21
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31st, 1889.
[Read at the Annual Meeting, February 1st, 1890.]
When, in 1885, the entrance-fee of 10s. 6d. was imposed, some fears were expressed
that the new rule would injuriously affect the Club by diminishing the number of
new members. That this has not been the case is evident from the fact that in
1888, 54 candidates presented themselves for election, and that in 1889 the num-
bers reached 69, perhaps the largest accession of recruits since the first year of
the Club's existence. The number of members now on the books is about 440, but
the strength of the Club cannot be exactly stated until the list has been carefully
revised. This revision will be taken in hand at once by the Treasurer and Secre-
tary, and when completed a report will be made, the non-paying members recom-
mended for removal, and a new edition of the List of Members issued.
An examination of the Treasurer's statement of account will show that during
the year the expenditure has exceeded the actual income of the Club. But as the
income in any one year is spent in meeting the expenditure of that year, the latter
is necessarily based upon the faith that all subscriptions will be paid. This has
not been the case. The Council confidently hope that Mr. Lockyer's work dur-
ing the next few months will bring in a sufficient number of overdue subscriptions
to extinguish the deficit. Otherwise, of course (pending a suggested re-arrange-
ment of the terms of the subscription), it will be necessary to considerably curtail
the expenditure in printing, &c., during 1890—a step which the Council would
take with the greatest reluctance.
The consideration of an alteration in the rate of subscription and of the privi-
leges of members has occupied the attention of the Council, and several plans for
effecting this, object have been suggested. A glance at our balance-sheets for the
last few years will show that the margin of what may be called "profit" on each
member, after providing for the necessary outgoings, is too small to allow of
any expenditure in explorations, cataloguing, and other very desirable kinds of
work. The Club's district is large, and the members very much scattered—many
expenses are consequently incurred which do not fall upon societies belonging to
towns or with limited districts. The postage expenses alone are probably nearly
one-fifth of the income of the Club. The members will be asked in the coming
season to decide this question by a postal-vote, and the Council most earnestly
ask that they will carefully consider the facts that will be placed before them, so
that the decision may be given in the best interests of the Club, and not from any
merely personal or selfish considerations.
An additional reason for some modification of the rate of subscription will arise
should the scheme for the establishment of a Local Museum for Essex which is now
being considered by the Club be brought to maturity. The Council has appointed
the President and Secretary a Committee to confer with Mr. E. Durrant (the
Hon. Secretary to the present Essex and Chelmsford Museum), Mr. Chancellor
and Mr. Furbank, as to the details of such a scheme. When the plans of the
Committee are fully matured they will be submitted to the Council, and, if
the scheme is approved, a meeting of the members will be called to authorize the
Council to take the matter up officially. The establishment of a Local Museum has
always been one great aim of the Club, and it is a matter which is yearly becoming
of greater importance. Apart from the scientific and educational value of such
a Museum, the attainment of a settled and substantial position in the county