12 SHORT HISTORY OF ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
a letter of warning from the honorary treasurer, dated September
7, 1896, is most pertinent:—
"As Treasurer of the Club I hold that the regular issue
"of the Essex Naturalist twice a year is the sheet-anchor
"of our prosperity . . . . The Museums are excellent things,
"on which we may well spend money when we have
"got it. But, to get the money, we must foster the Club.
"Now many of our members never attend a meeting. . .
"consequently, unless they get their Essex Naturalists
"they get nothing for their subscriptions."
In the following year (on March 3, 1897) Mr. Waller also drew
serious attention to the fact that the Life Composition Account
existed on paper only ; he suggested that it should be gradually
re-established on a cash basis ; accordingly, the Council resolved
to form a Sinking Fund of not less than £10 per annum, to which
was to be added the monies derived from sales of publications,
in order to effect this reform. There were at that time 31 Life
Compounders. This resolution was faithfully adhered to during
Mr. Waller's honorary treasurership, which lasted from 1896 until
1901, by which latter date a sum of £85 had been accumulated.
At the period now under review (1897) many paid lectures
were being given at the Club's winter meetings, a regrettable
circumstance from the point of view of the vitality of the Club.
As Professor Meldola pointed out some years later, "A long
"course of experience . . . has served to convince me that the
"work of a local society is weak in proportion as it has to depend
"upon popular lectures for keeping it alive."
We have now to consider the further development of the
dispute concerning the Central Museum.
Negotiations with the Chelmsford Town Council having been
abortive, an informal approach was made to Colchester, without
result. But West Ham was soon to offer a happy solution of
the difficulty.
Meanwhile, the scheme for establishing a County Museum at
Chelmsford was stillborn, the museum, after more than six years
of preparation, never having been opened to public inspection.
Notice was given to terminate the tenancy of the museum rooms
as from Christmas 1897, a step which evoked a spirited protest
on the part of the Chelmsford members. There ensued also an
unhappy dispute concerning the ownership of certain specimens,