450 
NATORE 
[ Oct. 6, 1870 
towards scientific research. This week, in a similar 
manner, we desire to call the attention of our readers 
to some proceedings which took place on the 23rd ult. 
in Manchester. This we do because of the great interest 
these proceedings have to all scientific men, both on 
account of the ultimate benefit science generally will 
attain through them, and also on account of some one 
or two very remarkable speeches made on the occasion. 
The laying of the foundation-stone of the new Owens 
College building by the Duke of Devonshire, its newly 
elected president, is an event of national importance. For 
in it we see elearly—and such is the view held by all the 
professors and governors of that institution—the beginning 
of the great Scientific University of the North of England. 
Owens College was founded some twenty years ago by 
the munificent bequest of Mr. John Owens, a Manchester 
merchant of the old school, who left his money to found 
an endowment for the promotion of learning in his native 
town of Manchester. He was wise enough to stipulate 
that his money should not be employed fer any building 
purposes, but solely towards educational purposes, leaving 
it to his fellow-townsmen to provide the house accommoda- 
tion. This was done at first on a.small scale, but Owens 
College has been from that time gradually increasing in 
numbers year by year, until a few years ago it was found 
absolutely necessary that new buildings should be obtained 
to meet the constantly augmenting number of students, 
Subscriptions were immediately set on foot, and in a short 
time something like,130,000/. was raised. With this the 
present buildings have been undertaken. On Friday week 
the foundation-stone was laid by the Duke of Devonshire, 
in the presence of the; Bishop of Manchester, Professor 
Huxley, Professor Tyndall, and all the professors and 
governors, and the chief notabilities of Manchester. In 
the address presented to the Duke of Devonshire, it is 
stated that the projected buildings will provide for 600 
day students, and a much larger number of evening 
students, and will include both chemical and physical 
laboratories. The architect, Mr. Waterhouse, has provided 
for the permanent accommodation of the Natural History 
and Geological Museums, presented by the late Manchester 
Natural History Society and the Manchester Geological 
Society, and also forthe large library and various lecture 
and examination rooms. 
The Duke of Devonshire, in laying the stone, remarked 
that he looked upon this day as one very celebrated in 
the annals of Manchester, and one destined to make 
Manchester more and more renowned at no distant date, 
as possessing a college second to none in England, and 
one which would become the centre of the scientific culture 
of the north of England. No year passes without some 
considerable benefactions being made to the college, and 
as fast as funds accumulate, new prcfessorships in all 
branches of science are being founded, and the college 
has already become one of quite national importance. 
Professor Huxley and Professor Tyndall also spoke, 
the former congratulating the town on the great results it 
has attained without any State aid, this State aid having 
been refused, and showing the great benefits which could 
not fail to attend the increased college accommodation in 
the great manufacturing and mining district all round 
Manchester; and the latter showing that the past work 
achieved by the eminent end able professors of the 
college was a sure guarantee of the work which would be 
done in the future. 
The proceedings wound up with a luncheon in the 
Town Hall, at which the most remarkable speech of the 
day was delivered by the Bishop of Manchester, Dr. Frazer. 
In replying to the toast of the Bishop of Manchester and 
the clergy of all denominations, he said he had no hesita- 
tion in replying to this toast, as Owens College had been 
founded for educational purposes, without any reference 
to special religious bodies, and he continued— 
“T take a very large, broad, and comprehensive view of 
what is meant by Truth. I believe that everybody who 
earnestly seeks to propagate the truth, to preach the truth 
in the largest sense of the word, is doing good to his 
fellow men, I never believed that true Science is contrary 
to true Religion, or that true Religion ought to be afraid of 
any legitimate consequences of true Science. I know well, 
and the knowledge makes me speak with some tremulous- 
ness, that I am in the presence of those who are con- 
sidered to be, and who have established their right to be 
considered to be, the ablest interpreters of the laws and 
phenomena of the physical and material world. I cordially 
welcome those gentlemen as teachers and propounders 
of the truth. If scientific men will only believe 
that we, the clergy of this kingdom, are not sceptics in 
disguise, or charlatans trying to palm off upon the world 
something that has been found to fail ; if they will only 
believe that we want to tread calmly, step after step, 
where we find our remedies have succeeded, I think they 
will allow that we are searching after truth, the only truth 
I care to find—practical truth—truth that will elevate. 
man in the scale of being—and I think they will admit 
that we are trying to follow out truth by strictly scientific 
metkods. I do not care from what source it comes ; 
I will welcome every means which is calculated to 
settle the disputed boundaries between Religion and 
Science, and show that both alike, in their legitimate 
province, minister to, and help to bind up the great temple 
of Truth.” 
The fearlessness with which the Bishop thought it his 
duty to speak out, would, if followed throughout the whole 
of England, serve to overthrow that unfortunate antago- 
nism there is at present between Religion and Science, 
founded on an entire misconception.of the aims and the 
value of the latter as compared to the former. 
The further proceedings on this interesting occasior 
were the delivery of some very instructive speeches by 
Profs. Huxley and Tyndall, andalso by Prof. Henry, of the 
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, which, however, 
our space prevents us from further noticing. Certain it 
is, however, that the proceedings of the opening day are 
such as every scientific man throughout the kingdom will 
welcome with pleasure, and we cannot doubt that a report 
of them will be interesting to our readers. We hope that 
this occasion will inaugurate a new era for science, and 
will serve .to bind together in the strongest bands those 
untiring workers in the pursuit of truth, whether they be 
scientific men or the clergy of all denominations. 
The present Government has so far entirely refua d to 
assist Owens College by any grant of money similar to 
that which a few years ago fell to the share of Glasgow 
University. The Government alleges that since the Man- 
chester merchants have done so much for the college 
