THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
SPECIAL MEETING.
Saturday, January, 22nd, 1898.
AT the Loughton Public Hall, a Special Meeting was called by the
Council for the purpose of proposing for the adoption by the Members
(under the powers of Rule XXXVII.) certain alterations in the Rules,
rendered necessary by the projected establishment of the Club's County
Museum and Library at Stratford.
Mr. David Howard, President, took the chair at six o'clock.
The Hon. Secretary read the notice calling the meeting.
The President shortly detailed the condition of affairs with reference to
the Club's County Museum, and the efforts which had been made by the
Club to establish it at Chelmsford. These efforts had wholly failed, but an
offer had come from the Borough of West Ham which the Council strongly
recommended the Club to accept. Mr. Howard explained the scheme and
concluded by moving :—
" That in Rule XXV. the word ' Chelmsford ' be struck out, and the word
'Essex' be inserted in its place."
Mr. F. H. Varley seconded the resolution. He was sure that after years
of strenuous efforts, it was most desirable to have the Museum in a place
where they could get real, active, support and co-operation, and where funds
would be found to maintain the institution in a practical working condition.
Mr. F. Chancellor, who had sent a circular letter to the members a day
before the meeting, strongly opposed the removal of the Museum from
Chelmsford.
Mr. Durrant also strongly opposed.
Mr. W. Cole emphatically denied the truth of a great many of the
allegations made by Mr. Chancellor in his circular letter,
A very long discussion ensued, carried on by Mr. Carruthers Gould, Mr.
Robinson, Mr. Chancellor, the President, Mr. Durrant, Mr. W. C. Waller,
Mr. C. Williams, and others.
Ultimately a proposal was made to form a Committee for the purpose
of determining what portion of the exhibits in the Essex Field Club's Museum
at Chelmsford formerly belonged to the old Essex and Chelmsford Museum
Society before its amalgamation with the Club as from the 1st January, 1893,
and the apportionment of the pecuniary liabilities attaching to the same. The
resolution met with the approval of the majority of the members present at
the meeting, and the members of the Council were constituted the Committee.
As, however, the proposition was carried as an amendment to the first resolu-
tion on the agenda paper, no advance could be made in the business of the
meeting.