August i i, 1904] 



NA TURE 



543 



THE BRITISH SCIENCE GUILD. 



AX Dr^anisation is being- formed, under the name 

 of the British Science Guild, with the object of 

 insisting upon the importance of applying scientific 

 methods to every branch of the affairs of the nation. 

 A memorandum whicli describes briefly the objects, 

 methods, and proposed organisation of the ("luild is 

 now being circulated, and is as follows : — 



It has been a frequent subject of comment that, 

 although the contribution of this country to the pro- 

 gress of science has been second to that of no other 

 nation, the English people do not manifest that interest 

 in. .md belief in the powers of science which is notice- 

 able among the peoples of the Continent, or of .America. 

 In spite of the efforts of many years, the scientific 

 spirit, essential to all true progress, is still too rare, 

 and, indeed, is often s,-idly lacking in some of 

 those who are responsible for the proper conduct 

 of many of the nation's activities. It is with the 

 view of attempting to remedy this evil, and to bring 

 home to all classes the necessity of applying scientific 

 treatment to affairs of all kinds, that the proposal is 

 m;ide to bring together those convinced of this 

 necessity by founding " The British Science Guild." 



The objects and organisation of the Guild, which 

 will be entirely disconnected from party politics, are as 

 follows : — 



Objects. 



(1) To bring together as members of the Guild all 

 those throughout the Empire interested in science and 

 scientific method, in order, by joint action, to convince 

 the people, by means of publications and meetings, of 

 the necessity of applying the methods of science to all 

 branches of human endeavour, and thus to further the 

 progress and increase the welfare of the Empire. 



(2) To bring before the Government the scientific 

 aspects of all matters affecting the national welfare. 



13) To promote and extend the application of scien- 

 tific principles to industrial and general purposes. 



(4) To promote scientific education by encouraging 

 the support of universities and other institutions where 

 the bounds of science are extended, or where new 

 applications of science are devised. 



Methods of Attaining these Objects. 



{a} By publications. 

 (6j B}- meetings. 



(c) By conferences and lectures. 



(d) By deputations. 



Organis.mion. 

 .Admission of Members. 

 All British subjects, both men and women, are 

 eligible for membership of the Guild; it is expected, 

 however, that its members will be recruited principally 

 fiom the following : — 

 The House of Lords. 

 The House of Commons. 

 Colonial Legislatures. 

 County, District, Borough, and Parish Councils; 



.Municipalities; Educational Committees. 

 Scientific and Literary Societies and Organi- 

 sations. 

 Commercial and Industrial Chambers and Organi- 

 sations. 

 The Learned Professions. 

 Universities, Colleges, Educational Bodies and 



Graduates of all British Universities. 

 Representatives of Labour. 



.\t a meeting of the promoters of the Guild, held, by 

 permission of the officers, at the rooms of the Royal 

 Society on .\pril 20, it was decided that the steps pre- 



NO. 18 I 5, VOL. 70] 



liminarv to the formation of the Guild should be takem 

 by an organising committee, of which the following 

 were apoointed members, with power to add to their 

 number : — 



Lord Avebury, F.R.S. 



Prof. W. E. Ayrton, F.R.S. 



Sir George Sydenham Clarke, K.C.M.G., F.R.S. 



Captain E. W. Creak, R.N., C.B., F.R.S. 



Mr. Clive Cuthbertson. 



Dr. Willum Garnett. 



.Mr. Sidney Lee. 



Sir Norman Lockyer, K.C.B., F.R.S. 



Lady Lockyer. 



.Mr. N. Maccoll. 



Prof. Raphael Meldola, F.R.S. 



Sir Gilbert Parker, M.P. 



Prof. J. Perry, F.R.S. 



Sir Willum Ramsay, K.C.B., F.R.S. 



Dr. W. N. Shaw, F.R.S. 



Prof. S. P. Thompson, F'.R.S. 



Dr. .Augustus Waller, F.R.S. 



Sir Henry Trueman Wood. 

 The organising committee has elected Sir Normans 

 Lockyer president. Lord .\vebury honorary treasurer, 

 Ladv Lockyer honorarv assistant treasurer, and Mr. 

 C. Cuthbertson honorary secretary. 



It was resolved that life members of the Guild shall 

 pay, on admission, two guineas, which includes a 

 registration fee of 2S. 6d., and that annual subscribers 

 shall pav, on admission, 55. , and in each subsequent 

 year 2S. 6d. It was also resolved that donations may 

 be accepted. 



The committee is now engaged in communicating 

 with those corporate bodies and individuals whose 

 support and svmpathy are desired. 



A general committee will be appointed, which will 

 subsequently select from among its members an 

 executive committee for the management of the affairs- 

 of the Guild. The executive committee will meet from 

 time to time as their chairman may direct, and will 

 formulate such rules as experience may suggest for 

 the approval of the general committee. 



The general committee will probably take power_ to 

 appoint or approve local and special committees, which 

 will act as branches of the Guild. 



The following have already signified their general-, 

 approval of the objects and proposed organisation of. 

 th= Guild : — 



The Right Hon. Lord .\lverstone, G.C.M.G. 



The Right Hon. Lord .\vebury, F.R.S. 



Prof, .\yrton, F.R.S. 



Sir John Wolfe-Barry, K.C.B., F.R.S. 



Dr. W. T. Blanford, F.R.S. 



Sir James Blyth, Bart. 



-Mr. Brabrook, C.B. 



Sir (iEORGE Birdwood, K.C.I. E. 



Sir John Brunner, Bart. 



Sir Lauder Brunton, F.R.S. 



NLajor-General Sir Owen Tudor Burne, G.C.LE., 



Sir Edward Busk. 



Mr. R. H. Caird. 



Sir William Church, Bart., K.C.B. 



Sir George Sydenham Clarke, K.C.M.G., F.R.S. 



The Hon. Sir John Cockburn, K.C.ALG. 



Captain Creak, R.N., C.B., F.R.S. 



.Mr. Clive Cuthbertson. 



Prof. W. E. Daley. 



Dr. Ferrier, F.R.S. 



Sir Michael Foster, 'SUP., F.R.S. 



Dr. William Garnett. 



Sir .\rchibald Geikie, F.R.S. 



Sir Robert Giffen, K.C.B., F.R.S. 



Mr. Hammond-Chambers, K.C. 



Prof. Herdman, F.R.S. 



Prok. J. Larmor, F.R.S. 



Dr. Sidney Lee. 



