The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-19
Honoring the Foremost
Scientist Of Scotland
A San Francisco Pastors Graphic Descrip-
ton Of the Banquet to Lord Kelvin
at GLASGOW

said to be great teacher. He was made
Lord in 1898. He had been Sir William
thomson before that. He was born in
Belfast plain William.
, In 1889 l heard him in London, presid-
ing at the annual meeting of the Society
OF Christian Evidences. He then said
that for forty-seven years he had been
studying the laws of inorganic matter and
he had never found single fact that did
not precisely harmonic with the early
chapters of Genesis. He is good Scotch
Presbyterian and, of course, neither the
Scotch nor some of the rest of us think
the less of him on that account. This
iub1lee's congratulations were enough to
turn any head less steadily balanced than
his. Almost every scientific society in
existence had sent its congratulations.
Many of the great universities of both
worlds were there bearing greetings. His
Queen had signally honored him. The
most brilliant and cosmopolitan company
of scholars in physical science ever as
sembled, perhaps, was there to do him
reverence. These Britons indulge in what
Americans call 'palaver" sometimes, and
one cannot rid oneself of the idea that
many hasten to pay tribute because the
court has smiled that way.
Still the hero sat, unflattered and un-
spoiled When he rose to speak the time
honored pin might have been heard to
drop. He read every word from manu-
script. No suggestion of conceit marred
the simplicity of his greatness. With gall
liant loyalty, he told the world that it
could never know how much of his sue
cess was due to the helpfulness and SYM
pathy of Lady Kelvin. With mingled
love and pride the fair partner of his fame
sat in the gallery with tears in her eyes
and smiles on her face while the whole
throng rose and cheered. With evident
sincerity his Lordship went on to say that
he was bewildered at that moment. He
could not understand why all this was
done. He had simply tried to do his best,
and that was what every man should do.
Soldiers go to war and risk their lives in
hardship, but he had done his work in
the places he loved best-his laboratory
and his study.
He had one word to express his feelings
as he looked back over these fifty years,
and that word was failure. (All over the
house, ''No, no, nop') He must say that
concerning ether and electricity and the
atoms he did not know any more to-day
than when he began. He had simply
learned few of their tricks-that was all.
His ignorance appalled, him. His life work
had only made him more sensible of it.
One was reminded of Sir Isaac Newton's
notion that his knowledge was to the I'M
known as handful of pebbles to the sands
on the seashore. Striking remark indeed
for such mani 1t is the last years sprig
of science that makes Old Truth to tremble.
The Faradays and Newtons and Kelvins
are humble. modest in their greatness. /
wonder if that is not why they are great.
We are afraid of sophomores and skeptics
who know too much to believe; we rather
like the modest learners and believers who
know too little to doubt. The band played
'God Save the Queen" but Just as the
evening closed the Lord Provost said that
it was Lord Kelvin's special request that
we all join hands and, led by the band,
sing together "Auld Lang Syne."
HENRY C.. MENTION.