130 MICHIGAN STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE 



economic progress, are convincing evidences that the outlook 

 to Nature's methods is earnest and widespread. 



The serious side of this world-wide movement is the conviction 

 that science is a trustworthy guide in directing our activities. 

 In all ages man has been prone to seek the guidance of authority. 

 He listened in faith to the prophets, sought the counsel of the 

 ancient oracles, accepted the dogmas of the church as arbitrating 

 all truth, both temporal and spiritual, and has been the dupe of 

 the necromancer and the faker. But now we have turned to 

 science and, excepting in things spiritual, it utters the final word. 

 To be sure there are still those who scoff at the scientific man as 

 unworthy of confidence, sometimes with good reason, but on the 

 other hand, many trust him over much and behave toward his 

 utterances as though they are infallible. Comparatively few 

 use knowledge in a discriminating way; indeed few are qualified 

 to do so, for in this, as in many other weighty matters, the masses 

 walk by faith and not by sight. If, then, science is the oracle 

 of today, what a grave responsibility attends its teachings ! He 

 who assumes to interpret Nature must reckon not only with 

 truth but with his fellow-man whose welfare is to be safeguarded. 



This is more than a fancied obligation. Science has come to 

 be closely concerned with the large affairs of human life and 

 activity. It lays its compelling hands upon Nature's great forces, 

 directs agriculture and the industries, designs machinery, builds 

 bridges, protects health and prolongs life, feeds the intellect, 

 is a theme for literature, and essays to invade the great mysteries 

 of religion and the future life. Its conclusions guide our voca- 

 tions, are the dicta of the classroom, and are proclaimed as truth 

 from the platform and pulpit. 



How intimately, too, has science laid hold upon our individual 

 lives ! It has greatly increased our comforts and intensified our 

 pleasures. Whether we travel abroad or abide at home, we are 

 the subjects of its beneficence. Indeed, it has also entered into 

 our anxieties concerning our most serious relations. When we 



