120 PRESENTATION TO MR. WILLIAM COLE.
enabled to do is practically the outcome of the single-minded devotion of our
chief guest this evening, Mr. William Cole, who has been its active executive
officer during the whole period of its existence (Applause). We have met,
therefore, to do honour to our Founder, our Hon. Secretary, our Editor, and the
Curator of our Museums. In all these capacities, he has served us right loyally
for a quarter-of-a-century—(applause)—devoting the best part of his life and
energy to this work.
I might speak of Mr. Cole in a collective capacity, like the editorial "we,''
signifying many; for we all know how the other members of the family have
worked with him shoulder to shoulder (Applause).
In case there should be some misapprehension—and I have heard one or two
remarks which lead me to believe that there may be some—I wish it to be
distinctly understood that this is not a farewell gathering (Applause). It is
quite the reverse : it is a renewal of the lease of Mr. Cole's activity. We are
glad to know that he is not going to retire upon his laurels, and I am sure I
shall be expressing the innermost wishes of all of you when I wish continued
health and activity to Mr.William Cole and the members of his family, to continue
the good work which he inaugurated more than twenty-five years ago and
has carried on so actively ever since.
If there is one thing that stands out clearly in the history of the Essex Field
Club, it is the extraordinary vitality and longevity of the officials connected with
it. There is not a single blank in our list of Past-Presidents, and I think there is
only one gap in the list of officers who have ever given their services to the
Society during the whole period of its existence.
It is undesirable that I, who have been put into this most honourable and,
I may say, particularly gratifying position, should detain you long with any
personal reminiscences. At the same time, it is difficult for me to travel back in
the history of my long friendship with the Cole family without saying that I first
met our Secretary, some thirty-five years ago, in the glades of Epping Forest
(Applause). From the time that this Club was started down to the present
moment, it has been my privilege and my pleasure to promote the objects of the
Society in every way within my power (Applause). I have seen the work
from the commencement, and I think I have a unique knowledge of the amount
of thought and labour which Mr. Cole and his brothers and sisters have put into
the affairs of this Society. He started the (Hub with lofty ideals, and those
ideals have been more or less realized. That is something to be proud of. The
position which this Club has gained throughout the country is so high that he
may well feel pride in contemplating the outcome of his work.
We are proud to see among us to-night many of the oldest members of our
Society. We are prouder still to see many guests, whose presence here shows that
there is also an outer public which is appreciative of the work the Essex Field
Club has been able to cany on, through its Founder and Secretary, during this
long period of time (Applause). I should like, with your permission, to read
some of the letters which have been sent to myself and to Mr. Miller Christy, in
connection with this gathering, by yet other well-wishers who are unable to be
present with us.
The Chairman then read the letters following:—
52, NEVERN SQUARE, KENSINGTON, S.W.
December yd, 1905.
My dear Meldola,
I was delighted to hear of this proposed official recognition of the great debt