ADDRESS DELIVERED ON THE OCCASION OF THE OPENING OF THE 
NEW LECTURE HALL OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL 
SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA, 
FEBRUARY 22, 1892. 
—BY THE— 
Rev. Henry C. McCook, D. D. 
Vice-President. ADDRESS DELIVERED ON THE OCCASION OF THE OPENING OF 
THE NEW LECTURE HALL OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL 
SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA, FEBRUARY 22, 1892. 
BY THE 
Rev. Henry C. McCook, D. I). 
Vice-President. 
Fellow Academicians and Fellow Citizens :—It has fallen to 
my lot, in the unavoidable absence of the President, to give 
some official recognition to the opening of this Lecture 
Hall. It is not intended here to dedicate it to its special 
purpose, but rather to stir up our hearts and dedicate our- 
selves to the high service of which it is the outer symbol. 
The fathers and founders of this Academy declared it to be 
a part of their purpose to make known the wise works of 
the Creator. This Hall is sacred to that design. Science 
lias not only eyes but a voice; its mission is not only to 
collect and classify, but to forth-tell. It has been in the 
past, and will continue to be, “ Vox clamantis in deserto, ”— 
“ the voice of one crying in the wilderness ; ” and as such, 
(1 say it reverently), it also may and should “ prepare the 
way of the Lord.” If the revelation of the AVord has its 
prophets and expounders ; if historians interpret the divine 
administration of affairs; surely those who have knowledge 
of that revelation which is in creation should be no less 
eager to interpret to their fellow beings the truths which 
have come to them. This Lecture Hall is the sanctuary in 
which this interpretation shall be voiced to the thought of 
the people. That it may serve this noble end and afford 
a pleasant and convenient meeting house in which to pro- 
mulgate the truths of science, is the sincere desire of those 
who now place it at the disposal of the public. 
This building marks the culmination of a new life and 
policy which a few years ago was adopted by the Academy’s 
administration. A Committee on Instruction had long ex- 
isted, but it was an empty name—“vox et praetera nihil.” 2 
At last the time came when the committee expressed 
a living purpose.- Professorships had been provided for in 
our constitution, but they were only high sounding titles. 
There were no men to occupy them. It was resolved first 
of all that the professorships should be filled, and that next, 
work should be given the professors to do. Many thought 
the plans of the committee extravagant and impracticable. 
It seems strange now and here to recall the opposition, and 
the arguments of the opposition, so confidently arrayed 
against the plans for instruction. Only a few years ago a 
few enthusiastic young professors were placed in the van of 
the new endeavor. Among them were the late H. Carvill 
Lewis, whose untimely death so many friends lamented ; 
Prof. Benjamin Sharp, and Prof. Angelo Heilprin, to 
whom as much as to any others the success of the new de- 
parture is due. Professor Brinton came in at a later date, 
and Prof. J. Gibbons Hunt, the Nestor of the faculty, con- 
tributed something by his admirable popular lectures before 
the section of Biology and Microscopy. 
Large things were laid out, as is abundantly attested 
by the curriculum which was published and printed for the 
use of scholars and professors. From the beginning the 
new departure was a substantial success. There were no 
great crowds, but those who came (and there was a goodly 
number) were earnest, and received what they came for. 
No distinctions were made because of sex or color or 
previous condition; men and women alike were welcome, 
and from all colleges and institutions of whatever school 
or shade of thought. Thus the Academy fulfilled its 
catholic and cosmopolitan ofiice, and proved a rallying point 
for all those who wished to know something more of the 
secrets of Nature. 
We are living to-day in the midst of a wonderful move- 
ment known as University Extension. It is new so far as 
Philadelphia is concerned ; and yet, long before it had pre- 
sented itself in its present form to the public thought, our 
Academy of Natural Sciences had adopted substantially the 3 
same method of work, and had been patiently and success- 
fully carrying it out to the edification of great numbers. 
Xo one made much fuss about it; it was done with quiet 
dignity, as befitting a venerable institution of learning and 
science ; but none the less it was done,—done and is doing, 
even while men around were shrugging their shoulders, 
and talking about the “slowness” of the Academy! 
We do not recall this either to glorify or justify ourselves, 
but simply to state the facts which find to-night their cul- 
mination in this beautiful and convenient Hall, which is 
now opened for the accommodation of classes and courses 
of lectures that have become a part of our Academy’s life 
and methods. 
Hut we may not dismiss the theme without reminding 
you that this is only the vestibule of an unfinished temple 
of science which is yet to be reared, and whose foundation 
walls are laid in the spacious lot beyond us. For the first 
time since the Academy has been organized it has received 
aid from the Commonwealth. Heretofore, every dollar has 
been given by its members, or by munificent and intelli- 
gent friends. Well might the State contribute to widen the 
usefulness of an institution which has done so much for its 
material advancement, and has reflected such credit upon 
American learning. We gratefully thank the powers that 
be ! But much remains to be done. The citizens of Phila- 
delphia should hasten to complete the Museum building of 
which this Hall forms a part. Philadelphia men of science 
have long been in the van of American naturalists. They 
have carried the good name of this community into circles 
of learning throughout the entire world, and have won a 
proud place amongst those whose opinion is most desirable. 
Had the men and women who now hold the noble succes- 
sion of the past,—these experienced workers, and these 
bright young spirits full of enthusiasm for science,—the 
means at their command, which are lavishly laid down for 
others, they would repay you a thousand fold, citizens of this 
goodly town, both in substantial increment of material wealth 4 
and the fame they would add to your name. We think, too 
often, with pride of what other cities and countries have done, 
and forget what we ourselves are doing, and the possibili- 
ties that lie within these plants that our own hands have 
made and nourished. We have the material around which 
to gather one of the noblest museums, not only in the 
New World, but among civilized men. Complete our build- 
ing ; give us money to richly endow the Museum, set these 
eager hands and minds, with all this machinery, to their 
best work, and in twenty-five years or less, there will be no 
institution to which you may point with such proud satis- 
faction as this Academy of Natural Sciences. 
What a noble monument it would be were some one to 
contribute the price of this Hall, forty or fifty thousand 
dollars, and thereby secure his name or the name of some 
dear friend that he would fain memorialize, to a building 
which shall live throughout coming generations! How 
better far than any monument reared in Laurel Hill or 
Woodlands would such a memorial as this become. This 
Hall has not yet been named, I believe. Here is a most 
inviting opportunity for a philanthropic citizen. I make 
no doubt, moreover, that sections and alcoves of the Museum 
building might thus be named and set apart as memorials 
of helpful contributors. Why should we not gratify such 
an honorable ambition to associate our names, or the names 
of beloved friends, with institutions such as this? But if 
any man prefer the nameless glory of the Good Samaritan, 
then for him there is a wide open field ; and to him also the 
bidding comes to help in this grand enterprise, whose vesti- 
bule to-night is thrown wide open to the inquiring world, 
and set apart for ever to the high service of scientific in- 
vestigation and instruction.