The Meeting, which, had been postponed from Whit-Monday, took place at Winchester on Monday, July 4th. Besides members from the following towers, Bishopstoke, Curdridge, Portsmouth, Portsea, Southampton, Chertsey, Aldershot, Guildford, Wickham, North Stoneham, Christchurch, Basingstoke, Yorktown and Winchester, the Revs. C. D. P. Davies (Overton), E. Bankes James and N. C. Woods were present.
The Central Committee met at 11 a.m., lunch followed at 1, and the annual general meeting at 2, at which the vice-president (the Rev. C. E. Matthews) was in the chair, supported by Canon Braithwaite (representing the Dean and Chapter), the Rev. Sir J. C. Herschel, Bart., hon. secretary; the Rev. W. E. Colchester, hon. treasurer, and Mr. G. Williams, Master.
The election of officers followed the confirmation of the last minutes, all being re-elected with the exception of the hon. secretary, who, with much regret, expressed his inability to carry on owing to the pressure of other work. Sir John Herschel was cordially thanked for his past services, and the Rev. N. C. Woods, Minor Canon and Sacrist of Winchester Cathedral, was elected in his place.
The Hon. Treasurer, who has given much time to the Guild's war memorial and deserves the sincere thanks of all members, reported that the two new trebles had just been cast by Messrs. Gillett and Johnston, and would be dedicated by the Bishop of Winchester on Saturday, July 16th, in the Cathedral. It was the intention to place these bells upon the floor of the choir, under the tower, ready for hoisting, and to solemnly offer them to the glory of God, and in memory of the members of the Guild, who gave their lives during the great war. A design for an oak tablet, containing the names of those who made the supreme sacrifice, was produced, and cordially approved. This would be erected in the Cathedral belfry, when completed by a Winchester firm, at the cost of about £22. The sum of £80 odd was still needed to defray the cost of the bells and oak tablet.
It was decided to hold the next annual meeting on a Saturday in June, and Canon Braithwaite kindly consented to preach the sermon on that occasion.
On the recommendation of the committee, one or two slight alterations were made in the rules, and Mr. A. H. Pulling (Guildford) gave notice that he would move that in future the annual meeting should always be held on a Saturday.
The Rev. E. Bankes James referred to the proposed sub-division of the diocese, and voiced the general opinion of the meeting, by expressing the fervent hope that their Guild would not be split up and separate associations formed for the new dioceses of Guildford and Portsmouth. He remembered the division of Bristol from Gloucester diocese, but on that occasion they wisely decided to maintain one society, with admirable results.
A very well struck course of Stedman Caters was rung for the annual service, which was the ordinary evensong at the Cathedral at 4, with some of the Guild's special prayers added to it. The sermon was preached by the Rev. W. E. Colchester, from 2 Samuel vi. 21, in which, taking the three objects of the Guild, the preacher showed that each and all of them aimed at giving glory and honour to God and to His church.
Subsequently tea was served in St. Maurice's Hall, when the Vice-President proposed a sincere vote of thanks to the Dean and Chapter for the use of the bells.- Canon Braithwaite, in responding, said that they always welcomed the diocesan ringers at Winchester, and hoped they would always regard their noble Cathedral as the Mother Church of the Diocese.
The Ringing World No. 539, July 15th, 1921, page 419