The Provisional Committee appointed to formulate a scheme for the constitution and procedure of the proposed Central Council met at the "Inns of Court" Hotel, Holborn, on Tuesday, April 8th, at one o'clock. The total number of delegates elected to the Committee was forty-four, of whom forty attended, representing twenty-nine societies.
Representatives Present.
The Ancient Society of College Youths.- F. E. Dawe, R. T. Woodley.
The Royal Cumberland Society.- G. Newson, J. Rogers.
The St. James Society, London.- G. C. Hammond, H. R. Newton.
The Yorkshire Association.- B. T. Copley, C. H. Hattersley.
The Oxford Diocesan Guild.- Rev. F. E. Robinson, J. W. Washbrook.
The Midland Counties' Association.- A. P. Heywood, J. W. Taylor, Jun.
The Lancashire Association.- Rev. J. H. Elsee, G. Longden.
The St. Martin's Guild, Birmingham.- H. Bastable.
The Hertfordshire Association.- L. Proctor.
The Sussex County Association.- G. F. Attree, Rev. C. D. P. Davies.
The Association for the Archdeaconry of Stafford.- S. Reeves.
The Surrey Association.- E. F. Strange.
The Worcestershire and Adjoining Districts Association.- R. E. Grove.
The Bedfordshire Association.- -Rev. W. W. C. Baker.
The North Lincolnshire Association.- N. E. Snow.
The Trinity Youths' Society, Greenwich.- F. W. Thornton.
The Gloucester and Bristol Association.- Rev. H. A. Cockey, G. H. Phillott.
The Durham and Newcastle Association.- R. S. Story.
The Essex Association.- F. G. Newman, Rev. T. L. Papillon.
The Kent County Association.- Rev. E. W. Carpenter.
The Norwich Diocesan Association.- Rev. H. Earle Bulwer, Captain Moore.
The Eastern Counties' Guild.- R. Mackman.
The Salisbury Diocesan Guild.- T. Blackbourn, Rev. A. D. Hill.
The Waterloo Society, London.- C. E. Malim.
The South Lincolnshire Association.- G. Edwards.
The Middlesex Association.- G. B. Lucas.
The Hereford Diocesan- Guild.- J. G. Buchanan, J. Wall.
Representatives Absent.
The Chester Diocesan Guild.- F. Ball, H. A. Heywood.
The United Counties' Association.- J. Holden.
The Kent County Association.- Rev. F. J. O. Helmore.
Mr. Percival Heywood was voted to the chair.
The Draft Scheme for the constitution and procedure of the proposed Central Council was received, and after undergoing amendment, passed in the form given below.
A vote of thanks was accorded to the Chairman.
At the conclusion of the dinner it was arranged that the first meeting of the Council should be held at one o'clock on Easter Tuesday, 1891, and that the members should dine together afterwards at a charge not exceeding 2s. 6d. a head.
Mr. Heywood was appointed Hon. Secretary until the meeting, with authority to carry into effect the resolutions of the Committee.
The Scheme as Passed.
THE CENTRAL COUNCIL OF CHURCH BELL RINGERS.
Objects of the Council.
To provide a body representative of the united interests of the various societies of Church Bell Ringers that shall:-
- Use its best endeavours to guard the rights and generally promote the welfare of the Exercise.
- Maintain the position of ringing as a branch of Church work.
- Encourage and assist the development of the Art, in its scientific, practical, and historical branches.
- Arbitrate - so far as may be deemed advisable - in such matters of dispute or perplexity as shall be submitted to its judgment.
RULES.
- That the Council be known as "The Central Council of Church Bell Ringers."
- That the Council consist:-
(1) Of Representative Members from all recognised Societies, Associations, and Guilds of Church Bell Ringers (hereinafter referred to under the general term "Societies") numbering not less than seventy-five members. The representation to be in the following proportion:-
| For a Society the number of whose members | |||||
| exceeds | 75 | but does not exceed | 150, | one | Representative. |
| " | 150 | " | 300, | two | Representatives. |
| " | 300 | " | 450, | three | " |
| " | 450 and upwards | four | " | ||
Four Representatives to be the limit of representation allowed to any one Society.
(2) Of Honorary Members, not exceeding twelve in number, elected by the Council. No Representative Member to be eligible as an Honorary Member. The voting powers of Honorary Members to be equal with those of Representative Members.
Note.- The object of adding Honorary Members to the Council is in order to obtain the support of gentlemen who have not been returned as Representative Members, but whose assistance the Council may desire.
- That, except in the event of a vacancy, in which case the new Member shall be elected only for the un-expired period of the three years, the election of Representative Members shall take place triennially, before the end of the year.
- That the Honorary Members shall, as far as convenient, be chosen by the Council at their first Annual Meeting after the Triennial Election; but that, in the event of vacancies, others may be chosen at either of the following Annual Meetings. Also that each Honorary Member shall retire after the third Annual Meeting from and exclusive of the Meeting at which he was elected, but be eligible for re-election; but that any Honorary Member who, during his term of office, may be elected a Representative Member shall, ipso facto, vacate his Honorary Membership.
- That all Societies returning Representative Members to the Council be required to contribute annually in January, 2s. 6d. on behalf of each Representative Member returned, to meet the expenses of conducting the business of the Council, and that no Representative Member shall be entitled to vote at an Annual Meeting of the Council until the subscription of the Society which he represents be paid.
Note.- It is hoped that all Societies will also defray the travelling expenses of their respective Representative Members.
- That the Council meet once annually, about Easter, in some convenient centre, as agreed upon at the previous meeting; but that the meeting following the Triennial Election be always in London.
Also, that any meeting may be extended to additional sittings on the same or the following day on a motion for adjournment being put and carried.
That the President have power, in case of emergency, to call Special Meetings of the Council, and that he shall at any time summon such a Special Meeting on receipt of a requisition signed by twelve Representative Members.
- That, at the Annual Meeting next after each Triennial Election, a President and Hon. Secretary be chosen to serve for three years. The Hon. Secretary to act also as Treasurer. Either Representative or Honorary Members to be eligible for these offices.
Also that, in the event of the President or Hon. Secretary vacating office before the expiration of the three years, the ensuing meeting shall elect a member to fill the vacancy during the remainder of the period. The retiring President and Hon. Secretary to be eligible for re-election at the expiration of their term of office. The President to retire from the chair immediately his successor is elected; the Hon. Secretary to continue in office till the business of the meeting is concluded. All nominations for these offices to be sent to the Hon. Secretary, signed by two members of the Council, not less than one month previous to the meeting, so that the names may appear on the agenda paper. The next business after the election of a President and Hon. Secretary to be the election of Honorary Members.
- That the Council have power to appoint Committees for any purpose for which it may appear desirable; and also, if the state of the funds permits, to allow the necessary expenses of holding the Committee Meetings.
- That any subject proposed for discussion shall be notified to the Hon. Secretary in writing, signed by two Members of the Council, not less than one month previous to the meeting, for insertion among the agenda. But that it shall be competent, on a vote of a majority of the meeting, for the Council to discuss a subject not upon the agenda paper, providing such subject does not affect the Rules or Constitution of the Council.
- That at Meetings of the Council the President shall take the Chair, and that in the event of his absence the members present shall elect a Chairman for that meeting. The Chairman to have a casting vote. One third of the whole number of members to form a quorum.
- That all resolutions having reference to matters outside the private business of the Council shall be carried by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the meeting, and that, in such cases, the names of the voters shall be entered in the minute book under the respective headings of "Ayes" and "Noes." Each member, whether Representative or Honorary, to have one vote.
- That full notice of the date, arrangements, and agenda for each meeting shall be advertised in the ringing papers fourteen days approximately previous to such meeting; but that it be not incumbent on the Hon. Secretary to send private notice to each Member. Also that the names of the Members present and, the business transacted at each meeting be entered in the minute book and reported to the Ringing Papers.
- That at each Annual Meeting the Hon. Secretary shall present a statement of the accounts of the previous year, which shall be examined and passed by the meeting.
- That alterations in the Rules of the Council shall be made only at the Annual Meetings, and that every notice of a proposed alteration shall be sent to the Hon. Secretary, signed by two Members of the Council, not less than one month before the Meeting. The Secretary to take care that such notices be duly advertised among the other agenda.
The Bell News and Ringers' Record, April 19, 1890, pages 44 to 45