16 ENCOUKAGEMENT OF INTEREST IN SCIENTIFIC PURSUITS. 



Also, if there were any other organisation capable of taking 

 the matter up, or if the work could originate spontaneously, I 

 would not bring it before this Society's notice, but it seems 

 to me a case where our recognition and help may make the 

 difference between failure and success. 



For years science stood apart. Its affairs were assumed to 

 be above the popular understanding. But all that has now 

 been changed, and in Huxley, Tyndall, and many others, we 

 see men of the highest scientific rank taking the lead in 

 bringing their chosen studies home to the minds of the 

 masses. We need not fear that anything we may do will be 

 infra dig. 



Any proposal for delivering popular lectures, pre-supposes 

 the presence amongst us of gentlemen quahfied and willing 

 to come forward as lecturers. That we have the qualified 

 men none will deny, but it is not everyone who would be 

 willing to devote the necessary time and thought to the 

 preparation of such lectures as have been indicated, for it would 

 involve much trouble, and at first, until public attention had 

 been thoroughly aroused, there might appear to be too 

 little interest manifested to warrant the effort. But I 

 hope the love of science for its own sake, which animates 

 all who have advanced any distance into its mysteries, 

 may sufiice to induce one or more of our savants to 

 offer their services, and to permit the experiment to be 

 at any rate tried. It is hardly probable that we 

 should ever have a continuous succession of lectures 

 all the year round, but if from time to time such series could 

 be delivered, and if the Council of this Society could keep an 

 open eye for any opportunity that may arise to interest" the 

 public, and especially the young, I have faith that good 

 •results will follow. 



Discussion. 



Sir Lambert Dobson said he had heard many lectures in 

 his early days which had furnished him with a great deal of 

 information, and which had been of great use to him since 

 then. He was thoroughly in accord with Mr. Benson that 

 the Society could be much more useful than it is at present. 

 The start wanted to be made, and there was no reason why 

 they should not have, say, half-a-dozen lectures in the course 

 of a session. Geology was a subject which might well be 

 introduced, and there were many other subjects which would 

 be found both interesting and useful. 



Mr. James Barnard thought it would be very practicable 

 to foUow out the idea suggested by Mr. Benson, and ha 

 heartily supported and concurred in this. 



