340 itoyal Cotomul Institute. 



Secretary and Mr. Colqulioun sowed seed wliicli must bear fruit in the future, and have 

 good result. However, taking the actual number of those already stated, amounting 

 to 637, the expenditure under this head will be well repaid ; because there is not only 

 the immediate receipt of the first year's subscription and entrance fees — amounting to 

 at least £1,600 — but there is the addition to the annual income of the Institute in 

 future years. 



"To show the effect of the Secretary's visit to South Africa last year, the total 

 num-ber of Fellows there in 1911 was 929. In 1912 it increased to 1,059 ; and in 1913 it 

 amounted to 1,689, a substantial gain of 760 members. 



" In 1912 the Secretary visited Canada, and the mmiber of Fellows resident there 

 has increased from 342 in 1911 to 1,200 at the end of 1913. We do not claim 

 that the whole of this increase of 858 members in Canada was due to the 

 Secretary's visit, because our Corresponding Secretaries in the Dominion were 

 working hard for the Institute. But undoubtedly a very large portion of this 

 increase was due to it. It certainly is desirable that this system of visiting the 

 Overseas Dominions by the Secretary or someone appointed especially for the purpose 

 should be continued, when our finances will admit of the additional expense which it 

 would entail. 



" I think we are fully justified in congratulating ourselves on the progress of the 

 Institute, especially during the last two years, and that it should greatly encourage us 

 to continue our efforts as we must not lose sight of the fact that we are only at the 

 beginning of the work that is before us, and that we have hardly laid the foundation 

 of the structure we wish to build up. 



" The Institute is an educational organisation, and its object is to spread throughout 

 the British people — and more especially in the United Kingdom — knowledge of the 

 Empire and its great resources, and make the Unity of the Empire — which is now little 

 more than a sentiment — a matter of practical politics. To achieve this end we must 

 get the co-operation and active assistance of every Imperial minded citizen of the 

 Empire, whether resident in the Empire or in foreign countries. 



" To-day we muster over 9,000 members. These may be considered the officers of 

 the army which we wish to create. But where are the rank and file to complete the 

 army ? 



" I have often wondered why it is thaMittle or no progress has been made by the 

 different leagues and societies which have been formed at different times during the 

 last thirty years in the interests of Imperial Unity. Is it not because these different 

 organisations failed in obtaining the co-operation of the large body of Imperially 

 minded men who exist in all classes throughout the Empire 1 



" For some years past the Council has foreseen the absolute necessity of widening and 

 extending the basis of the membership of the Institute ; and with this object in view 

 it created — with the approval of the Fellows — a new order called " Associates," and 

 it also drew up rules and regulations for the formation of local Committees and local 

 branches. It is by the help of this new order of Associates that these local Com- 

 mittees and local branches can be formed in the United Kingdom ; and the Council 

 intend, during the present year, to carry on this work energetically. 



"During the past year branches have been established in Christchurch, New 

 Zealand ; at Hobart, Tasmania ; in Buenos Ayres, and in Guatemala. 



" The first branch in Great Britain is at present being formed at Bristol by Mr. T. J. 

 Lennard, who has not only presented the freehold of a site iu the city, but undertaken 

 to bear the expense of erecting the building. 



