SIR OLIVER LODGE

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 283, 24 August 1940, Page 12

SIR OLIVER LODGE

Veteran Scientist Dead

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBX, August 22. The veteran scientist Sir Oliver Lodge died today at the age of 89. A physicist who made many contributions to modern science and a philosopher with considerable influence on modern thought, Sir Oliver Lodge will nevertheless be chiefly remembered by laymen for his work in connexion with wireless telegraphy and his championship of spiritualistic evidence.

Sir Oliver Joseph Lodge was born at J.'enkhull, Staffordshire, in June, 1851, and was educated at Newport Grammar School. He was intended for a business career, but was attracted to science and entered University College, London, from which he graduated with a doctorate of science. Two years earlier he had been appointed reader in natural philosophy at Bedford College for Women, and in 187!) he became assistant professor ot applied mathematics at University College, London. Two years later he was appointed to the chair of physics at University College, Liverpool, where he remained until 1900, when he was chosen as first principal of Birmingham University. This post lie held until 1919, when he retired. He was knighted in 1002. Sir Oliver’s original work covered a very wide field. He was at home in a number of science# and he investigated lightning, the phenomena of electrolysis, the speed of the ion, electromagnetic waves, wireless telegraphy (he devised one of the earliest practical systems of radio transmission), the supposed motion of the ether relative to the earth, and the application of electricity in the removal of fog and emoke. His numerous scientific works included “Lightning Conductors and Lightning Guards," “Signalling Without Wires,” “Modern Views of Electricity,” “Electrons,” and “The Ether of Space.’’ Latterly he turned his attention toward the popularization of scientific knowledge and published a series of books such as "The Making of Man,” “Ether and Reality,” “Relativity,” and "Talks About Wireless.” He also made an extensive lecturing tour in the United States in 1920, just after his retirement from his. post at Birmingham University, and visited Australia. After 1910 he turned his attention increasingly to psychical research, and undertook the work of reconciling science with religion. He published "The Survival of Man,” “Reason and Belief,’’ which went into a number of editions, and “Raymond, or Life After Death,” which was brought out in 1910 and which attracted great attention because it was an account of communications which he believed he had received from a son who was killed in the World War. Later he published "Christopher, a Study in Human Personality," and “Why I Believe in Personal Immortality.” He received many scientific honours. He won the Rumford Medal of the Royal Society 'l2 years ago, and in 1919 was Albert Medallist of the Royal Society of Arts because of his pioneer work for radio. He was Faraday Medallist of the Institute of Electrical Engineers in 1932, president of the London Physical Society in 1899-1900, president of tile British Association in 1913-14, and several times president of the Society for Psychical Research. He held honorary degrees from imiversites in Britain. Canada and Australia, and was an honorary member of tiie Institute of Electrical Engineers. He had lately been.working for some time on another book popularizing physics. He married Miss Mary Marshall in 1877 (she died some years ago), and ther<> were six sons and six daughters of th» marriage. His eldest sop. Oliver William Foster Lodge, has published a number of novels, plays and volumes of verse.

Cardinal Goma

(Received August 23, 9.30 p.m.). MADRID, August 23.

The death has occurred of Dr. Isidro Goma V Tomas, Cardinal Archbishop tof_Toledo and Primate of Spain.