8 
IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 
The scientific world moves apace ; evidences of unrelaxing energy 
are apparent on every hand. A great discovery today does not 
astonish the world as it did a few generations ago. The discovery 
of the principle of the Leyden Jar in 1745 made a more profound 
impression in Europe and America than a similar discovery would 
make today. 
This occasion gives me opportunity, not only to call attention 
to the magnificent work that has been done by the members of 
this body in discovering, collecting, and publishing scientific 
knowledge, sufficient each year to make a valuable volume, but also 
to speak of some things that are greater: namely, the indirect 
effects of scientific work upon the moral fibre and character of a 
progressive and prosperous people. 
The old-time humanities developed an aristocratic class with a 
refined and selfish culture, and at the same time developed an 
ignorant class of slaves. A spirit of caste was developed and 
society became stratified as the various geological formations in 
the earth’s crusts. It is the function of both science and religion 
to break up and pulverize these lines of stratification. Modern 
science answers the question of the ancient humanities as to who 
my neighbor is, by relieving suffering, prolonging life, by control- 
ling and banishing disease, by uplifting humanity into one com- 
mon brotherhood. It is the mission of science to help fill the hearts 
and minds of all with lofty and noble and true ideals. Science 
deepens reverence, banishes superstition, and exalts the truth. 
Science gives new standards of evidence; gives larger conceptions 
of duty and obligation, and enables us to make progress from a 
general knowledge of disconnected events to a special knowledge 
of phenomena connected by an invisible yet omnipresent law. 
But it is said that the study of science has caused the distinction 
between that which is sacred and that which is secular to disap- 
pear; that parents, magistrates, judges, and ministers of the Gospel 
are not respected and honored as they formerly were ; that religious 
creeds are losing their distinguishing characteristics; that the 
distinction between the pure and applied science is passing away; 
that the humanities are beginning to assume the garb of the utili- 
ties. It may be true that a mere taste of such a knowledge, by 
tearing down preconceived ideas, causes a lawless state of mind, 
but a deeper insight into scientific truth gives more reverence for 
law and order. Whatever of evil there is on account of this condi- 
tion is to be remedied by more science. “A little knowledge is a 
dangerous thing.” 
