10 
IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 
belief in the law of the conservation of matter and of the conser- 
vation of energy in the physical world leads us direct to the future 
world, and makes it both natural and easy to accept the belief in 
the immortality of the soul. 
Many bright minds of scientific bent and aptitude have appeared 
in the centuries gone by, but it seems that they were born out of 
season. Six hundred years ago the world was not ready for the 
great mind of Roger Bacon, when he taught that “Without experi- 
ment nothing can be adequately known. An argument proves 
theoretically, but does not give the certitude necessary to remove 
all doubt, nor will the mind repose in clear view of truth, unless 
it find it by way of experiment.” “The strongest arguments prove 
nothing,” said he, “so long as the conclusions are not verified by 
experience. Experimental science is the queen of sciences, and the 
goal of all speculation.” 
Three hundred years ago Dr. Wm. Gilbert wrote the following: 
“To you alone true philosophers, ingenuous minds, who not only 
in books, but in things themselves look for knowledge, have I 
dedicated a new style philosophising. But if any of you see fit 
not to agree with the opinions expressed, let them note the great 
multitude of experiments and discoveries, for it is these that cause 
all philosophy to flourish. We have dug them up and demonstrated 
them with much pains and sleepless nights, and great money 
expense.” 
The world had not then emerged from the dark ages long enough 
to appreciate and use the work of Dr. Gilbert on magnetism and 
electricity. They had to lie unheeded nearly two hundred years 
when Farady put them to practical use. Contrast this state of 
affairs with the glorious achievements of science during the nine- 
tenth century. 
It is this style of study that our education must assume if it is 
to progress. It is necessary to present high ideals to the youth of 
our land in order to insure progress into a higher and better state 
of civilization. Mere animal drudgery is being swept away by the 
scientific applications of the forces of nature, and more intellectual 
callings are taking their place. Many artisans are losing their 
occupations on account of such changes. The scale of human labor 
is being diminished at the lower end while additions are being 
made higher up. 
A large per cent of the so-called laboring class now find employ- 
ment in many lines that were wholly unknown a century ago — 
telegraphy, stenography, and a thousand forms of mechanical 
