New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-08-25
SCIENCE.
TuE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCE
Reuo.pce, Of nc, ins' Meeting

'',"S-' sPs'''. '''''''" Hj,rox August l6 1907
wo too, q somsab4, sudden leave Of the Academy IL
o,, last The osgerci,5 Of tine and space required IT.,
for the trunk was packed the by paid, tho stage al the
do,r One hasy look at The beautiful window panorama
which has constituted the principal furniture OF our room
plunge down stairs, and scramble mo the vehcle' anu
the pheasant sojoun ,eas end The journey homewTd
was sympathetic and jolly AT Springfield We 8''' 'nd
inptOyso the following quaudn. .-.-
''HaI to the Springfield landlord
s4. Who gives suehnolle cheer
My science gather round his board
Perpetual once a year
In reenbsTking at SpIinggeld we s9nT mu N On.
sner the loss Of several of our membcr'hO depart for
the scientific meeting at Buffalo orr diminished mum
hers reach Boston safety conclude QresCut relations
with cordial parting But when one of Us finds her coli
tary way down to small country home, She remembers
that composition of iaydns in which the musicians
tv one take leaYe until alone is left who, in his
turn departs. little melancholy will enter into toe re-
COLLECTION of the pleasant sessions in northampton which
Soweror the JOYOUS of home speedily to their best
10 disspae. Here too things Of importance have been
going on. You would hot believe how the eggs have
fallen off but then the chickens have growh The three
months colt is stouter, but the brood mare rs
Caunt in proportion. The horse broke into the tomato
bed the other day but fortunately there are y Jew e
Exactly What have you heard no scientific thunder
mo controversial lightning Have not the plead,
fwinkled as though of being made the subject Of
bubble dscusson Have not spiders pcked up their ears
and cried: Worms ndeedP Has there been no expert
1nantal correction of the unmathematiCal web Finally,
mas no State lunatc ASYLUM been burdened with inh
of the people who followed surds and suhsttutonS ana
ried TO understand them Nothing OF all THIS has been
Recognized among natural or social phenomena. Then
net Usgve up prophetic knowledge as test OF science
M Comte is mistaken in so stating IT, Truer the COM
znon saying: ave cannot tell what may happen
Revertng to the Academy, We ind that We SUI nave
WORD TO say of it's general scope and character Wnch III
spite Of its merits have not escaped controversy
brejudioed for against is constitution one cannot we
Should think recall its late sittngs without grateful
sense of its constitution to the worlds knowledge use
approved were really scientific their conception and
ecution. For science must be remembered, is IN the
method, not in the subject. All subjects OF human
Thought treated with a certain thoOughneSS and Centaty
of consideration, become science. Any subject, pre-
scented in shallow and Sensational manner ceases 10 ne
science The range of topics presented very crediIabe
and amusing variety end whether by intention or WIN
put it, attention relieved by change and luS'laIoh
The young weary and the old did not utterly
Jail The exhileratng effects of the study ana Observation
pfnature percepble at once IN the speakers ana III
Iubte labor OF metaphysics setting also uselr uonus
the absouteness Of theoretical construction The reaction
physical science upon the general scale ana totaH OF
human thought important than its direct objects,
important as these Physical is to mental science as
tthc TO aesthetic 1t is great ART OF observation ana
combinations founded upon the philosophical power OF IN.
buence, Ii is the reading of book Of which mental
tcenoe furnishes az the language and the theme
For that conception of which must sndae It's OBJ
Iervaon is not to be had without the whocness Of the
noble thOuCbtpOwer which distinguishes man Inc met
Aphysca ages shape the tools with which the ages OF
steal Investigations prosecute their nduciions and DIS
coyeres The same period is mrcy eminent IN the Two
departments Of study But despite their mutual mstrt
and occasional striie the two are Indispensable 10 e'c
other. ,
The Academy of course devotcs its energies TO the
prosecution OF physical study and research But eac
special study has in it necessary element OF Limitation,
which its follower OF from the larger interests OF
general thought This limitation must be adhered TO- IL
one the conditions of hOr0ughneSs and OF success
There is tresome and useless ambition than that
universal knowledge is trying to travel all roads at
once and getting nowhere. Yet should advise the
Younger men whom the Academy illustrates TO cultivate
familiarity with general literature and with unteehnical
modes of thought and expression These VIII increase
III. 1oofF Hoir nd y.
greatest must be partially III his science, and
wholly his Else should nature, on the whole, lose
by HIM. ,.... -.
still something to say. Do not put out the Aghs YET;
Somebody will listen IL is this. When we criticized
Peter Lcses views OF language and praised his language
end his views Hitchcock We little knew what further
y bcity in store for him. We did remember that his
euogy expressed temperate dissent from Hltcheocks
Calvinism together with an entirely just discrimination
between the absolute assumptions of hs Theological on'
ions and the absolute value vi his Christian sincerity Re'
gous thought all the world will not only sanction but
impose the justice of this distinction But seetarian
passion which is quite another thing could not let pass
without a track Gifts venom. The odtum heoiogtcn~
claims of course be religion. But let us try it by tho
standard of Paul Is 1t peaceabe is IT easy 10 De en-
treated Does it think no eyil Does II believe al
things hope all things? We believe not. Instead o.
comparing self with the divine Standard it makes self the
standard TO which and human held TO conform
on pain of dspeasue To the SOUL its aPPro
baton would be the dangerous penalty.
Bat we are giving feature before fact. To restore
sequence then In certain pulpit IN Northampton, on
the Sunday following the session Of the Academy, cry
pecting community informed that he was an inpious
man infected with most dangerous and insdious wick
edness The datribe against him terminated with this
judicial sentence MAY God have mercy on his soul y
No greater disappointment could probably have bealen
the reverend speaker than the knowledge that Peter
Ieses soul at that moment perfectly safe IN the
hands of the Creator gave him at once power 10
think himself and zeal to express his thoughts Tor the
benefit and instruction of his feow-men. The alleged
satire of his statement did not perceive and do not re-
call
Had he formulated something grossly erroneous dissent
from his doctrine need not have implied disparagement OF
his personality But his division in the main one
recognized by the best thought OF the day. hnlte
creatures opinion of an infinite Being may be more or
less reasonable and intelligent. No such opinion, how
ever can have absolute value such to make binding
on all men, The conditions of religious faith are, how
ever binding oil These are The perception Of
divine standard the belief in divine power, and the
endeaYor 10 embody both of.these il divine life The
greatest punishment of negon is the prvaton OF the
comfort and support of religion. He who knows what
religion greater hell than us absence Inc
forum knows this the lectpTe-roOm knows III the pewS
have suspicion fit II the pulpit has NOT found II out
we must give honor to those who are able and wiling
70 hasten its discoveries
AununI Meeting Of the American As