CORRESPONDING SOClfi'rllilS!. 581 



;jot knd themselves to these developments, new institutions might bo started 

 on more liberal and democratic lines. And all these different bodies might be 

 linked together in their turn. As a matter of fact, this Annual Confcrenre 

 of Corresponding Societies, in some respects, might well be taken as a sort 

 of working model. It is, at any rate, an admirable illustration. A number 

 of societies with cognate aims, each busy witlr its own activities and mana,ging 

 its own affairs, unite for consultation by sending delegates to a central meeting, 

 which appoints ite own officials and brings the various scattered units inti> 

 closer touch. That, according to my view, is federation. The process simply 

 needs extending, the Annual Conference developing into a definite system of 

 continuous co-operation, and the scheme I advocate, in one particular depart- 

 ment of our intellectual activity, at any rate, is actually achieved. 



But why should we stop at this? Literature and Art are the ' beautiful, 

 but ineffectual, angels ' who have too long been ' beating in the void their 

 luminous wings in vain.' They want to 'plump their exquisite proportions 

 on bread and butter;' to apply a little practical common sense to their methods. 



Tims I end where I began. If in the simple principle of ' imion for 

 common purposes and liberty in matters of separate concern ' we may unite our 

 forces for social progress and imperial safety ; may harmonise the claims of 

 nationality and empire ; of human brotherhood and patriotic pride in our own 

 kind ; of separate worship and of the great common faith ; if it will subdue the 

 strife of races and the clash of creeds, till 



' All in their unlikeness blend 

 Confederate to one golden end,' 



and war becomes a thing impossible — a hideous nightmare of a dark and 

 dreadful past — the magic word may liliewise be the ' Open Sesame ' to not less 

 rotable achievements in the things which matter most of all — the i-ealm which 

 embraces all knowledge, and is as wide as that ' universal creation which,' in 

 the language of Camille Flammarion, ' is an inunense harmony, of which the 

 Earth is but an insignificant, rather uninteresting, and unfinished fragment.' 



Mr. William Whitaker (Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society) 

 expressed his appreciation of the paper, and thought that much might be done. 

 He strongly objected, however, to the way in which the author ran down our 

 own country, for he held that we organised grandly. 



Dr. J. F. Tocher (Buchan Field Club) said that in the North of Scotland a 

 Federation of Nort)iern Scientific Associations had existed for many years. 

 At the meetings of the combined societies, held annually in various centres in 

 succession, papers were read and ideas exchanged with great benefit to the 

 individual bodies. For a specific object federation was an excellent principle. 

 He did not fully agree with the view of Mr. Whitaker that organisation of 

 effort was a special feature in the British Isles, but he had no doubt whatever 

 that the capacity of organisation of Britons was high. He cordially supported 

 the idea of federation, not only in scientific matters, but also in the political 

 field. It should not, however, be imagined that federation was an instrument 

 which could secure the maintenance or increase of racial fitness. 



Mr. H. SowERBuTTS mentioned that about four years ago the Educational 

 Societies of Manchester joined together in a loose kind of federation. Eaeh 

 of about 30 Societies sent two representatives, usually the Chairman and the 

 Secretary, to form a ' Committee of the Associated Educational Societies ' ; 

 this Committee elected a small Executive Committee of about a dozen forming 

 a permanent body. Each Society paid a contribution of 5s. per year to cover 

 postage, printing, &c. The three main objects were to hold an Annual Reunion 

 of all the members, to avoid clashing of the ordinary meetings of the Societies 

 with one another, and to arrange, if possible, for open meetings to be held by 

 the different Societies. Of course, each Society goes on as before with its 

 ordinary proceedings. 



He further remarked that, with reference to the suggestion of a common 

 room for a Federation of Societies, especially if arranged for by an outside 

 body, there seemed to be two diflicidties, (1) as to who should have preference, 

 and (2) if there were many Societies in the Federation, and as there are only 

 six weekdays, one room might not suffice. 



The Chairman (Mr. Sheppard) regretted very much that the War prematurely 



