THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 1 3 



to light, exhibit but one grand scheme of contrivance, adoption and 

 design. The philosophical and truth loving naturalist perceived that 

 in all epochs of the world's history, in whatever condition its cosmical 

 elements have appeared, the laws prevailing hitherto are the same as 

 those in operation at the present day, and the singularly varied 

 results that we now witness are regulated by the degree, direction 

 and conditions imposed upon those laws by the allwise Creator, who 

 alone is capable of ordaining or abrogating their existence. 



In the study of Natural History, in the widest acceptation of the 

 term, I can claim, as I did in my remarks one year ago to-day, 

 especial consideration, on the ground of its uplifting and ennobUng 

 tendency, and in doing so can powerfully appeal to the honest con- 

 victions of one of her most favored sons. I refer to the eminently 

 philosophical address, by the late Professor Huxley, on " Natural 

 History as Knowledge, Discipline and Power," delivered in the 

 capacity of Fullerian Professor, at the Royal Institution, in 1856, 

 forty years ago. He said : " Let those who doubt the efificiency of 

 science, as moral discipline, make the experiment of trying to come 

 to a comprehension of the meanest worm or weed, of its structure, 

 its habits, its relation to the great scheme of nature. It will be a 

 most exceptional case, if the mere endeavor to give a correct outline 

 of its form, or to describe its appearance with accuracy, does not call 

 into exercise far more practice, perseverance and self denial than 

 they have easily at command, and if they do not rise up from the 

 attempt in utter astonishment at their habitual laxity, an inaccuracy 

 of their mental processess and in some dismay at the pertinacious 

 manner in which their subjective conceptions and hasty preconceived 

 notions interfere with their forming a truthful comprehension of 

 objective facts. There is not one in fifty whose habits of mind are 

 sufficiently accurate to enable him to give a truthful description of 

 the exterior of a rose." It is too true, that things familiarly known 

 and understood, often fail to leave their due impression on the mind. 

 They teach no lesson. They do not awaken even a passing interest. 

 Such indifference should not exist in man possessed of the faculty of 

 appreciation in so eminent a degree, if his mind has been fully 

 awakened to the importance of using aright, and not allowing to lie 

 dormant those heaven-born faculties, which tend to make this life a 

 brighter and happier one. 



