point, an organization of leading scientific investigators, for
the single purpose of giving a new impetus to American science
and, if possible, elevating the thought of the country and of the
world to a higher plane, involves a new idea, which can best be
realized by an institution organized for the special purpose.
While this purpose is quite in line with that of the leading
universities, it goes too far beyond them to admit of its complete
attainment through their instrumentality. The first object of a
university is the training of the growing individual for the
highest duties of life. Additions to the mass of knowledge have
not been its principal function, nor even an important function in
our own country, until a recent time. The primary object of the
proposed institution is the advance of knowledge and the opening
up of new lines of thought, which, it may be hoped, are to prove
of great import to humanity. It does not follow that the function
of teaching shall be wholly foreign to its activities. It must
take up the best young men at the point where universities leave
them, and train them in the arts of thinking and investigating.
But this training will be beyond that which any regular university
is carrying out.

In pursuing our theme the question next arises as to the special
features of the proposed association. The leading requirement is
one that cannot be too highly emphasized. How clearly soever the
organizers may have in their minds' eye the end in view, they must
recognize the fact that it cannot be attained in a day. In every
branch of work which is undertaken, there must be a single leader,
and he must be the best that the country, perhaps even the world,
can produce. The required man is not to be found without careful
inquiry; in many branches he may be unattainable for years. When