Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-11-14
Dedication of the geological Museum at
Cambridge.

The ceremony of dedication of the Museum
of Comparative Zoology, took place at Cam
bridge, Tuesday morning, in the presence of
a considerable number of people. The keys
of the Museum were delivered TO the governor
Of the commonwealth, as president of the
board of trustees, by DIR. Jacob Bigelow, as
chairman OF the building committee. In do
ing so he expressed the gratitude of the COM
mttee for the interest which the governor had
taken in this liberal and most successful en-
terprise, and their great regret that he was
soon TO leave for another and remote sphere
of action. Professor Agassiz, after the appro'
pirate response of Gov. Banks, gave a full
account Of the beginning and progress of the
enterprise, of the impediments which it had
encountered, and the difficulties which it
had overcome, of the requirements Of
properly furnished museum of zoology, and
Of the value of geological studies. Though it
is but little more than year since the ground
was broken for this institution, it has, through
the liberality of the commonwealth and the
watchful activity OF those who have been
chiefly interested in its foundation, it has al
ready outrun all the museums OF the Europ-
can Universities except those in the large cap
ilalS and in some departments, is superior
to these. With the view TO obtaining further
advantage over other institutions, Prof Agas-
siz recommends two plans, one of which is to
buy up the special collections made by private
individuals which may be for sale from time
~
parts of the world thus far little known, which
may be very cheaply done in furnishing the
means of travel to young and interested natur'
alists. He adds that the museum is already
pose, and is abundanty supplied with apparatus
aud specimens Tor teaching zoology. The in
terestng remarks of Prot. Agassiz were fol-
lowed with brief and eloquent address from
Prot. FELTON,, in the course of which he said
at is a significant, though accidental, fitness
of arrangement, that this establishment stands
front to front with the Theological School of
the University, Gods Word and Gods works
mutually illustrating each other. We accept
the omen; 1t is propitlous to science, MORALS re-
ligion. The university was cOnsecIated in the
beginning TO the truth, as the highest aim of
education. Science, letters art, christian NOR
ais and manners, come within the general
scope of the founders, and the noble array Of
benetactors, who have built it up to its present
height of usefulness and renown. The laws
of nature and the forms of life, no less than
the messages of prophets and the evangels of
apostles, are revelations OF God, to be studied
by man. An administration of the govern
ment of Massachusetts, honorably distinguish
ed by its steady support OF public education and
the advancemt mt of science, is soon to close.
Many Of the objects of ambition, most eagerly
sought, are ephemeral when gained, yielding
only the triumph of day but the triumphs
of truth are permanent. Science is not of
one age or one country it is cocval with Eter
nifty and coextensve with the Universe. He
whose fame is identified with its advancement,
has won possession forever"
| The museum is endowed with S225,000, of
which 100000 is given by the state and the
remainder by individual donations.