BY 



Professor ARTHUR SCHUSTER, D.Sc, Sc.D., LL.D., Dr. es Sc, F.k.S. 



PRESIDENT. 



The Comvion Aims of Science and Humanity. 



Under the influence of the diversity of pursuits imposed upon us 

 by the conditions of modern life, different groups of the community — 

 men of business, men of science, philosophers, or artists — have acquired 

 detached and sometimes conflicting interests. Each group, impressed 

 by the importance of its own domain in the life of the nation, and 

 focussing its vision on small differences and temporary rivalries, was in 

 danger of losing tlie sense of mutual dependence. But in the shadow 

 of a great catastrophe it has been brought home to us that the clash 

 of interests is superficial, and the slender thread of union which 

 remained has grown into a solid bond. What is the fibre from which 

 the bond is twined? Patriotism may express its outward manifestation, 

 but its staple is the mental relationship which remains continuous and 

 dominant even in normal times, when each of us may peacefully go to 

 earn his living and enjoy the course of his intellectual life. 



Outwardly the community is divided into heterogeneous elements 

 with mental attitudes cast in different moulds, and proceeding along 

 separate roads by differing methods to different ideals. Yet as we 

 eliminate the superficial, and regard only the deep-seated emotions which 

 control our thoughts and actions, the differences vanish, and the unity 

 of purpose and sentiment emerges more and more strongly. Mind and 

 character, no doubt, group themselves into a number of types, but the 

 cleavage runs across, and not along, the separating line of professions. 



Were it otherwise, the Britisli Association could not perform one of 

 its most important functions — a function not, indeed, originally contem- 

 plated, but resulting indirectly from the wise and democratic provisions 

 in its constitution, which enabled it to adapt itself to the changing needs 

 of the time. Our founders primarily considered the interests of scientific 

 men; their outlook was restricted and exclusive, both as regards range 



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