228 ESSAYS BIOGRAPHICAL AND CHEMICAL 



ministered in daily doses to young men and young women, 

 but that the duty of the professors, assistant-professors, 

 teachers, and advanced students is to increase knowledge. 

 That is the chief function of a University to increase 

 knowledge. But it is not the only one. 



A University has always been regarded as a training 

 school for the ' learned professions,' i.e. for Theology, Law, 

 and Medicine. The terms of our charter have excluded 

 the first of these branches of knowledge. Founded as it 

 was in the 'twenties, when admission to Oxford or Cam- 

 bridge involved either belief in the tenets of the Church 

 of England, or insincerity, it was not possible to provide 

 courses in Theology which should be acceptable to Non- 

 conformists, Jews, and others who desired education. On 

 the whole, it appears to me better that a subject, about 

 which so much difference of opinion exists, should be 

 taught in a separate institution. There are many branches 

 of knowledge which can be adequately discussed without 

 intruding into any sphere of religious controversy ; and, 

 indeed, it would be difficult, I imagine, to treat mathe- 

 matics or chemistry from a sectarian standpoint. I, at 

 least, have never tried. There are subjects which may be 

 placed on the border-line, for example, Philosophy; but 

 such subjects, and they are few in number, might well 

 form part of the curriculum of the theological college, if 

 thought desirable. It is a thousand pities that instead 

 of founding King's College, a theological college had not 

 been established in the immediate neighbourhood of 

 University College ; it would have strengthened us, and it 

 would have tended, too, to the advantage of the Church 

 of England. However, what is done can't be undone; 

 and let us wish all prosperity to our sister college, and 

 a long and useful life. We are now friends, and have 

 been friends for many years. May that friendship long 

 continue ! 



