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SIR OLIVER LODGE, D.Sc. LL.D., F.R.S.

N writing his recent article, "First Principles of Faith," which embodies an ideal creed, the earnest reverence and high ethical standard of which might serve as a lesson to all, Sir Oliver Lodge, having at heart the higher vitality of his country, was urged by the pressing need for social reform and by a sense of duty, to attempt to recall attention to the main issues which he thinks common to all religious beliefs. The formulation of this creed is the culmination of investigations in the realm of Physics, and of speculations on philosophical and religious questions, which have for some years made Sir Oliver a prominent figure in British life, distinguished not only for his own scientific attainments, but also for his deep sympathy with his fellow men, as shown by his powerful advocacy of all movements in England, during the last quarter century, aiming at scientific advancement and leading to educational and social improvements and reforms.

From his early youth science always proved especially interesting to Sir Oliver Lodge. Born on June 12, 1851, at Penkhull, Stoke-upon-Trent, he received the ordinary secondary school training of forty years ago at the Newport Grammar School, where he

remained until the age of fourteen when he entered into business with his father.

As a young man his interest in science grew, and by working in the evenings he prepared himself for entrance to the University of London, and both matriculated and passed the first Intermediate Examination in Science with first class honours in Physics.

In 1872 he gave up business life, and went to University College, London, to continue his studies in Mathematics and Science. Success crowned his efforts from the moment of his entrance into the University. In 1877 he received the degree of Doctor of Science, and was shortly afterwards made Demonstrator and, later still, Assistant Professor of Physics in his Alma Mater. In 1881 he was elected first Professor of Physics in the newly-founded University College, now the University, of Liverpool. In 1887 he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society, and in 1888 he received the honorary degree of LL.D. from the University of St. Andrews, which degree he has received many times since from other Universities.

While at Liverpool, Sir Oliver carried out a series of researches which have won him a place among the foremost physicists of our time. Perhaps the scientific work for which he is most famed is his long series of investigations, begun over twenty years ago, on the discharge of electricity and kindred phenomena.

These investigations began with a study of the behaviour of lightning and of the best means of obtaining protection from it by lightning conductors. His results in this field led him to investigate more fully the electrical oscillations set up in wires by condenser discharges, and these finally led him to make the remarkable and well-known "Resonating Jar" experiment which now bears his name. In all this work we now know that Sir Oliver was dealing with the electro-magnetic waves in air, which were discovered by Hertz in 1888, and regarding which Hertz himself has said: "There can scarcely be any doubt that if I had not anticipated him he would also have succeeded in obtaining waves in air, and thus also in proving the propagation with time of electric force."

From the results of experiments with these waves, one of the greatest marvels of modern science, wireless telegraphy, has grown, and Sir Oliver Lodge will always be recognised as one of the founders of the system; one of his most brilliant discoveries being that of the "coherer" for detecting the waves. With this receiver he devised the first practical system of wireless telegraphy, sending signals over a distance of several hundred yards, and the work since accomplished in developing this system has undoubtedly been built upon the foundation laid by him.