^President' s Address. 
9 ' 
hood, and in spite of a century of Augustan learning she was 
overthrown by barbarians who, with northern vigor, trampled 
under their feet the standards that had at one time braved 
the whole world. Of Rome it could be truly said, “ The 
thing that hath been it is that which shall be.” 
In prehistoric times migrations from the East laid the- 
foundation of the European nations. The evidence of this 
comes to us in the lost forms of a common language. Out of 
the North there surged those successive waves of barbarous 
peoples who overthrew the Roman power in the West; 
whilst again from the East came the followers of Mahomet. 
These established their rule in Constantinople, the seat of 
the last of the Roman Emperors; carried their victorious 
arms into the heart of Europe; subdued the principalities of 
the Danube; possessed Greece and established themselves for 
a time on the fertile plains of Spain. 
Is there a possibility that history may repeat itself? Is it 
possible that with all the knowledge which science is heaping 
up; with all the inventions which teem from the brain of 
man; with all the means for offensive and defensive war now 
in use; with many and powerful nations to maintain their 
independence, is it possible there can be any further danger 
to the progress of the world — that no interruption can arise? 
Without doubt the causes of disintegration which operated 
upon the nations of the past will produce similar results when 
present or future jieoples culminate in power and luxury and 
become subject to these influences. Some of these destructive 
elements may now be recognized. Science, no doubt, is 
progressing with wondrous strides, 3'et is entangling itself 
in the pursuit of partial truths only. One-sided in their 
agnostic aspirations the leaders of thought are building upon 
physical laws another Babel to pierce the heavens. From the 
lofty towers of this edifice sounds of confused voices descend 
to us. The foundations of responsibility are being attacked; 
mankind is thrown back upon a godless morality, a morality 
with no compass but the wishes or reason of the individual. 
Wealth is accumulating as in the palmy days of ancient 
Rome. Lawlessness and an arch v are showing a defiant front. 
Q 
