THE SEMI-CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY 35 



constitute themselves to be the judges of the work, of others? 

 The dead weight of such a society, brought to bear discreetly on 

 the exuberance of youth may have its uses, but it remains a 

 dead weight just the same. It should act as a brake on a too 

 fanciful imagination, but it can take no share in any real prog- 

 ress. If the academies are to fit themselves for the formation 

 of a really strong and fruit bearing association, they must be 

 bodies which, animated, as all of them now are, by the highest 

 and noblest ideals, strive at the same time to represent what is 

 best and most progressive in the scientific life within their range 

 of influence. 



Each country must solve its own difficulties, but in addressing 

 your National Academy which, though it holds today its first 

 jubilee, may still be called youthful, I may be forgiven if I 

 remind you that, while the older institutions may offer you much 

 that deserves to be admired and perhaps be imitated, you must 

 not mistake the signs of gray hairs for the stamp of an enviable 

 dignity. 



This, then, is my final summary. Ours is an age of organiza- 

 tion presenting many problems that can not be confined within 

 political boundaries. The demands of science have already 

 called into existence separate international associations, which 

 are efficiently performing their duties. Nevertheless the con- 

 tinued increase of their number is beginning to cause incon- 

 venience and is likely to hamper future developments unless 

 they can be united by some bond intended to co-ordinate their 

 work. The International Association of Academies stands out 

 as a natural body, fit to act as a central advisory authority. To 

 exercise that authority effectively, the academies must individ- 

 ually recognize their obligations to be truly representative of 

 the most healthy and vigorous portion of the scientific life of 

 their country. It is because I believe in the vitality of the 

 academies and in the power which an increased responsibility 

 will give them to check the danger of stagnation to which ancient 

 and dignified bodies are exposed, that I advocate the extension 

 of their activity and the more vigorous exercise of the dormant 



