544 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 



the Society's affairs in the hands of the Council, and apparently invest 

 the Council with power, if it is thought expedient, to provide for the 

 admission of ladies to Meetings of the Society." 



Mr. Gordon also presented a Supplementary Report, signed by three 

 members of the Committee, in the following terms : — 



a ■ 



We, the undersigned members of the Committee appointed to 

 consider the question of the admission of women Fellows to fuller rights 

 and privileges of the Royal Microscopical Society, beg to point out that 

 in our opinion — 



"1. The women Fellows of this Society, who have for so many 

 years been called upon to pay the same entrance fee and annual sub- 

 scription as men Fellows without enjoying the same rights and privileges, 

 have a legitimate cause of complaint, which for the honour and in the 

 best interests of the Society should be substantially removed. 



"2. Inat the postal vote just taken shows that of the Fellows who 

 took part in that vote a very large majority recognises the desirability 

 of substantially meeting the demand for more equal privileges and 

 rights for women Fellows. 



" 3. That it would be wise and expedient to meet the objections of 

 many of the Fellows who, whilst in favour of admitting women Fellows 

 to the Ordinary Meetings of the Society, view with some concern the 

 possibility of their election to the Council and Committees of the 

 Society. 



" With these considerations in mind, they are of opinion that 

 the By-laws should forthwith be amended in such a way as to to give 

 women Fellows the right to attend the Ordinary Meetings of the 

 Society. 



John Hopkinson. 

 F. Cheshire. 

 Edwin J. Spitta." 



Mr. Gordon also read to the Meeting the following letter from 

 Mr. Scourfield : — 



" Dear Mr. Gordon, — The notice of the Meeting of the Special Com- 

 mittee to-morrow evening only reached me yesterday. I am sorry to say 

 I shall not be able to be present as I shall not be back in London until 

 the end of the week ; but my view about the Report remains as before. 

 Without agreeing to the exact wording or even some of the paragraphs 

 in the Draft Report as we last had it in Committee, I still think that in 

 view of the possible secession of Fellows from the Society (which you 

 have assured the Committee in most definite terms will take place if any 

 alteration be made in the By-Laws at this time), it would be in the best 

 interests of the Society for the Committee to advise that no change be 

 made in the By-Laws at present. I firmly believe that that is also the 

 view the majority of the Fellows in General Meeting would take if they 

 had the same facts before them that the Committee has had. Of 

 course, personally, I am very sorry that the opposition to any change in 

 the By-Laws is so strong as to give rise to the probability of resignations, 

 but as that probability exists, I feel bound to advise delay in carrying 



