IXXX KEPORT — 1873. 



one another; and he who aids directly the development of one o them is sure 

 to promote indirectly the consolidation of others. 



Each onward step in the search for truth has made us stronger for the 

 work ; and when we look back upon what has been done by the efforts of so 

 many workers simply but steadily directed by truth towards further truth, 

 we see that they have achieved, for the benefit of the human race, the con- 

 quest of a systematic body of truths which encourages men to similar efforts 

 while affording them the most effectual aid and guidance. 



This lesson of the inherent vitality of truth, which is taught us so clearly 

 by the history of our science, is well worthy of the consideration of those who, 

 seeing that iniquity and falsehood so frequently triumph for a while in the 

 struggle for existence, are inclined to take a desponding view of human affairs, 

 and almost to despair of the ultimate predominance of truth and goodness. 

 I beheve it would be impossible at the present time to form an adequate 

 idea of the vast consequences which will follow from the national adop- 

 tion of systematic measures for allowing our knowledge of truth to develope 

 itself freely, through the labours of those who are wUling and able to devote 

 themselves to its service, so as to strengthen more and more the belief and 

 trust of mankind in its guidance, in small matters as Avell as in the highest 

 and most important considerations. 



T am desirous of describing briefly the more important of those measures ; 

 but first let me mention another habit of mind which naturally follows from 

 the effective pursuit of truth, — a habit which might be described in general 

 terms as the application to other matters of the truthfulness imparted by 

 science. 



The words which the great German poet put into the mouth of Mephisto- 

 pheles when describing himself to Faust, afford perhaps the most concise and 

 forcible statement of what we may call the anti-scientific spirit : — 



„ Icli bin der Geist der stets verneint, 

 Dem alles, was entsteht, zuwider 1st." 



The true spirit of science is certainlj' affirmative, not negative ; for, as I men- 

 tioned just now, its history teaches us that the development of our knowledge 

 usually takes place through two or more simultaneous ideas of the same phe- 

 nomenon, quite different from one another, both of which ultimately prove to 

 be parts of some more general truth ; so that a confident belief in one of those 

 ideas docs not involve or justify a denial of the others. 



I could give you many remarkable illustrations of this law from among 

 ideas familiar to Chemists. But I want you to consider with me its bearing 

 on the habit of mind called toleration, of which the development in modern 

 times is perhaps one of the most hopeful indications of moral improvement 

 in man. 



In working at our science we simply try to find out what is true ; for 

 although no usefulness is to be found at first in most of our results, we know 

 well that every extension of our knowledge of truth is sure to prove useful in 

 manifold ways. So regular an attendant is usefulness upon truth in our 

 work, that wc get accustomed to expect them always to go together, and to 

 believe that there must be some amount of truth wherever there is manifest 

 usefulness. 



The history of human ideas, so far as it is written in the records of the 

 progress of science, abounds with instances of men contributing powerfully to 

 the development of important general ideas, by their accurate and conscien- 

 tious experiments, while at the same time professing an actual disbelief in 



