SEMI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 133 



a series of advances and retrogressions, with the outposts of 

 knowledge steadily advancing. All this but emphasizes the 

 supreme importance of organizing inquiry on a thoroughgoing 

 basis, coupled with a judicious conservatism in the formulation 

 of conclusions. 



If, then, what we call science is a mixture of truth and error, 

 of the enduring and the transient, by what standards shall we 

 measure its reliability? You will agree with me, I am sure, 

 when I state that wise critics estimate the value of scientific 

 deductions by their authorship. When new conclusions are 

 brought to our attention our first inquiry is for the name of the 

 author, and three factors enter into our judgment of him and 

 consequently of his work. These factors are, (i) his personal 

 equipment for investigation, (2) his motives or point of view, 

 and (3) his environment. 



The primary consideration is the man. It is a fundamental 

 fact which should receive greater emphasis, that what is presented 

 to us for truth takes form in the human mind and the quality of 

 what we are asked to believe bears a close relation to the develop- 

 ment and equipment of the producing intellect. Unripe minds 

 will inevitably produce unripe science, and while intellectual 

 conquests are won of which we are proud and that bear ripened 

 fruit, much so-called science is being forced upon our attention 

 today that is as unripe and unassimilable as the proverbial green 

 persimmon. 



The man-side of research is emphasized at this time because, 

 in my judgment, it is not sufficiently considered in our develop- 

 ment and support of the work of inquiry. This development 

 must begin with the preparation of men properly fitted to con- 

 duct research that is worthy of the name, and until this is accom- 

 plished other means, such as money, buildings, and apparatus, 

 are inefficiently and wastefully applied. Material equipment 

 is subsidiary to the intellectual. The normal and only success- 

 ful order of procedure in this, as in every other effort, is first an 



