Proceedings at the Forty-Second Annual Meeting, Held at the Grand Hotel, Colmore Row, Birmingham, on Friday Evening, September 30th, 1898. The President (Mr. Ion Atkins) took the Chair at half-past six o'clock. 112 Members were present.

Coffee was served at 6.30 p.m., after which voting papers for the election of seven gentlemen to serve on the Committee during the Session were distributed. Scrutineers were appointed as follows:-Messrs. E. W. Forrest, W. F. Terry, M. O. Suffield, and W. H. Summerton. A short adjournment then took place, and on the members reassembling, the President delivered his Address, the subject being "Life and Literature.'

"

The Hon. Secretary (Mr. W. Roberts) read the Committee's Report on the Session 1897-98, and also, in the absence of the Hon. Treasurer (Mr. Hugh Morton), read the Financial Statement.

On the motion of Mr. J. G. Hurst, seconded by Mr. E. Antony Lees, it was unanimously resolved

"That the Committee's Report and Treasurer's statement, now submitted, be approved, adopted, and printed."

The President then called upon Mr. H. S. Pearson to read a letter which he had received from Mr. George Zair.

On the motion of Mr. W. Perks, seconded by Mr. S. E. Short, it was unanimously resolved

"That the best thanks of this meeting be given to the Retiring Officers and General Committee."

The President and Secretary responded.

On the motion of Mr. W. H. Silk, seconded by Mr. W. H. Taylor, it was unanimously resolved

"That the best thanks of this meeting be given to the Editorial Committee, Messrs. Isaac Bradley, H. Clarke, T. Cond, E. Preston Hytch, and H. S. Pearson, for their self-denying and valuable services during the past year, and that they be reappointed Editorial Committee for the ensuing year.'

Mr. Bradley responded.

On the motion of Mr. George Titterton, seconded by Mr. R. Steenbock, it was unanimously resolved

"That Mr. Andrew Liddell be elected President of the Association for the ensuing year."

Mr. Liddell responded.

The Scrutineers then presented their Report, and the President declared the following gentlemen duly elected to serve on the Committee during the ensuing year:-Mr. Charles Lean, Mr. John J. Moffat, Mr. John Rogers, Mr. W. H. Silk, Mr. Charles C. Smith, Mr. George Titterton, and Councillor J. W. Tonks.

The President announced ten vacancies, and seventeen nominations were handed in.

On the motion of Mr. C. Lean, seconded by Councillor J. W. Tonks, it was unanimously resolved

“That Mr. Frank S. Pearson be appointed Vice President for the ensuing year."

Mr. Pearson responded.

On the motion of Mr. T. Cond, seconded by Mr. M. O. Suffield, it was unanimously resolved

"That Mr. H. J. Gristwood be appointed Hon. Secretary for the ensuing year."

Mr. Gristwood responded.

On the motion of Councillor James Hunt, seconded by Mr. T, F. Woolley, it was unanimously resolved

"That Councillor John Skinner be appointed Hon. Treasurer for the ensuing year."

Councillor Skinner responded.

On the motion of Mr. H Clarke, seconded by Mr. Frank Whitehouse, it was unanimously resolved

"That Mr. C. Combridge be appointed Hon. Auditor for the ensuing year."

In the absence of Mr. Combridge, Mr. Bradley responded.

The President announced the subject for the Prose Evening, on October 14th, 1898.

The proceedings were brought to a close by the National Anthem, the solo being sung by Mr. Amphlet.

Forty-Second Annual Report

OF THE

BIRMINGHAM CENTRAL LITERARY ASSOCIATION.

SESSION 1897-98.

GENTLEMEN,

In presenting their Report for the Forty-second Session, the Committee have much pleasure in recording that all the varied work for the past twelve months has been carried on without any decrease of interest or diminution of effort.

There have been during the Session fourteen meetings, including eleven Ordinary, the Annual Meeting, the Conversazione, and the Shakespeare Dinner.

The first evening of the Session was one with our Great Prose Writers, and was the thirteenth of a series arranged by Mr. Howard S. Pearson, and the subject on this occasion was Charles Lamb," when the following papers were read :-The Rev. R. Gray, his " Life;" Mr. Councillor Charles Green, J.P., on "Essays;" and Mr. Howard S. Pearson, on his "Miscellaneous Works."

on

his

The sixth evening of the Session was one with the Poets, and was the twenty-second of a series arranged by Mr. Councillor J. W. Tonks, when papers were read by Mr. E. Preston Hytch, on "Dean Swift and his Poems;" by Mr. Frank S. Pearson, on Matthew Prior, his Life and Writings;" and by Mr. W. F. Green, on "Dr. Thomas Parnell and his Writings."

The fifth evening of the Session was devoted to a lecture, given by Mr. E. Antony Lees, on "The Birmingham Corporation Water Supply Works in the Elan Valley," and was a most valuable, instructive, and acceptable addition to our ordinary programme.

The lecture was illustrated by lantern slides, under the supervision of Mr. John Preston Hytch, of the Waterworks Offices. Mr. Amphlet and three friends contributed to the pleasure of the evening by a selection of vocal music.

The last meeting of the Session was a lecture on "Mendelssohn," given by Mr. R. Steenbock, who was assisted by Professor Stranders, to whom the thanks of the Committee are specially due

for his pianoforte accompaniments and solos. The Committee's thanks are also due to Miss Allday, Miss Townson, Mr. F. W. Amphlet, Mr. Isaac Bradley, and Mr. George Harriss, for their solos and glees.

On December 15th, the Annual Conversazione was held at the Grand Hotel, when 354 members and friends were present. For the first time, the entire suite of ante, cloak, and supper rooms were available, and a very enjoyable evening was spent. The thanks of the Association are due to the M.C. (Mr. A. G. Ellaway) and the stewards, for their self-denying labours in what proved a most successful function.

On April 23rd the Annual Shakespeare Dinner was held, and was attended by 87 members and friends. The toast of "The Immortal Memory was proposed by Mr. Frank Heath, "The "C. L. A." by Mr. W. F. Green, and "The President" by Mr. Henry Clarke.

Readings were given by Mr. J. R. Currall and Mr. E. Kent Parsons, violin solos by Mr. A. W. Woolley, glees and solos by Messrs Isaac Bradley, H. Clarke, J. C. Frith, G. Harriss, F. W. Amphlet, and Lowe. The quotations on the menu were provided by Mr. Andrew Liddell, a poem by Mr. G. J. Stoker, and the pianoforte accompaniments by Mr. R. A. Ernest Payne. To all these gentlemen your Committee are much indebted for their share in making the gathering a complete success. A selection of Shakespearean music was given during dinner by Mr. A. W. Woolley's Band.

The following subjects have been debated:

"That the position taken by employers in the recent labour disputes is justifiable."

Decided in the Affirmative. "That the time has arrived for a radical change in the educational and religious policy of the Birmingham School Board."

Decided in the Negative. "That the tendencies of Hospital Management are open to grave abuse, unjust to the medical profession, and detrimental to the best interests of the community."

Decided in the Affirmative.

Decided in the Negative.

"That the Foreign Policy of the Government is to be condemned "

"That Civilisation decreases happiness."

So many members being desirous of speaking, it was adjourned until the next meeting, when the discussion, being continued, resulted in a victory for the Negative.

"That it is desirable, in the best interests of the community, to terminate the Unionist compact."

(Semi-public, and jointly with the Birmingham and Edgbaston Debating Society.)

Decided in the Negative by the casting vote of the President.

The aggregate attendance for the eleven ordinary meetings is 1479, the one members' meeting having an attendance of 27, while the average attendance for the open meetings is 145. Your Committee seriously invite the attention of the members to the totally disproportionate interest shown in the open and closed meetings.

During the Session, sixty-four speeches have been delivered by forty-four members, nine members having made more than one speech, four members having spoken more than twice, and three being maiden speeches. The Committee express the earnest hope that the more recent additions to the ranks will assert their privileges and boldly take up their duties by more freely taking part in the debates.

The prizes offered by the Association to the Birmingham and Midland Institute have this year been won in English History by Miss Ethel Johnson, Miss Maud Morris, and Mr. Arnold W. Smith, who were bracketed equal and divided the prize.

In English Literature, the prize was won by Mrs. Branson, and your Committee have-in accordance with the express wish of herself, and of Mr. Howard S. Pearson, her father-decided that the prize shall this year be absolutely an honorary one.

Your Committee have very much pleasure in reporting that, acting upon the resolution passed at the last Annual Meeting, an illuminated address was prepared for presentation to Mr. George Zair, expressing the appreciation of the members of the Association of the services rendered by Mr. Zair, not only to the Association as a body, but more especially of those rendered to the General and Editorial Committees, extending over a period of more than forty years. The address was presented on the 9th of February, at Solihull, and Mr. Zair feelingly expressed his appreciation of the kindness shown him by the Association.

[COPY OF ADDress.]

BIRMINGHAM CENTRAL LITERARY ASSOCIATION.

ΤΟ

MR. GEORGE ZAIR.

We have received with deep and sincere regret your intimation that you find yourself unable to remain any longer a member of our Committee.

We recall with gratitude your continuous service in that capacity for a period of nearly forty years, and your arduous work in the various offices of the Association from time to time. Twice you have served as our President, with distinction to yourself and honour to us, and we feel that for more than a generation we have received from you such help and support as could only proceed from an ardent love for our Association and an earnest devotion to its work; while your lofty ideals, and the always gentle and refined expression of your views, have afforded an invaluable stimulus in our life and in our work.

The long period of your connection with us has witnessed many changes in our membership, recalling many memories both pleasant and sad; but we have the inestimable happiness and advantage of retaining with us to-day