THE CENTRAL COUNCIL.

The first meeting of this body took place as announced on Tuesday last, March 31st, at the “Inns of Court” hotel, Holborn. Nearly all the elected representatives were present, and as soon as they had subscribed the roll, business was commenced by the Rev. H. Earle Bulwer being voted to the chair pro tem.

On taking the chair Mr. Bulwer said he felt it an honor to be in that position, even though the proceedings were only in their initiatory stage. As they were all aware, it was necessary to elect a Chairman of that council, and as only Mr. Heywood had been nominated in proper form for that office he would put the proposition at once before them.

This being done, Mr. Heywood was most cordially elected President of the council for the ensuing three years.

In taking his seat, the President thanked the council in appropriate terms, and the business then commenced. As however we shall in our next number publish the official report of the proceedings, it will be unnecessary now to give anything but a mere resumé.

For the office of Hon. Secretary, four candidates were announced, but at the last moment Messrs. Thornton and Attree retired from the contest, leaving only Messrs. Strange and Dawe, the latter of whom was elected.

The “seven-bell peal” question took up a great part of the time of the meeting, and a resolution was carried in favor of the recognition of this kind of performance. It can hardly be believed, however, that the question is at an end. The refusal to recognise a peal of Triples rung upon seven bells with out a cover, savours somewhat of an hardship, and this seemed chiefly to influence the Council in dealing with the question.

The question of proxy voting was dealt with in a manner similar to that of last year, and not all the persuasive eloquence of the President of the Yorkshire Association, nor the entreaties of its Honorary Secretary could induce the council to relent one jot, and for the next three years at least voting by proxy at the Central Council will be unknown.

For the place of meeting next year the towns of Derby and Birmingham were proposed, but the latter town was selected by a great majority.

Most of the councillors attended at dinner (or luncheon), which was served shortly after the conclusion of business; and when that was over the meeting of the Central Council for the year 1891 was virtually at an end. An announcement being made that the tower of St. Martin-in-the-Fields was open for ringing, many went there and cooled their heels for above an hour awaiting the advent of the steeple-keeper. Others went to Cornhill and Cripplegate, where the proverbial “fox” was discovered, and the “Goose” eventually became the rendezvous of those who were left behind.

The Bell News and Ringers’ Record, April 4, 1891, page 13