SHORT HISTORY OF ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 23
following summer, the Conservators sought the co-operation
of the Club in their endeavour to effect this desirable result, and
asked for reports on the subject from members, which were
duly furnished. At the time of writing, it is unknown what
result the action of the Conservators has had or may have in
getting rid of this nuisance.
At the opening of the year 1929 a booklet, drawn up by the
President and Hon. Secretary, was printed and distributed to
all the members, which gave information concerning the Club
and its work for the benefit of enquirers.
In concluding this account of the history of our Club during
its long life of half a century, a few remarks are permissible.
In the first place, it may perhaps be thought that, with so
many efforts in the past, there remains nothing for the Club to
do in the future ; this is by no means the case. Horizons of
useful work continue to open out and should inspire to further
endeavour. A society that stands still is going back ; and,
although it is excusable on such an occasion as a Jubilee celebra-
tion to look backward with satisfaction and even pride on the
achievements of the past, yet should we look forward and press
on to new endeavours. The biblical admonition "Speak unto
the children of Israel that they go forward!" applies to us also.
A new Flora of Essex, a Special Memoir on the Geology of the
County, another on the Crustacea of the County, further
detailed investigation of the second Camp in Epping Forest
(Ambresbury Banks), these are but a few of the directions in
which the Club might find fresh outlets for its energies.
A change of policy on which the Club may reasonably congratu-
late itself, is the substitution of voluntary aid by members,
in place of the former customary method of payment for ser-
vices rendered ; the supply of living wild-flowers to the two
Museums, the conductorship of field-meetings, the reading
of papers or the giving of lectures at the winter meetings, all
these, often formerly rewarded by so-called "honoraria" or
by acknowledged payment, are now voluntary services rendered
out of loyal goodwill to the Club.
Another change, equally satisfactory, is the marked increase
in the sociability of our members—a change which has fre-