ADDRESS. 9 



The Necessity for a Body dealing with the Organisation of Science. 



The present awakening in relation to the nation's real needs is largely 

 due to the warnings of men of science. But Mr. Balfour's terrible Man- 

 chester picture of our present educational condition ^ shows that the 

 warning, which has been going on now for more than fifty years, has not 

 been forcible enough ; but if my contention that other reorganisations 

 besides that of our education are needed is well founded, and if men of 

 science are to act the part of good citizens in taking their share in 

 endeavouring to bring about a better state of things, the question arises, 

 Has the neglect of their warnings so far been due to the way in which 

 these have been given 1 



Lord Rosebery, in the address to a Chamber of Commerce from which 

 I have already quoted, expressed his opinion that such bodies do not 

 exercise so much influence as might be expected of them. But if com- 

 mercial men do not use all the power their organisation provides, do they 

 not by having built up such an organisation put us students of science to 

 shame, who are still the most disorganised members of the community ? 



Here, in my opinion, we have the real reason why the scientific needs 

 of the nation fail to command the attention either of the public or of 

 successive Governments. At present, appeals on this or on that behalf 

 are the appeals of individuals ; science has no collective voice on the 

 larger national questions ; there is no organised body which formulates 

 her demands. 



During many years it has been part of my duty to consider such 

 matters, and I have been driven to the conclusion that our great crying 

 need is to bring about an organisation of men of science and all interested 

 in science similar to those which prove so effective in other branches of 

 human activity. For the last few years I have dreamt of a Chamber, 

 Guild, League, call it what you will, with a wide and large membership, 

 which should give us what, in my opinion, is so urgently needed. Quite 

 recently I sketched out such an organisation, but what was ray astonish- 

 ment to find that I had been forestalled, and by the founders of the British 

 Association ! 



21ie British Association such a Body, 



At the commencement of this Address I pointed out that one of the 

 objects of the Association, as stated by its founders, was ' to obtain a 

 more general attention to the objects of science and a removal of any 

 disadvantages of a public kind which impede its progress.' 



Everyone connected with the British Association from its beginning 



' ' The existing educational system of this country is chaotic, is ineSectual, is 

 utterly behind the age, makes us the laughing-stock of every advanced nation in 

 Europe and America, puts us behind, not only our American cousins, but the German 

 and the Frenchman and the Italian.' — Times, October 15, 1902. 



