PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 16, 13 October 1927, Page 10

PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

CELEBRATION OF DIAMOND JUBILEE

“THE AGE OF APPLIED SCIENCE”

Founded in 1867, the Wellington Philosophical Society, at the Dominion Museum last evening, celebrated its diamond jubilee. The president (Mr. F. ■W. Furkert), who presided over a large attendance of members, traced the history of the society, and referred to the valuable contributions to science which had been made by its early members. They had hoped that night to” have with them one of the foundation members, Major H. A. Lomax, now of Wanganui, but he had been unable tc -attend Plea for Simpler Language. Mr. A. de B. Brandon, who had been a member of the society for over fifty-seven years, freely acknowledged the great debt lie owed to the great men of the past, such as Hector, Travers, Crawford, Buchanan, and others, who by their essays and discussions had broadened the views of members. A plea for unambiguous language by scientists was made by the speaker. “A young man who intends to engage in any pursuit requiring scientific knowledge or investigation,” he said, “will be much hampered at the start if, contemporaneously with the starting of his career, he must also set himself to acquire a sufficient knowledge of language to enable him to understand what has already been done and what should be avoided, and also to record his own work in such a manner as not to be misunderstood when submitting his results, either for criticism or for the guidance of others. It will be for you, the members of this society, founded for the pursuit of philosophy, and your successors, to use your best endeavours to prevent the intelligence of the rising generation being clouded and distorted by the efforts of those who think that time spent in the study of orthography, etymology, syntax, and prosody—both in English and in Latin—is time wast ed. If success be attained the trans actions of the New Zealand institute, and particularly the essays of members of the Wellington Philosophical Society, should lie exemplars in the literature of science.”

Progress of Science. Professor If B Kirk referred to the great strides which had been made in science during recent years, particularly referring to knowledge concerning the atom, X-ravs, and hcavier-lhan-air flying, from the gliders of Wilbur Wright to the winner of the Schneider Cup. 'I he present, he declared, might be described as the age of applied science. It might be doubted if the founding of sections had been a good thing for the society, as this had gone a long way towards lessening interest in the general meetings. Men like Sir George Grey (the first president of the society), the Hon W. B. Montell, and Sir James Hector had been possessed of wide experience, and their fame had extended bevond New Zealand. He also referred to scientists like Hutton, McKay, Franklin, Dr. Newman, Coleman Phillips, Tregcar, Major-General Shaw, Augustus Hamilton, and Gatenbv, the last-named of whom was now a distinguished professor at Dublin University. Professor Kirk gave some humorous reminiscence*

of the early days of the society, describing how a long and heated argument had raged between two learned members as to whether a caterpillar was an animal or a vegetable.

During the evening the president presented the Hector Memorial Medal to Professor C. H Cotton, together with a cheque for £l5. Mr. Furkert explained that Professor Cotton was shortly proceeding overseas, in order to study mountain formation in other lands, and, on behalf ol the society, he wished him a pleasant trip and a safe return.

An interesting time was spent in viewing the geological, chemical, wireless, astronomical, entomological, and meteorological exhibits displayed by members in the main hall of the museum, after which supper was provided by the ladv members of the society.