 association to establish one or more schools and colleges in which 

 nature-knowledge and training in nature-searching should be the chief 

 masters to which attention would be given, whilst reasonable methods 

 would also be employed for implanting in the minds of the students a 

 love and understanding of literature and other forms or art. Those 

 who desired such an education for their children would support these 

 schools and colleges, just as in the days of Anglican exclusiveness the 

 Nonconformists and Roman Catholics supported independent educa- 

 tional institutions. The second practical step would be the formation 

 of a political union which would make due respect to efficiency, that is 



