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CHAPTER VII 



SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTIONS 



GREAT ideas spring from individual brains, but a coin 

 bination of brains working through scientific organi- 

 zations may perform important functions in stimulating 

 research, accumulating material or carrying out experiments 

 which are beyond the means of one man. An organization 

 is generally called into existence for a particular purpose, 

 but to be permanently successful its constitution must be 

 sufficiently elastic to allow a change of methods or even of 

 aims when the original need has ceased to be urgent or 

 fresh requirements have appeared. This elasticity has, 

 indeed, been a distinguishing feature of our own scientific 

 institutions, which have generally been able to adapt them- 

 selves to the changing circumstances of the time. 



The origin of the Royal Society of London may be traced 

 to weekly meetings of men engaged in philosophical enquiries, 

 who came together to discuss questions of scientific interest. 

 These meetings began about 1645. A few years later 

 some of the members moved to Oxford, and independently 

 met in that University. The London meetings were inter- 

 rupted in 1658, owing to political troubles ; but, after the 

 return of Charles II., it was decided to establish a more 

 formal organization. A society was then formed which 

 met at Gresham College; the King became interested in 

 its work, with the result that it obtained a charter in 1662, 

 with the title of " The Royal Society." Further privileges 

 were given in a second charter, 1 which was granted and 

 signed on May 13th, 1663, and the regular activity of the 



1 The second charter confers the present title : " The Royal 

 Society of London," and adds its purpose : "for promoting Natural 

 Knowledge (pro scientia natural! promo venda)." 



