18 
MENDENHALL. 
disturbed. During a decade, generation, or century these 
good but sometimes unpleasant people plant themselves 
along certain lines in the domain of science or politics or re¬ 
ligion proclaiming essentially that “ here and here only is 
the truth, and here we fix ourselves forever.” After a while . 
they somewhat unwillingly and with no very good grace 
move forward into a new position, again honestly affirming 
and believing that the end has been reached. A better 
knowledge and a broader human sympathy would reveal to 
them the hitherto unsuspected fact that truth may at the 
same time be here and there. 
In the dissemination of this knowledge and the cultiva¬ 
tion of this sympathy, science should lead, not follow. No 
scientific organization so young in years has done more along 
these lines, especially by reason of its extensive membership 
and the vigor and enthusiasm of its branches, than the So¬ 
ciety over whose deliberations during the past year I have 
been permitted to preside. 
For the honor thus bestowed I beg now to make my 
formal and grateful acknowledgments., 
