The Eleventh Annual Meeting of the Council was held at The Midland hotel, Derby, on Tuesday, May 28th, 1901. Forty seven representative members were present out of eighty-four; representing twenty-six out of thirty-two societies; and of Hon. Members three out of eleven.
The President, Sir Arthur Heywood, Bart., occupied the chair.
The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.
The Hon. Secretary announced the receipt of letters of apology for unavoidable absence from the Revs. T. L. Papillon, H. C. Courtney, A. H. F. Boughey, and Messrs. N. J. Pitstow, F. W. J. Rees, and S. Saker.
On the motion of the Rev. F. E. Robinson, seconded by Mr. J. Griffin, the Rev. A. H. F. Boughey, and Mr. W. H. Thompson were re-elected Hon. Members of the Council for the ensuing three years.
The Hon. Secretary produced the accounts and balance-sheet for the past year, which showed that the year began with a balance in hand of £66 10s. 8d., the receipts during the year being £11 6s. 9d., making a total of £77 17s. 5d.; against which there was expenditure £2 18s. 8d., leaving a balance in favour of the Council of £74 18s. 9d.
On the motion of Mr. R. S. Story, seconded by Mr. R. E. Grove, the accounts were passed.
The Hon. Secretary presented the Report of the Peal Collection Committee. It was proposed by the Rev. F. E. Robinson, seconded by Mr. G. Walker and carried, “That the Peal Collection Committee be authorised to issue a complete collection of the best and most characteristic peals in each method, not necessarily excluding those that have been already published.”
The Rev. H. L. James presented the Report of the Committee for the definition of a “legitimate method.” After discussion it was agreed on the proposition of Mr. J. S. Pritchett, seconded by the Rev. F. E. Robinson, to postpone the question of the adoption of the Report to the next meeting, the Committee in the meantime to publish the report in “The Bell News” and invite criticism.
On the motion of the Rev. C. E. Matthews, seconded by the Rev. G. F. Coleridge, the thanks of the Council were given to the Committee for the work done.
The President reported the progress of the Committee on the Condition of Rings. On the motion of Mr. W. L. Catchpole, seconded by the Rev. W. W. C. Baker, the thanks of the Council were offered to the President for the trouble he had taken in the matter.
The Hon. Secretary presented to the Council the completed “Glossary of Technical Terms,” and announced the terms upon which the book would be supplied to Associations and to individual purchasers.
On the motion of the Rev. G. F. Coleridge, seconded by Mr. W. Gordon, a vote of thanks was accorded to the Hon. Secretary for his prolonged and valuable labours in connection with the preparation of the Glossary.
The Rev. F. E. Robinson proposed, Mr. W. T. Cockerill seconded, and it was carried, that the next meeting should be held at Worcester.
The Rev. F. E. Robinson moved, and the Rev. C. D. P. Davies seconded, “That in the performance of a peal of Triples any shift occurring among the bells shall be sufficient to mar the peal, unless it is immediately corrected by the conductor. And that on higher numbers than seven any shift, or other error, that occurs must be corrected, the bells restored to proper coursing-order, and the striking steadied, in less than ten changes from the moment at which the error becomes apparent, and, in any case, before the next course-end is reached; or the peal shall be deemed lost. Also that any firing which occurs in the course of ringing a peal shall be held to render the performance unworthy of record.”
The President having pointed out the bearings of the question on “record peals,” Mr. J. S. Pritchett moved, and Mr. W. T. Cockerill seconded as an amendment “That in the ringing of a peal any shift occuring among the bells shall invalidate the performance unless it is perceived at the time and immediately corrected.”
The amendment was carried, and subsequently agreed to unanimously as the substantive motion.
Mr. J. S. Pritchett moved, Mr. H. White seconded, and it was carried “That it be an instruction to the Standing Committee to draw up a definition of what constitutes a ‘record’ peal, and the conditions under which it should be performed.”
It was moved by the Rev. F. E. Robinson, seconded by the Rev. H. J. Elsee and carried “That in the opinion of this Council any objection against a peal, except in regard to its composition, should be made public within three months of its performance.”
The Hon. Secretary moved, and the Rev. C. D. P. Davies seconded, “That it is desirable to appoint a Committee to draw up a model code of Rules for (a) an Association, and (b) a company of Ringers.”
The motion was agreed to unanimously, and the Rev. F. E. Robinson, Messrs. R. S. Story, R. A. Daniell, A. T. King, and the Hon. Secretary were appointed a Committee accordingly.
On the motion of the Rev. F. E. Robinson, a vote of thanks was unanimously accorded to the President.
The Bell News and Ringers’ Record, July 6, 1901, page 112
| Societies | represented | 26 |
| " | unrepresented | 6 |
| Representatives | present | 47 |
| " | absent | 37 |
| Hon. Members | present | 3 |
| " | absent | 8 |
| Total members | present | 50 |
| " | absent | 45 |
The Bell News and Ringers’ Record, July 6, 1901, page 113