214 Promotion of Research by Local Societies. 



Council of the Birmingham Philosophical Society in 

 accordance with the following : 



" SCHEME FOR ESTABLISHING AND ADMINISTERING 



A FUND FOR THE 

 ENDOWMENT OF RESEARCH IN BIRMINGHAM." 



" The Council are of opinion that this Society 

 would be omitting a principal means of the advance- 

 ment of Science the end for which all such associa- 

 tions exist if it neglected the question of the 

 Endowment of Research. To maintain a successful 

 investigator in his labours, even though no results of 

 immediate or obvious utility can be shown to spring 

 out of them, is of interest to the community at large. 

 Indeed, it is just because the practical usefulness of 

 such work is not immediate or obvious that it becomes 

 necessary to give it special support, for otherwise it 

 would have its own market value, and endowment 

 would be superfluous. But the proper and effectual 

 administration of an Endowment Fund is perceived 

 to be so beset with difficulty, as often to deter even 

 those who recognise the principle from advocating it 

 in practice. Most of the dangers usually foreseen 

 would, however, as a rule be avoided, simply by the 

 distribution of such funds from local centres, under 

 such a scheme as is now proposed. The Council, are 

 therefore, anxious to establish a Fund, in connection 

 at once with the Society and the Town, for the direct 

 Endowment of Scientific Research."* 



* See "Nature," vol. XXII, page 203. 



