THE PRESIDENT S ADDRESS. 8 



The enterprise and intellect of our country, now engaged in the 

 Stupendous task of preparing for the forthcoming exposition of the 

 Science, the Art, and the Industry of the world, have tq mourn the 

 loss of the zealous leader of their splendid adventure ; and through 

 every educated Association in the land will thrill the same genuine 

 sorrow for the untimely passing away of Albert of Saxe -Gotha. 



It would be as idle as impertinent for me to attempt even a sketchy 

 outline of the progress of Science and of Art during the past year. 

 As I already hinted, I may but glance at the relation of my outside 

 world to such themes. The position occupied by the professors 

 of Scientific knowledge in relation to the cognate worlds of Thought, 

 to social, theological, or ethical philosophy, is all-important in its 

 bearing on their ultimate usefulness to mankind. 



It may be well to notice the most prominent aspect of this relation 

 during the past twelve months. 



A very old controversy — never really closed — has been forced into 

 unwonted vitality and bitterness, chiefly by the interest attached to 

 the peculiar position of certain of the combatants, and the deep- 

 Beated jealousy of large masses of excellent people towards scientific 

 research, has received a most powerful stimulant. It has been 

 assumed by thousands, that in some way or another the labours and 

 the results of scientific investigations are hostile to the truths of 

 revelation. 



The uneasiness has been chronic. From the labors of the great 

 Florentine in deciphering the story of the midnight heavens to the 

 latest explorations in the crust of this aged world — from the demon- 

 stration of the diurnal motion, to the finding of the flint implements 

 in the Picardy gravel beds, we have the same jealous^ distrust — gene- 

 rally honest — too often querulous and unreasonable — always most 

 offensively exhibited by minds from habit and capacity the least suited 

 for the right understanding of matters of such surpassing magnitude. 



Much of this is traceable to the nature of the enquiry. It is of 

 the very essence of inductive science ; the condition of all logical 

 pursuit, that the investigation of every scientific problem must be con- 

 ducted by a mind simply striving after truth — striving to discover 

 what is, not what ought to be, or what it wishes to be, in order to 

 support some preconceived theory or deep-seated prepossession. The 

 philosophic mind of the highest order, bending itself to the task of 

 investigating obsci.re phenomena, whether amongst heaven's stars or 



