REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON LEGITIMATE METHODS.

1. All methods (Glossary page 10) are founded on principles.

2. A Principle is a collection of rows which form a perfect round block (Glossary page 31) in which-

   (a) Each bell does the same work.

   (b) No bell moves up or down more than one place at a time.

   (c) No bell lies more than two consecutive blows in any one place.

3. Methods are formed from Principles in two ways, viz.:

   1. A Principle may be used as a method when it conforms to the following rules:-

      (a) It must be true within itself.

      (b) It must be divisible into as many divisions as there bells, each division, together with the hunting and place-making that connect it with the next division, to contain the whole working of the method.

      (c) In the case of those methods in which the course order of the bells is altered by an alternate work (as the quick and slow in Stedman) these divisions are subdivided.

      (d) Each division, or in (c) each subdivision, must reverse true to itself.

   2. One or more bells in any Principle (called “hunts” - Glossary page 9) may be allowed to retain their original paths, while the places of the others are taken by working bells which revolve about the hunt (or hunts) subject to the following conditions:-

      (a) No bell shall move up or down more than one place at a time.

      (b) No bell shall strike more than two consecutive blows in any one place.

      (c) There shall be as many plain leads in the plain course as there are working bells, each lead containing as many rows as the Principle on which it is founded.

      (d) The working bells shall be in the same coursing order at each lead head and end in the plain course.

      (e) Each lead shall reverse true to itself and, together with the hunting and place-making that connect it with the next lead, shall contain the whole working of the method.

Definitions.

1. A Plain Lead is a succession of rows so arranged that when the hunt (or hunts) has completed its work from the lead head to lead end it is in a different relative position among the working bells, but the working bells are in the same coursing order.
2. A Bob Lead is a succession of rows so arranged that when the hunt (or hunts) has completed its work, it is in a different relative position among the working bells, and the working bells have three of their number in a different coursing order.
3. A Single Lead is a succession of rows so arranged that when the hunt (or hunts) has completed its work it is in a different relative position among the working bells, and the working bells have two of their number in a different coursing order.

Notes.

Principle. This word is used by the Committee in a purely technical sense, and its meaning in this report is strictly limited by the definition there given.

The following are examples of Principles:-

It should be noted that it is not at all necessary that the Principles should not contain repetition of rows.

“Methods are formed from Principles in two ways.” This is not to be taken as limiting method builders to the two particular plans here described, but as a statement of fact covering all existing methods.

Division. All methods in Class 1. are divisible into as many divisions as there are bells, e.g. Duffield Major 8, Forward Royal 10, etc. The division of Stedman and Shipway’s Principles and methods in which the coursing order of the bells is altered by an alternate quick and slow work (or in some of Mr. Carter’s methods where the course order is altered by an alternate odd and even work) comprises a quick six and a slow six (or eight) or an odd division and an even division together; for neither a quick six nor a slow six alone contains the whole method.

Reversion. If lines be drawn at the top and bottom of any division (or sub-division) all places counted from the top line downwards must correspond with places counted from the bottom line upwards.

“One or more Bells in any Principle,” etc.

(x) Is the Treble Bob Principle on six bells.

(y) Shews one bell retaining its original path.

(z) Shews the paths of the others taken by working bells forming a method.

(s) Is the Plain Principle on seven bells.

(t) Shews two bells retaining their original paths.

(v) Shews the paths of the others taken by working bells, forming a method.

In some cases it is possible to found a method on two Principles, as in the case of Alliance, which is founded partly on the Plain Principle and partly on the Treble Bob Principle. It should be noticed that such methods are never capable of producing the full extent of the rows.

In methods which have a treble and a bell in the hunt, when they are considered as plain courses and apart from calls the bell in the hunt must be looked upon not as a working bell but as equal and similar to the treble.

“No bell shall strike more than two consecutive blows in any one place.” The effect of this is to rule out all those mongrel methods in which, having an even number of working bells at the dodges, one bell has to lie four or more blows in any one place, e.g. Bob Triples, Grandsire Major, etc. (see note at end on “calls”).

“The bells to be in the same coursing order at each lead head and end.” This means that all methods must have what are known as “Bob Major lead-ends.”

The division between the leads is :-

(a) In methods with one hunt (treble) between the first and second blows of the whole pull of the hunt before or behind.

(b) In methods with two hunts (treble and bell in the hunt) midway between the whole pull of the first hunt and the whole pull of the second hunt before or behind.

(x) In Single methods the theoretic parting of the leads is when the hunt (or hunts) is before.

(y) In Reverse methods the theoretic parting of the leads is when the hunt (or hunts) is behind.

(z) In Double methods the theoretic parting of the leads is when the hunt (or hunts) is both before and behind.

For practical purposes the Committee recommend that the parting of the leads should always be understood to be when the hunt (or hunts) is before.

(a) A Single method has all its places made on one side of the hunt (or hunts) only, with its working bells in proper coursing order at all lead heads and ends with the hunt (or hunts) before; e.g., Bob Major, Single Oxford Major, all places above the hunt, and College Single Minor and Darlaston Bob Triples (single variation) all places below the hunt.

(b) A Reverse method is in all respects reverse to its Single variation; e.g., Canterbury Pleasure and College Single (as given in Standard Methods) are Reverse methods, and the bells will be found in the same coursing order at all lead heads and ends with the hunt behind.

(c) A Double method has places made above the hunt and places made to correspond with them below the hunt, and the working bells in the same coursing order when the hunt is before and behind.

(d) A Compound method has places made on both sides of the hunt (or hunts) which are not related to each other; e.g., Cambridge Surprise and London Surprise. Compound methods can be reversed, e.g., Reverse Cambridge Surprise Minor (given in Standard Methods and other works as Superlative Surprise Minor).

The Treble or Hunt need not theoretically be the highest in the musical scale, but as any method with any other bell as Treble or Hunt can easily be varied so as to have that bell as Treble or Hunt, it is recommended for the sake of the music that no method be published or rung which has any other bell as Treble.

Reversion. If a line be drawn at the top and bottom of any lead of any method all places counted from the top line downwards must correspond with places counted from the bottom line upwards. See following examples:-

Succession of Nature of Rows. No method can be deemed to be absolutely perfect in which the succession of rows is not as follows (see note at end on “Calls”).

Four Bells. Alternate doubles and singles, rows, two even, two odd.

Five Bells. Doubles throughout, all rows of like nature.

Six Bells. Alternate doubles and triples, rows two odd and two even.

Seven Bells. Triples throughout, rows one odd and one even.

Eight Bells. Alternate triples and quadruples, rows two odd and two even.

Nine Bells. Quadruples throughout, all rows of like nature.

Ten Bells. Alternate quadruples and quintuples, rows two odd and two even.

Eleven Bells. Quintuples throughout, rows one odd one even.

Twelve Bells. Alternate quintuples and sextuples, rows two odd and two even.

Methods, however, which do not conform to this rule may still be legitimate.

Music. The Committee’s work will not be considered complete without a reference to the question of music. Good music depends on the extent to which the big bells are kept together (i.e., the extent to which the proper coursing order of the bells is preserved) combined with double dodging. The Committee has already recommended a minimum standard for the coursing order of the bells. The amount of double dodging is a matter of good taste, and the Committee cannot recommend any definite rule on the subject.

Extent. The Committee has debated the question as to whether the fact that any method cannot produce 5000 true rows should prevent that method being considered legitimate. While considering that such methods cannot be deemed unfit to be rung, the Committee sees no likelihood of ringers practising them and considers the question settles itself.

Calls. Throughout this Report calls and their effect have been ignored, and each method treated in its Plain Course. But the definitions of a Bob Lead and Single Lead have been added in order that they may be compared with that of a Plain Lead.

The Bell News and Ringers’ Record, May 23, 1903, pages 99 to 101