58 THE JUST CLAIMS OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 



As I bring these thoughts to a close, I will only add 

 that science has a valid and a very strong claim on so- 

 ciety both for sympathy and support. Its material re- 

 sults, though only the indirect ends of its labors, fill the 

 whole civilized world with blessings and thrift. In its 

 higher aim to enlarge the intellectual scope of man, and 

 make him more thoroughly dominant over nature, by 

 more thoroughly comprehending her laws, it is deserving 

 of full appreciation and support. 



But it is also deserving of a much better financial sup- 

 port in its researches than it has yet received. Original 

 research in science is generally very expensive. Those 

 who do geological, zoological, or botanical fieldwork in 

 original investigations, find it very costly in both time 

 and money. In all the above sciences, and yet more in 

 physics, chemistry, biology and astronomy, original re- 

 search in laboratory work requires very frequently in- 

 struments of precision ; not only those in ordinary use 

 for instruction, but special forms made for each sj^ecial 

 investigation. This involves great expense. Few scien- 

 tists rjossess independent fortunes ; and hence, in our 

 country, original research is checked and burdened. 

 This has been a matter of very serious consideration in 

 scientific associations. Financial contributions, or en- 

 dowments for the especial work of original study, are 

 urgently needed. Such endowments may be made to 

 individuals eminent in such work, or to scientific socie- 

 ties, or to colleges. It is true that the great work of 

 colleges is instruction rather than research ; yet the 

 presence, to a certain extent, of the work of research 

 gives a healthy tone and stimulus even to elementary 

 scientific study, otherwise not easily imparted. Such 

 endowments should be distinct from, and over and above 

 all endowments for buildings and for ordinary apparatus 

 for instruction. 



In mathematical science, which, being abstract does not 



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