New-York tribune., 1880-02-22
SCIENCE AND POETRY.
SCIENCE AND MODERN LIFE.


LECTURE BY THE REV. DIR. HENRY c. POTTER BEFORE
THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
In n lecture delivered to an audience which
well alled Cmckerng Hall Thursday night. the Rev DE-
Henry C. Potter of Grace Church. discussed the
Relations OF Science TO Modern Lfe"
The lecturer was introduced by Professor j. g. New
berry OF the Columbia College School o. Mines Atter
sketching the history OF the Academy OF sciences d.
Potter said IN part,
The work of professors OF science has been
fully appreciated Very few people work much out
SIDE OF active sympathy To them study must be It's own
reward. To few persons the study OF science
seems TO be dowDIieht atheism. They think the student
Of the pages of Gos 5Qoksthe book OF Nature
Il DESTROYER Of the faith Its TO the shame ana DIS
honor OF Christianity that nvectlyes have been
used against scientific men Instead of arguments
Much in the attitude Of scientific men in pa-
cisIn and in hostility to revelation has been
provoked by angry words from persons protesting to bc
ruled by a Genter sway. You all remember now 'he
words Of Professors Huxley aud Tyuda at meeting OF
the British Association few years ago caused fuuc
shock to many people. But 1t not known or renem-
bered that they were caused by an English eecle
sastic whose attack made when they were not
present and where an answer could not bc maug az"
not here TO defend or apologize Tor Huxley or LYMAN
or anybody else; but men OF science, IKE cerSSihen
and ofner ftllible people, are sometimes provoked
II NAV be worth while in TIM practical age to recall
the services of science IN providing l0r the ui} cOm
fort and progress OF modrrn ne. Ihe contrast Is ~ ~
be almost Incredible. Forty or fifty years ago We had
no telegraph, no ocean steam navigation. no AM
Inc col6rs no painless surgical operations, no gunc0t
ton make them more necessary, no haIh,slVsn, Il"
electric ightIif we have an electric light. II were
an expert and not neophyte In science,
/ could greatly extend this list. Science has q
direct relation TO modern lie in respect 20 travel art
and health. Look at an ocean steamer Whata master
piece! What pigmes ana cOcke-n0a's are tne sls %i
ancient in comparison. II is the study oi scehUnc
laws and not capital or enterprise or SoV9rnn'entt
subsidies which has established the Gr.at HiCS VI
ocean travel Money, In itself, is impoent ana nnpro
ductvc The nina only creates ana loanceS; @ r ingTf
cOnIiyanee except II Is thought "n' ana "I"snt
out in the brain The sieamSnip Is 6 tnS y pc cy o.
iares Taigs % and the telegram G1si which
| nounces departure ana herlds our coming
who realizes that Tor all these we are indebted, ho 10
ingenuity but to the scientific kno Wedge "hich make
| invention poss'Die. , ,,.,. :. ,.e.i 80, ,,o,b
ernatca principles Painting is worthless without cor
! rect drawing. Tine Indebtedness oijnstce ana pnlan
OF happiness Is health lfas sana. and You
know tne rest II our G"'mS s ,u1 no rScncr,c
| our powers. Rdicule may soon AT sanitary science
but facts aud fGucs show that in certain diseases tt
datn rate has reduced so per cCnt and the ave
rage length OF life has Increased from eighty To icf
years fewer infants de the nsks of life are decreased
.crntiic men have also shown us how those who
scss rare gifts Their ycsnot to pcchiaIy
gain hut To the search after truth. Ihcy nave pcei
elass wbo amid the seishncss of life, have devoted
themselves to unweaIy ine Studies ana " & %
suit of knowledge for its sake Tney have sought
no reward except 10 penetrate the vel ana return WIN
faces SHINING Ulth splcudor. Jhey nave gwen Il
| new impulse, ana - new spring To our Wah1ig ldlth
And nov much sympathy do they receive !ley are
often the victims OF neglect, suspicion ana
and receive ardent cooperation II wealth j. to give
Il, leisure class ought We not 10 nave an
earnest devotion TO scleucef How much b,tirr
than the pigeon polo matches 10 Wh'cn
0ur glded # not golden. yOath devote hclnselY Yes
sndy at fcencc wOud make life lOundcr broader ana
fnlpr As the services scientific are lnestimanlc
is II nor worth while for merchants ana capitalists
10 give them generous assistance ana snDSlah.
tial ald2 We have kings here, hui
oIr princclv merchants do what crowned
heads do III other lands We have had nome benSi&HG &
tions 10 religion to philanthropy and TO letters Hhd no
science would AFFORD opportunity for orrin
nvesiigatiOu for truths sake shall We not nave ~
LEI ms help the ab0gs Ofscichce I:t pcfYcis The
R, Of Nature its Author Will bring II 10 cont fusion In
he homes, uursut Of truth rejoice With cu; ;hus
as,n and welcome discovery.