The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-10-09

The London correspondent of the New
York Commercial Advertiser says: 1t is
the first concern Of the incoming presi-
dent of the British Association for the
Advancement Of Science, in his inau-
gurad address at its annual meeting,
TO be entertaining in a scientific way.
In his heart he probably wishes 20 dis
cuss recent researches in his branch of
science, and particularly his own work
therein Custom prescribes that he
should also summarize the progress of
science in general in the civilized
world since the association last met.
Impulse and precedent thus provide
two parts of his address. In the third,
# he is wise, he deals with some topic
appropriate to the occasion, but not too
severe for warm evening in Septen-
Der appealing TO specialists, but inter
esting also to men in general. This
year the incoming president is Sir VIII
liam Crookes, whose particular field IN
research IS spectral analysis and the
higher chemistry, and whose name
grew familiar when curiosity over
Roentgen rays was keen, from the va
cum tubes, devised by him long be-
fore. in which they were generated.
More than most saVantS, Sir William
has been interested also in the mental
phychical research, and usually re-
Dhsychical research, and unusually re-
spectful toward their inquiries and
tests.
Accordingly, in his address at Bristol,
the new president discoursed very tech
uically of his own recent Investigations
of the extreme end of the ultraviolet
spectrum" believing that he had $50
lated a new element "Of the rare earth
class" that he had named monium.
~. Or
passed to psychical research, ana
thought transference in particular,
frankly affirming his belief in the value
of such research. Not often has 1t mad
so vigorous defense, even TO hypnotic
suggestion, from a man Of such seen
tific standing; and approval and dissent
are nearly sure to arise quickly anu
from many quarters. His words are in
teresting and important enough TO
quote nearly in full:
ITO enter at length on still dsoat-
able subject would be unduly to insist
On q topic which, though not UNITED
for discussion at these meetings, does
not yet enlist the interest of the ma
iority of my scientific brethren. To
ignore the subject would be an act OF
cowardice-an act of cowardice l feel
TO temptation to commit To stop snort
in any research that bids fair to widen
the gates of knowledge, to recoil from
fear " difficulty or adverse criticism, IS
to bring reproach on science. There is
nothing for the investigator to do but
to go straight on. l have nothing TO
retract l adhere to my already pub
Ished statements. Indeed, might add
much thereto. I regret only certain
crudity in these early expositions
which, no doubt justly, initiated
against tfeir acceptance by the sclen-
tific world. My own knowledge at that
time scarcely extended beyond the fact
that certain phenomena new to science
had assuredly occurred, and We're at
tested by my own sober senses. and,
better still, by automatic record.
think see a little farther now. / have
glimpses of something like conference
among the strange elusive phenomena;
of something like continuity between
those unexplained forces and laws al
ready known. This advance is largely
due to the labors Of another associa-
ton. of which I have also this year the
honor to be president-the Society for
Psychical Research. And were l now
introducing for the first time these in
ouiries to the world of science, l should
choose a starting point different from
that of old. 1t would be well to begin