REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOE THE YEAR 1884.
[Read at the Fifth Annual General Meeting, held at
Loughton, January 31st, 1885.]
The arrival of the lustrum of a scientific society is for its well-wishers a
fact of considerable importance, and a careful study of the "life-history "
of the Essex Field Club since its foundation on January 10th, 1880, affords
matter both for pleasurable and regretful retrospection. The objects for
which the Society was founded have in a large measure been fulfilled;
many matters of considerable scientific, local, and general interest have
occupied the Club during the five years of its existence; friendly relations
and intercourse between our members have been fostered and established
by the pleasant field and other meetings, and the Council (which still
includes many of its original members) may fairly claim that at least it
has tried to do its duty, and that its efforts have been in the main
crowned with success. On the other hand, it is felt that very much
more might have been done by residents in the county of Essex in
furtherance of the work of the Club, and a glance at our Treasurer's
statements for the past four years will show that many members have
done nothing to advance the interests of the Society to which they
nominally belong. The difficulties connected with the collection of the
subscriptions due are matters of very serious import, and until a large
section of the members fully and generously appreciate the fact that the
progress and smooth working of an unendowed local scientific society
depends principally on the flourishing state of its finances, the main
occasion for regret, the hurtful delay in the publication of the many
valuable memoirs in the Editor's hands, must exist, and indeed will
become an increasing and intensifying article of irritation and anxiety to
all concerned.
Roll of Members.—It speaks well for the vitality of the Club that as
many as 75 members have joined its ranks during the past year, three
Honorary Members were chosen, and three life compositions have been
paid into the treasury. On the other hand, 32 members have resigned,
mainly owing to removal to distant parts, and the Council much regrets
the loss by death of four members — Dr. Macdonald, Mr. Prince,
Mr. W. T. Wakefield, and Mr. H. M. Wilkinson. The census of the
Club at the end of the years 1883 and 1884 respectively stood therefore
as follows:—