ADDRESS BY PROFESSOR ARTHUR SCHUSTER, D.Sc., Sc.D., LL.D., DR. ÈS SC., F.R.S. PRESIDENT. The Common Aims of Science and Humanity. UNDER the influence of the diversity of pursuits imposed upon us by the conditions of modern life, different groups of the community— men of business, men of science, philosophers, or artists-have acquired detached and sometimes conflicting interests. Each group, impressed by the importance of its own domain in the life of the nation, and focussing its vision on small differences and temporary rivalries, was in danger of losing the sense of mutual dependence. But in the shadow of a great catastrophe it has been brought home to us that the clash of interests is superficial, and the slender thread of union which remained has grown into a solid bond. What is the fibre from which the bond is twined? Patriotism may express its outward manifestation, but its staple is the mental relationship which remains continuous and dominant even in normal times, when each of us may peacefully go to earn his living and enjoy the course of his intellectual life. Outwardly the community is divided into heterogeneous elements with mental attitudes cast in different moulds, and proceeding along separate roads by differing methods to different ideals. Yet as we eliminate the superficial, and regard only the deep-seated emotions which control our thoughts and actions, the differences vanish, and the unity of purpose and sentiment emerges more and more strongly. Mind and character, no doubt, group themselves into a number of types, but the cleavage runs across, and not along, the separating line of professions. Were it otherwise, the British Association could not perform one of its most important functions-a function not, indeed, originally contemplated, but resulting indirectly from the wise and democratic provisions. in its constitution, which enabled it to adapt itself to the changing needs. of the time. Our founders primarily considered the interests of scientific men; their outlook was restricted and exclusive, both as regards range of subject and membership. In the words of Sir David Brewster, who gave the first impulse to its formation, it was to be an Association of our nobility, clergy, gentry, and philosophers.' The meetings were intended to promote personal intercourse, to organise research, to advocate reform of the laws hindering research, and to improve the status of scientific men. The right of membership was confined to those who already belonged to some learned society, and William Whewell, one of the principal supporters of the movement, even suggested that only authors of memoirs published by a learned society should be admitted. He emphasized this proposal by the recommendation 2 in some way to avoid the crowd of lay members whose names stand on the List of the Royal Society.' The reform of the Patent Laws and the introduction of an International Copyright were suggested as subjects suitable for discussion, not apparently from the point of view of general advantage, but merely in the interests of one section of the community. Whatever the objects of the founders of the Association may have been, it is obvious that questions of public importance could not be permanently excluded from meetings the success of which depended on the interest stimulated in the community. The Statistical Section, which owed its origin to the visit, at the first Oxford Meeting (1832), of Quetelet, the Belgian astronomer and economist, was the first to assert itself by engaging in a discussion of the Poor Laws. Whewell deeply resented this violation of academic neutrality: it was impossible,' he wrote, to listen to the Proceedings of the Statistical Section on Friday without perceiving that they involved exactly what it was most necessary and most desired to exclude from our Proceedings,'' and again: 'Who would propose (I put it to Chalmers, and he allowed the proposal to be intolerable) an ambulatory body, composed partly of men of reputation and partly of a miscellaneous crowd, to go round year by year from town to town and at each place to discuss the most inflammatory and agitating questions of the day? '4 Fortunately for our Association, this narrow-minded attitude did not prevail, and our records show that while not avoiding controversial and even inflammatory subjects, we have been able to exercise a powerful influence on the progress of science. The establishment of electric units, universally accepted throughout the world, originated in the work of one of our committees; the effort which led to the foundation of the National Physical Laboratory, one of the most efficient and beneficial 1 Others were allowed to join on recommendation by the General Committee. It was only in 1906 that this restriction, which had become obsolete, was removed. 2 Whewell's Writings and Letters, vol. ii. p. 128. 8 Loc. cit., p. 289. It is much to be desired that the documents relating to the early history of the British Association should be published in a collected form. organizations in the country, received its first impulses from us; and the organization of the first world service for the systematic investigation of earth tremors was established by the late Dr. Milne, working through one of our Committees. The success of these enterprises alone is sufficient to show that we are not merely a body promoting social intercourse between men of science and the rest of the community. Nevertheless, it may be admitted that our efforts have been spasmodic, and the time has arrived to consider whether it may be possible to secure not only a greater continuity in our work but also its better co-ordination with that of other scientific organizations. The present juncture affords the opportunity, and the changed conditions, which in the near future will affect all our institutions, render it indeed incumbent upon us once more to adapt ourselves to the needs of the times. Proposals for a move in that direction have already been made, and will no doubt be carefully considered by the Council. In the meantime, I may draw your attention to the important discussions arranged for by our Economic Section, which alone will justify the decision of the Council not to suspend the Meeting this year. It must not be supposed that, even in the early days of the Association, Whewell's ideas of its functions were universally accepted. It is pleasant to contrast the lamentations of the omniscient Professor of Mineralogy with the weightier opinion of the distinguished mathematician who then held Newton's chair at Cambridge. At the concluding session of the second meeting of the Association Babbage expressed the hope that in the selection of the places at which the annual meetings were to be held, attention should be paid to the object of bringing theoretical science in contact with the practical knowledge on which the wealth of the country depends.' 'I was myself,' he said, 'particularly anxious for this, owing as I do a debt of gratitude for the valuable information which I have received in many of the manufacturing districts, where I have learned to appreciate still more highly than before the value of those speculative pursuits which we follow in our academical labours. I was one of those who thought at first that we ought to adjourn for our next meeting to some large manufacturing town; but I am now satisfied that the arrangement which has been made will be best adapted to the present state of the Association. When, however, it shall be completely consolidated I trust we may be enabled to cultivate with the commercial interests of the country that close acquaintance which I am confident will be highly advantageous to our more abstract pursuits.' Since then, as we all know, our most successful meetings have been held in manufacturing centres; but it should be observed that, |
