THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB AND ITS
WORK.
By MILLER CHRISTY, F.L.S., President*
(I.)—WHAT IT IS.
Foundation.—The foundation of the Essex Field Club in 1880
was due to the initiative of Mr. William Cole, who has acted ever
since as its Honorary Secretary.
In the autumn of 1879, he proposed, by means of letters to the
county papers and otherwise, the establishment of such a society,
and secured thereby the adhesion of some hundred and twenty ladies
and gentlemen interested in the study of natural history. Later, two
preliminary meetings were called, at which the draft rules and general
programme of the intended society were approved.
Finally, on the 10th of January 1880, a meeting for the public
inauguration of the Club was held at the rooms of the Epping Forest
Art Classes, at Buckhurst Hill. It was attended by about eighty
persons, who enrolled themselves as members, and was presided over
by Professor (then Mr.) Raphael Meldola, F.R.S., F.C.S., etc., then
Honorary Secretary of the Entomological Society of London. The
draft Rules were adopted and officers were elected.
Subsequently, on the 30th of October 1880, it was announced that
H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught, Ranger of Epping Forest, had
consented to become Patron of the Club.
The title of the Society was at first " The Epping Forest and
County of Essex Naturalists' Field Club," but this somewhat
cumbrous title was soon changed to that now in use.
Objects.—The objects of the Club, as set out in the original
Prospectus and Rules, were well summarised by Mr. Meldola in
his "Inaugural Address," delivered at the second Meeting of the
Club, held on the 28th of February 1880 :—" Our Society, in general
terms, may be said to have for its scope the study of Nature in
the field—the furthering of science—the addition of something, how-
ever humble, to the general stock of human knowledge."
In other words, the Club was founded to promote the Study and
Investigation of the Natural History, Geology, and Pre-historic
Archaeology of the County; to publish the results of such study and
investigation; to get together a good Natural History Library,
relating more particularly to the County of Essex; to establish a
Museum to illustrate the Fauna, Flora, Geology, and Natural Pro-
ductions of the County; and, generally, to aid in the dissemination
of a practical knowledge of Natural Science, by holding meetings,
lectures, instruction classes, issuing publications, and so forth.
There is, in Essex, no other organised scientific body having the
same or similar aims.
(II.)—WHAT IT HAS DONE (1880-1908).
Ordinary Meetings.—" Ordinary" (or Scientific) Meetings, for
the reading and discussion of scientific papers or notes, and for the
* I desire to acknowledge the very large amount of help which Mr. William Cole, our Hon.
Secretary, has rendered me in connection with the preparation of the following statement.
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