THE FUNCTIONS OF A UNIVERSITY 231 



acquisition and utilisation of 'power/ but in his case it is 

 his object to direct mechanical and electrical power so as 

 to add to the convenience of the public. A machine is an 

 instrument for converting heat or electrical energy into 

 what is termed ' kinetic energy,' and it is with the laws 

 and modes of this conversion that he has to deal. Such 

 abstract sciences as chemistry, physics, and geology, 

 therefore, are studied as means to an end ; not for their 

 own sakes. They afford him a glimpse of the principles 

 on which his engineering practice is based ; and mathe- 

 matics is essential in order that he may be able to apply 

 physical principles to the practical problems of his pro- 

 fession. 



We see, then, that a University, as it at present exists, 

 provides, or may provide, technical instruction for theo- 

 logians, for lawyers, for medical men, and for engineers. 

 It is, in fact, an advanced technical school for these 

 subjects. 



But it is more, and I believe that its chief function lies 

 in the kind of work which I shall attempt now to describe. 

 The German Universities possess what they term a 

 ' Philosophical Faculty ' ; and this phrase is to be accepted 

 in the derivational meaning of the word a faculty 

 which loves wisdom or learning. The watchword of the 

 members of this faculty is Research; the searching out 

 the secrets of Nature, to use a current phrase ; or the 

 attempt to create new knowledge. The whole machinery 

 of the Philosophical Faculty is devised to achieve this 

 end ; the selection of the teachers, the equipment of the 

 laboratories and libraries, the awarding of the degrees. 



What are the advantages of research ? Much is heard 

 nowadays regarding the necessity of state provision for 

 its encouragement, and the Government places at the 

 disposal of the Royal Society a sum of no less than 4000 

 a year, which is distributed in the form of grants to 



