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THE CENTRAL COUNCIL.

OFFICIAL MINUTES.

The Third Session of the Sixth Council was held in the Council Chamber of the Guildhall at Cambridge on Whitsun-Tuesday, 9th June, 1908, Sir Arthur Heywood, Bart., President, in the chair. There were present 55 out of 93 elected representatives, and 8 out of 11 honorary members.

The minutes of the previous meeting having been read, passed and signed, the Hon. Secretary announced that expressions of regret for absence had been received from Rev. C. E. Matthews, and from Messrs. J. Clark, J. W. Jones, and A. F. M. Stewart.

The Hon. Treasurer then submitted the annual statement of accounts of which the following is a summary: Balance from last year, £50 7s. 2d.; affiliation fees, £11 12s. 6d.; sale of publications, £4 10s. 4d.; making a total of £66 10s. The expenditure had been: Expenses of last meeting, £2 7s.; Printing, £29 14s. 6d.; postage and sundries, £1 1s.; leaving in hand a balance of £33 7s. 6d. To this may be added the estimated nett value of the publications left in the hands of Messrs. Bemrose and Sons, £129 8s. 6d., bringing the total assets of the Council to the sum of £162 16s. These accounts, having been previously audited in detail by the Standing Committee were passed on the proposal of the Rev. F. E. Robinson, seconded by Mr. J. Griffin.

The Hon. Secretary then announced that the Cambridge University Guild, the Truro Diocesan Guild, and the Warwickshire Guild, had become affiliated to the Council.

The following new members were introduced to the President and took their seats on the Council, viz.: Mr. A. L. Coleman, of the Warwickshire Guild; Rev. T. L. Jones, of the North Wales Association; Mr. E. H. Lewis, of the Cambridge University Guild; and the Rev. H. S. T. Richardson, honorary member.

On the proposal of the Rev. H. Law James, seconded by the Rev. W. W. C. Baker, Rev. E. W. Carpenter was unanimously re-elected an honorary member, as was also Mr. Tom Lockwood, on the proposal of Mr. W. Snowdon, seconded by Mr. C. H. Hattersley.

The President then delivered a brief and stirring address on the duty of ringers as churchmen to do their utmost as defenders of the Church’s schools which were threatened by the projected legislation of the party now in power. His words met with hearty applause from the Council.

On behalf of the Peal Collection Committee Dr. A. B. Carpenter reported that Section III. of the Collection containing peals of Double Norwich Court Bob had been published, and that a list of errata had been carefully drawn up and inserted in each copy of the work.

It was proposed by Rev. C. D. P. Davies, seconded by Dr. A. B. Carpenter, and carried unanimously, that Mr. J. A. Trollope be added to the Committee. On the proposal of Rev. F. E. Robinson, seconded by Rev. H. Law James, the Committee were instructed to include in the next section the figures of Mr. W. Willson’s long peal in the form in which an attempt was made to ring it.

Mr. R. A. Daniell reported progress on behalf of the Church Press Committee.

Speaking for the Legitimate Methods Committee Rev. H. Law James reported that Section I. of the Collection of Legitimate Methods, containing methods in Doubles, Minor and Triples had been published during the year. On the proposition of Rev. G. F. Coleridge, seconded by Mr. F. B. Tompkins it was agreed that the question of type writing the future work of the Committee be left in the hands of the Hon. Secretary, subject to the decision of the standing committee.

Mr. John Carter having expressed disagreement with certain particulars in the Collection of Legitimate Methods, it was with his concurrence agreed that his name should be removed from title page.*

For the Peals’ Analysis Committee Mr. A. T. King reported that the Analysis for 1907 had been ready for some months, with the exception of one matter on which the formal reply of the Peal Values Committee was being awaited.

On behalf of the Peal Values Committee Mr. R. S. Story reported that the Committee were of opinion that the peal rung and published by the title of “London Surprise Royal” should be allowed 68 points; this opinion being subsequently endorsed with unanimity on the proposal of the Hon. Secretary, seconded by Mr. W. L. Catchpole.

The President having decided that at this point it would be best to take item No. 9 on the Agenda, there ensued a long discussion, introduced by Mr. F. G. May, on the claims of the various methods published under the title of “London Surprise Royal.” Mr. G. F. Attree proposed, and Mr. J. S. Pritchett seconded a resolution to the effect that “The Council declines to recognise any method hitherto rung or published as being entitled to the designation of London Surprise Royal,” but on the motion of Rev. H. Drake, seconded by the Hon. Secretary, the previous question was carried by 24 to 21.

It was proposed by the Hon. Secretary, seconded by Mr. J. Bradney, and carried, that the following note be appended to Rule II., viz.: “Here and elsewhere in these rules the word ‘member’ shall be taken as meaning ‘member of Council.’ A ‘representative member’ is not necessarily a member of the Society which he represents.”

The Hon. Secretary proposed, Mr. R. S. Story seconded, and it was carried by 33 votes against 9, that “it is desirable to retain the practice of apportioning points for peals.”

At the close of a long and interesting discussion, introduced by Rev. H. A. Cockey, on the question as to “whether the present fashion of ringing a large variety of methods is responsible for decreased attention to accurate striking; and, if so, whether any steps can be taken to encourage greater pride in this respect,” it was proposed by Rev. A. H. F. Boughey, seconded by Mr. J. S. Pritchett, and carried, that “This Council wishes to call the attention of Associations generally, and of conductors in particular, to the desirability of encouraging the greatest possible accuracy in striking.”

The Hon. Secretary moved a cordial vote of thanks to the Rev. A. H. F. Boughey for his kindness in making such excellent arrangements for the meeting of the Council. This having been seconded by Mr. R. S. Story, was enthusiastically carried.

The Rev. F. E. Robinson proposed, and Rev. G. F. Coleridge seconded a vote of thanks to the President and Hon. Secretary, and the meeting adjourned.

* In subsequent private correspondence with the Hon. Secretary, Mr. Carter has expressed himself as being willing that his name should remain on the title-page, and accordingly no action has been taken on the resolution.

The Bell News and Ringers’ Record, Oct. 10, 1908, page 377

The Bell News and Ringers’ Record, June 13, 1908, page 172