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general scheme of classification of animal and vegetable
organisms. The promoters aim at its eventually fulfilling three
main purposes :—
(1.) The instructive recreation of the ordinary visitor by means
of carefully arranged sets of the chief forms of life inhabiting the
district, and examples showing the nature and meaning of fossils and
geological formations.
(2.) Collecting and preserving authentic series of all forms of life,
recent and extinct, occurring in Essex, as well as geological and
anthropological specimens. This is a matter of really great scientific
importance in view of the changes in our fauna and flora now so rapidly
being brought about by the increase of population and the consequent
effacement of natural conditions in many parts of the county.
(3.) Assisting students and field-naturalists in identifying and
studying the groups in which they are interested.
There is one clause in the agreement which should be
remembered by all taking an interest in the museum. By virtue
of it, should the Club at any future time be unable or unwilling
to continue the scientific control of the Museum, it will revert to
the Corporation to be by them maintained and managed precisely
on the lines laid down in the Agreement. This stipulation gives
a warrant of permanence—a matter of the utmost importance, as
experience proves, to the well-being and progress of such an
institution.
The foundation-stone of the Museum was laid by Mr.
Passmore Edwards on Tuesday afternoon, October 6th, 1898, in
the presence of the Mayor (Alderman W. Ivey), the Chairman
of the Technical Instruction Committee (Alderman W. Crow,
J.P.), Mr. David Howard, President of the Essex Field Club,
and a large concourse of members of the Town Council and
visitors. In reply to a vote of thanks Mr. Edwards said that
this being a County Borough the Museum would belong to the
county of Essex more than to West Ham itself. He trusted that
the two institutions, the Technical Institute and the Museum,
would stand side by side as part and parcel of one great whole,
and that they would mutually work with each other. He could
only wish them both great prosperity and usefulness.
During the progress of the building, Mr. Passmore Edwards
again showed his great interest in the scheme by increasing his
original donation to £3,000, and by adding thereto a further sum
of £1,000 for the purchase of fittings. This last generous gift
has provided the handsome wall and floor-cases which will go so
far towards meeting the requirements of the extensive collection.