Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1901-11-22

ena and theological rtiudice combined
to keep them from Investigation. He
went on to say that among the ancie nts
down through the centuries it has been
a common idea that the nature of things
could be determined by purely
speculative process. y result of this fa-
lacious method is a general lack of power
of observation in the mass of mankind
and coupled with this the unfthrctivc
character of man, the inability 10 connect
cause and effect.
1t was because Of these hindrances that
erroneous theories and ideas held sway
for so long time and science made no
progress for centuries. The ancients
theorized and generalized from insulllc-
lent data. but to-day, with the develop
ment of the laboratory or practical idea,
everything in order to stand must be
verified by the test of experimental OBJ.
servation. The speaker illustrated his
thought by saying: Fossils are no
longer explained as the bones of fallen
angels, nor are plaques and epldemics of
disease considered mysterious visitations
of Providence
"Experimental knowledge brings the
quickest, the most lasting, the most sat
isfactory returns for the labor expended.
To-day no plea for the laboratory method
of presenting any study should be need
ed. Each educated man stands with his
cruclble to separate the dross of error
from the pure metal of truth.
"ro be scientifically accurate and logi-
cal in all our Investigations. whether in
the domains of sociology, morality or even
religion, has come to be the sine qua non
of our generation. The theological stu
dent must become more thoroughly
student Of the world and less student
of theology"
The speaker went on to say what we
may hope from further development Of
science, and HE effects of our increasing
know ledge of nature on philosophy, re-
! ligiOn, humanism, and education. In
conclusion he spoke at length of the de-
! STABILITY Of more scientific teaching in
our secondary schools, aud the better
equipment in scientific training Of teach
ers sent out from the colleges. He said
the ultimate aim of knowledge is truth,
and certainly nothing has brought Us
along this IA cinatlng road more rapidly
than the increase OF natural knowledge.
81 should say let the fundamentals of
knowledge be the facts of nature as seen
by the eye, heard by the ear aud sensible
to the touch. Let there be a thorough
apprehension of the things AS they are
and we have series of nuclei about
which other facts and truths group'them-
selves, and our learning and knowledge,
for there is marked distinction between
the two, will become better correlated"
After a discussion of the better meth
DDS of teaching languages and literature,
the speaker made plea for the inculca-
ton of common sense by the practical
knowledge of men and things in the
teachers the colleges send out. Educa-
ton based upon the scientific method
brings the surest, the most satisfactory
results. ~ think | speak with knowl-
edge when | say that this spirit pervades
every department in Mddlebury college.
The spirit of development in individual
and national life has been steadily grow
ing and enlarglng through the years.
With the process of the suns
at is for the fuller growth and more
perfect manifestation of this spirit that
this hall of science has been built"
In conclusion Mr.. McGilton referred
to Ezra j. Warner, the donor, and
among other things said: "We count
1t an honor today, and ever shall, to
acknowledge gratitude and esteem and
love for this man, the generous bene-
factor of sound education, who in his
lifetime thought to divide his substance
with the youth of this land by giving
them a portion which cannot be taken
from them by any vicissitudes of for
tune, in the shape of trained minds,
cultured intellects, and noble hearts
through scientific Christian education"
In closing the words of formal dedi.
cation the speaker said "May the truths
here taught be as deep and as broad as
the foundations that sustain these walls.
"May the culture and the graces of
mind here inculcated be as pure and as
fair as the marble of the superstructure.
"May the character here formed be
as stately and symmetrical and strong
as the lineaments of architecture here
embodied.
Like that temple of old that was
built many sided with mirrors on every
side to reflect the image of an angel that
stood on central pedestal, so from this
hall of learning may there be the many
sided reflection of The noble, of the just
the generous spirit of true science"