The first session of the Tenth Council (26th meeting) was held on Whitsun Tuesday, 21st May, 1918, in the Upper House of Convocation of the Church House, Westminster, at 11 o'clock a.m., when there were present of representative members 56 out of 102, and of honorary members seven out of 12, making a total of 63 present out of 114 on the roll. During the election of a president the chair was taken by the hon. secretary, who announced that only one nomination had been received for the presidency, and called on Mr. J. W. Taylor, who proposed the election of the Rev. A. H. F. Boughey. This was seconded by Mr. W. Pye, and supported by Mr. J. S. Pritchett.
Mr. W. T. Cockerill proposed the election of the Rev. Canon Coleridge, who declined to stand for election. The Rev. A. H. F. Boughey was then unanimously elected President. In his absence, the Rev. Canon Coleridge was unanimously voted chairman for the occasion. Having taken the chair, and thanked the members for the compliment, the Chairman announced that the next business was the election of hon. secretary and treasurer.- Mr. W. E. White proposed, and Mr. Griffin seconded, the election of the Rev. C. D. P. Davies, who said that he earnestly desired to resign the offices, but consented to undertake them once more. On being unanimously re-elected, he thanked the members for their renewed confidence.
The Rev. C. W. O. Jenkyn was unanimously re-elected hon. librarian, on the motion of Mr. Joseph Griffin, seconded by Mr. A. A. Hughes.
The minutes of the last meeting were then read, passed, and signed.
The hon. treasurer then read the statement of accounts, of which the following is a summary: To the balance in hand of £54 1s. 3d. there had accrued fees £12 12s. 6d., and one fee of 7s. 6d. a year in advance. Sales of publications, etc. (three years), £5 10s. 8d., and interest £7 3s. 1d. Against this there had been expenses of meetings, £2 2s. 6d.; printing, stationery, etc., £5 2s. 3d.; registrars' fee, 3s. 9d., and postage £2 4s. 5d., leaving an hand a balance of £70 2s. 1d., as shown in the pass book. These accounts, having been previously audited in detail by the Standing Committee were passed, on the motion of the Rev. Canon Coleridge, seconded by the Rev. F. J. O. Helmore.
On the proposal of Mr. E. H. Lewis, seconded by Mr. R. Narborough it was resolved to invest £50 of the above named balance in war stock.
It was proposed by the Rev. Canon Baker, seconded by Mr. F. Willey, and carried, that the Rev. A. H. F. Boughey, Mr. J. W. Parker and the Rev. H. S. T. Richardson be re-elected honorary members for one year.
It was proposed by Mr. H. Knight, seconded by Mr. J. Griffin, and carried that the Rev. E. W. Carpenter and Mr. H. W. Wilde be re-elected honorary members for two years; and on the proposal of Mr. J. Griffin, seconded by Mr. H. White, it was carried that Mr. John Carter, Mr. R. A. Daniell, the Rev. C. D. P. Davies, the Rev. Canon Papillon, Mr. J. S. Pritchett, Mr. J. A. Trollope, and Mr. G. Williams be elected for the full period of three years. Two of the three vacant places were filled for two years by the election of Mr. James George, proposed by Mr. J. S. Pritchett, seconded by Mr. H. Argyle, and of Miss Nellie Gillingham, proposed by Mr. H. Argyle, seconded by Miss E. K. Parker.
The following new members were introduced to and shook hands with the chairman: Mr. E. Horrex, of the College Youths; Bath and Wells, Mr. J. Maddock; Chester, Mr. H. S. Brocklebank and Mr. R. T. Holding; Kent, Mr. J. H. Cheesman; Lancashire, Mr. J. R. Taylor and Mr. W. E. Wilson; Sussex, Mr. E. H. Lindup; Stafford, Mr. W. Fisher; Yorks, Mr. F. Willey; Essex, Mr. E. J. Butler and Mr. G. R. Pye.
The Hon. Secretary read the vote of condolence sent by the Standing Committee to Lady Heywood and her family on the death of the late Sir Arthur Heywood, together with Lady Heywood's letter in reply to it, and on the suggestion of the chairman the vote was unanimously adopted by the Council.
The Hon. Secretary then mentioned the names of members deceased since the last meeting, viz.: Mr. W. L. Catchpole, the Rev. H. A. Cockey, Mr. Henry Dains, Mr. C. H. Hattersley, Mr. Arthur Hughes, Mr. W. Snowdon, and Mr. J. W. Whiting.- The Chairman having referred in feeling terms to each of these, the Council unanimously passed a vote of sympathy with their relatives by rising in silence from their seats.
The Hon. Secretary announced that he had received apologies for absence from Mr. W. H. Godden, the Rev. C. W. O. Jenkyn, the Rev. C. E. Matthews, Mr. J. Motts, Mr. J. W. Parker, Mr. C. L. Routledge, Mr. W. Story, the Rev. C. J. Sturton, the Rev. W. P. Wright and Mr. E. A. Young.
The Hon. Secretary then read a circular letter that had been addressed in the end of January, 1917, by the Standing Committee to the Archbishops and Bishops, countersigned by the clerical members of the Council, on the subject of a possible attempt on the part of a very small section of people opposed to ringing to stir up an agitation against church bells after the war; and reported that he had received replies from the Archbishop of York and ten Bishops, all of them being of a favourable tone.
The re-election of the following members of the Standing Committee was proposed by the Rev. Canon Papillon, seconded by the Rev. Canon Baker, and carried nem. con., viz.: The Hon. secretary, the Rev. Canon Coleridge, the Rev. H. Law James, the Rev. C. W. O. Jenkyn, with Messrs. W. T. Cockerill, R. A. Daniell, and J. Griffin, the vacancies bring filled by the election of the President, the Rev. H. J. Elsee, and Messrs. A. T. King, E. H. Lewis, A. E. Parsons and J. W. Taylor.
For the Peal Collection Committee, the Rev. H. S. T. Richardson reported that the printing was being deferred until after the war. The committee was re-elected, and on the proposal of the Rev. H. S. T. Richardson, seconded by Mr. H. W. Wilde, Mr. J. W. Parker was added to the committee.
The Rev. Canon Papillon reported that the Literature Committee had, after repeated application to Mr. R. A. Daniell, failed to obtain from him any information as to the material which they understood that he had collected for the proposed Bibliography of ringing, and were, therefore, unable to make any report of progress therewith.
On the proposal of Mr. E. H. Lewis, seconded by the Rev. E. W. Carpenter, the Rev. Canon Papillon, and Mr. R. A. Daniell were re-elected, the Rev. A. T. Beeston being elected to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the Rev. H. A. Cockey.
Mr. E. H. Lewis reported for the Legitimate Methods Committee, whose work, he stated, was practically in abeyance during the war. The committee was re-elected.
Mr. A. T. King proposed, and the Rev. E. W. Carpenter seconded, the adoption of the report of the Peals' Analysis Committee, which was carried with the thanks of the Council to the committee which was at the same time re-elected. For the Towers and Belfries Committee Mr. E. H. Lewis reported that personally he had had an opportunity of visiting one of the towers in which the committee was interested, but that the work of the committee as such was at present at a standstill. The committee was re-elected.
On the suggestion of Mr. E. H. Lewis, it was agreed to ask the various committees to elect a chairman of the committee from their number, and to issue a report annually before the meeting of Council.
The Hon. Secretary introduced a discussion on the means most likely to conduce to the greatest utility and efficiency of the Council. The discussion was continued by Mr. A. T. King, the Rev. C. C. Marshall, the Rev. F. Ll. Edwards, the Rev. Canon Baker, the Rev. F. J. O. Helmore, Mr. F. W. Hopgood, and others, and was eventually adjourned for further consideration at the next meeting.
Mr. E. H. Lewis initiated a discussion as to the best way in which to help in the restoration of some of the bells lost by Belgium in the war. After an interesting discussion, it was proposed by Mr. E. H. Lewis and seconded by Mr. E. A. Young, and carried by a large majority, that this Council is in favour of an appeal being made to British ringers and others to help Belgium in the restoration of her lost bells, and commends the matter to the notice of ringers and lovers of bells.
Mr. E. H. Lewis, the Rev. H. J. Elsee and the Rev. H. S. T. Richardson were elected a committee (with power to add to their number) for the purpose of consulting with the Associations as to the best method of procedure.
The Hon. Secretary drew the attention of the Council to the increasing abandonment of raising and falling bells in peal, as a result of which a large proportion of ringers do not acquire the necessary skill to enable them to take part in this ancient and musical practice. In the discussion which followed, there was a general expression of agreement as to the importance of the question, and though no resolution was proposed, it was strongly felt that all members of the Exercise should use their influence in the preservation of the practice of raising and falling the bells in peal.
For the place of meeting next year it was agreed that if peace should have been proclaimed, the meeting should be at Gloucester, but if otherwise it should be held in London.
A hearty vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings, and the meeting adjourned.
The Ringing World, November 1st, 1918, page 347
The meeting was attended by 63 members, representing 29 Associations, viz.-
Ancient Society of College Youths: Messrs. W. T. Cockerill, T. Faulkner, E. Horrex and A. A. Hughes.
Royal Cumberland Youths: Messrs. J. D. Matthews, J. Parker and F. Smith.
Bath and Wells: Mr. J. Maddock.
Bedfordshire: Rev. Canon Baker.
Cambridge University: Mr. E. H. Lewis.
Chester Diocesan: Messrs. H. S. Brocklebank, R. T. Holding.
Dudley Guild: Mr. W. R. Small.
Essex: Messrs. E. J. Butler, G. R. Pye and W. J. Nevard.
Gloucester and Bristol: J. Austin.
Kent: Rev. F. J. O. Helmore, Messrs. E. Barnett, J. H. Cheesman and T. Groombridge.
Ladies' Guild: Miss E. K. Parker.
Lancashire: Rev. H. J. Elsee, Messrs. J. R. Taylor and W. E. Wilson.
Llandaff: Mr. J. W. Jones.
London County: Messrs. T. H. Taffender and E. A. Young.
Middlesex: Major J. H. B. Hesse, Messrs. A. T. King, W. Pye and J. R. Sharman.
Midland Counties: Messrs. J. Griffin, J. W. Taylor and W. E. White.
Central Northants: Mr. F. Wilford.
North Notts: Mr. H. Haigh.
Norwich Diocesan: Mr. G. P. Burton.
Oxford Guild: Rev. Canon Coleridge, Messrs. J. Evans and F. W. Hopgood.
Peterborough: Mr. R. Narborough.
Salisbury Diocesan: Rev. F. Ll. Edwards and W. Hughes D'Aeth.
Stafford Archdeaconry: Messrs. W. Fisher and H. Knight.
Surrey: Lieut. C. F. Johnston and Mr. C. Dean.
Sussex: Mr. E. H. Lindup.
Warwickshire: Mr. H. Argyle.
Winchester: Mr. H. White.
Worcestershire: Messrs. A. E. Parsons, T. J. Salter and W. Short.
Yorkshire: Rev. C. C. Marshall and F. Willey.
Hon. Members: Rev. C. D. P. Davies (hon. secretary), Rev. E. W. Carpenter, Rev. Canon Papillon, Rev. H. S. T. Richardson, Messrs. J. Carter, J. S. Pritchett and H. W. Wilde.
The Ringing World, May 24th, 1918, page 165