RETIREMENT OF SIR OLIVER LODGE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 175, 19 April 1919, Page 7

RETIREMENT OF SIR OLIVER LODGE

STUDY OF THE ETHER OF SPACE. Sir Oliver Lodge, Principal.of the University of Birmingham, will retire in July. In'announcing his-decision at the annual meeting of the Court of Governors, Sir Oliver said it was his wish to make room for a younger man who could : enter upon his' diities with the period of reconstruction. He added that he had passed the professional age limit. He ha dinformcd the vice-chan-cellor uwl council last summer of his intention, and no one should now be taken by surprise. ' Ho thanked tlio eouncfl"and his colleagues for the kindness and consideratiid shown, to him throughout his tenure of office. He.had been in Birmingham nineteen years, and flie growth of the university during that period was a momiineii' to the public services of,those lending citizens of Birmingham who had watched and fostered its growth. ' In what remained of his life, his hope was to devote- himself to the problem of tile ether (if space, in both its physical and psychical relations, as very partially nml incipiently indicated in an article in the current number-r.f the "Hibbert Journal." In. the regions of conjoint physics and psychology llinre was .much work to he done and by devoting himself lo studies in which his special training ought lo 'be Ji.-eful he might hope lo do bettev service in therlong run iliau by continuing to hold an -office which could be filled by a younger • man, full of energy and ambition, closely in touch with" the main life of. the place, and with spccisil gifts in Ibe .direction of organisation and co-oiieralivo work. The vice-nriucipal moved a resolution expressing deep regret at the resignation of Sir Oliver Lodge, and placed on record tile distinguished''services he had rendered to the university, services which had given lustre to it by his great scientific attainments, broad sympathies,' and independence of though!. Sir Richard Threlfdl, in seconding the resolution, snoke of the valuable scientific discoveries made by Sir Oliver. His investifatioos in reraril lo Ihe coagulation of smoke had been of great industrial advantage. 'Thanks to Sir Oliver eno'-tii'ius udv:iti"ps hid been made in electrolysis, and his discoveries relating to in-.i'Kv t"l r 'irrai>liy ''ml Wi" of (l ie greatest importance lo the world. They were In-iir- I'lf services nf one ol' (be greatscientific iiioneers of the generation. Tho Bishop of Birmingham supported the resolution, which was carried.