16 



of thought M hich really underlies them all and which binds them f^ the 

 together into a consistent whole. To quote again from one who i(Hpfcion is 

 done so much to place the study of Natural History on a true basishe Jii"h a 

 " If I mistake not," says Prof. Agassiz, " the great object of ,^ obscuri 

 museums should be to exhibit the whole animal Idngdom as a manhjg notice 

 talion of the Supreme Intellect. Scientific investigation in ourc 3JutIr 

 shoiJd be inspired by a purpose as animating to the general sympa gj^. I ] 

 as was the religious zeal which built the cathedral of Cologne or :; i^^iains 

 Basilica of St. Peters. The time is passed when men expressed tlx^e the 

 deepest convictions by these wonderful and beaut if id religious edifictM|i«inost 

 but it is my hope to see, with the progress of intellectual cultiil||j> to do 

 a structure arise among us which may be a temple of the reAelatiijudple g 

 w ritten in the material universe. If this be so, our biuldings for si;!oniells ( 

 an object can never be too comprehensive, for they are to embrace .n^; that i 

 infinite work of Infinite Wisdom. They can never be too costly, so hall be r 

 as secures permanence and solidity, for they are to contain the uiiure, prid 

 instructive documents of Omnipotence."' 



It is this recognition of Creative Thought as underlying the mate- 

 universe, and to wliich we endeaAor to give expression in the arraii, 

 ment of our cabinets, which, as it seems to me, affords the most fitt; 

 ansx^er to those who see in the work of the naturalist only a tendei 

 to materialism, a deification as it is often termed, of Nature its I 



Naturalists do indeed deify Nature, but only in the sense that in ft may 

 they recognize the constant presence and controlling power of a i:'eni8ed. 

 Deity above and beyond Nature, and not power only but an intiihemselvi 

 wisdom and beneficence, the attributes of God as expressed in orgiJoiTersi 

 and inorganic forms. Witliout such a recognition, without the ideai^ith incr 

 something apart from and above all material things, our coUeoti^ objei 

 become not useless oiJy l)ut meaningless — their systematic arraiifom my 

 ment to which I have referred, and which is but a reflection of "The 

 perfect order which pervades the Universe, would be impossible ; Joiversi 

 contrivances, so simple, so varied, and yet so perfect, by which <ionume 

 different forms of animal and vegetable life are adapted to their vari**®** ^' 

 and very diverse conditions, woidd loose the greater part of their intert";^ 

 for they coidd then be regarded only as the work of chance ; the uijwMi of n 

 veUous relics of the past woidd cease to interest us, for they could t!iiportant| 

 have no bearing upon the present or the future ; the whole of Nati«thescoij 

 in short, would become a mere chaotic mass of facts, without ei'drf* is wi 

 purpose, method or coherence. With such a recognition on the ot«i«»tioif 



