March 3.
A rieasast, if transitory, change from the asperities of politics is sought by some of the most. prominent men in British public life in the serene atmosphere that: surrounds University functions. A commendable custom ordains the selection of such men for positions of honourable pre-eminence in the more sequestered spheres of University activity. The Chancellorship or Lord Rectorship of a University has come to be a prize for political service—not in the narrow and invidious sense of a reward for partisan accomplishment, but as a distinction to be gained by national service rendered amid the turmoil of politics. These posts of enviable distinction are occupied by men of widely divergent political creeds. We find among them the Earl of Rosebery, Mr. H. H. Asquith, Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, the Luke of Devonshire, Viscount Morley, "Mr. A.J. Balfour, Lord Curzon and the Earl of Derby. That these distinguished men have themselves graduated at one or other of the Universities does not indicate that the choice is restricted to those who have bad a University training bat might fairly be held to suggest that such an equipment does not handicap aspirants for success in the higher walks of public useful. ness. In acknowledgement of the honour conferred upon them it is customary for the recipients on the proper occasion to deliver addresses fon subjects of general interest.
and. inclination generally of party controversies or matters of exclusively academic interest. Sometimes, as in the recent consideration by Lord Curzon of the problem of the future relations of East and West, a question of universal importance is chosen; at other times it is felt more desirable that the relationship between institutions of learning and the larger life outside their walls should supply a topic. This was the theme selected by Mr. Asquith when he delivered his Rectorial address last term at Aberdeen University.
Mr. Asquith, after tracing the evolution of Universities and remarking upon the gradual change of view that had led to the opening of the doors of knowledge to all ranks and classes, explained his views upon "some of the short comings and drawbacks which seem in these days to threaten the academic pursuit of the higher forms of knowledge." The first'
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.