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Every such collection is made up of two parts ; that which is 
placed upon exhibition to attract the eye, to interest, to amuse, 
to inspire, and that which is not placed before the eye, but which 
is held for purposes of investigation and research by men who 
are competent to read the manuscripts of God. 
Now that function is distinctively the function of the scholar, 
the function of the scientific man. However much any of us may 
wish to perform that service, it can be performed only by those 
men to whom God has given the gift, and who have developed 
the gift by education, and by nights devoted to labor, and days 
devoid of ease. I count it, Mr. President, a most felicitous cir- 
cumstance — to use your phrase — that upon this occasion the 
President of Columbia College is permitted to take part in the 
opening of this new building, because it seems to me that the 
relation between the institutions of learning contained in this 
city and this Museum, may be not unfairly illustrated by com- 
parison with the powder and the gun. The powder and the gun, 
apart from one another, have great potentiality of effectiveness ; 
united they demonstrate their power. Similarly, I think, the 
Museum and the institutions of learning which seek to make 
researches to advance the state of human knowledge belong 
together, at least in a part of their labors. 
As I conceive their proper relations, it is in the main, this : 
The business of a museum is to make collections, and to give the 
opportunity for study. The business of a university is to use 
collections, and to provide the men who will conduct the re- 
searches, and tell what the collections signify to the great world 
of mankind. I am happy to say what may not be known to all 
of you, that relations based upon this thought have already been 
entered into between this Museum and the venerable College 
which I have the honor to represent. Commencing, I think, this 
month, lectures will be given by Professors of Columbia College 
in one of the lecture rooms of this institution, which, as I under- 
stand it, are to be open to the public. The first course of lectures 
is to be upon that unique and admirable collection of American 
Woods which has already been referred to as the Jesup Collec- 
tion ; that will be followed by courses upon astronomy, upon the 
mineral resources of the United States, and upon chemistry. 
