The Dogmatism of Science Page 5

As long as the so-called "Lights of Science" hold the attitude that they take toward lesser lights, who are interested in Keely's work, no physicists of note can be expected to interest themselves in Keely's claims publicly.

Prof. Lodge, in closing a recent article, "Unusual Physical Phenomena," writes: "And now, finally, let me disclaim all missionary spirit in this long exposition. The business of a scientific man is the pursuit of natural knowledge and the imparting of such portion of it as has by long trial become recognized and orthodox - i. e., such portion as people are willing to receive. For I need hardly remind the reader that at one time the science of nature, or physics itself, was very far from being orthodox, and that in past days promulgators of any new truth had to pass, not through the fire of a little friendly badinage and ridicule, but through fire of a much fiercer and more searching character; unless, indeed, they recanted their 'errors.' Instruction in orthodox branches of science is now permitted to youth; an unorthodox department of knowledge may have to wait many years before instruction in it can be willingly received, even by adult and experienced minds. Let it wait! The instinct of an investigator and teacher is to set forth, as best he may, such natural truth as he is able to perceive - such truth as the interworking of his era and his opportunities have revealed to him - and there he must leave it. For its reception by the human race, he is not responsible.

"The universe is not so simple a matter as men in this century have been apt to think. All we ask for on the part of our contemporaries is an attitude of mind willing to give to new truths a chance of life. If it be of God, they cannot indeed ultimately overthrow it; but they may, by determined blindness, seriously delay its coming, and entirely prevent its reception in their own age.

"I ask for no hasty belief. No one can usefully believe things of which he has had no experience. He may say that the statements of those who support them are or are not entitled to respect, and that, if he were forced by a pistol at his head to take sides prematurely, he would range himself