399 



FIFTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT. 



In presenting the Keport for the year ending December 1917, 

 your Committee feel that though there is some ground for review- 

 ing the work and condition of the Club with less satisfaction than 

 usual, yet taking into consideration the many difficulties caused 

 by the long continuance of the war, the retrospect may be regarded 

 with equanimity, and the future anticipated without anxiety. 

 During the year thirty-four new members were elected, fifteen 

 have resigned, and eight have been lost by death. The present 

 total number is 438. Mr. Alpheus Smith, who was for forty 

 years the Hon. Librarian, and on his retirement, rendered neces- 

 sary by age and infirmities, was elected an honorary member, 

 died in May, at the age of eighty-seven. Dr. Robert Braithwaite, 

 a past President, and who had been an honorary member since 

 1893, died in October in his ninety-fourth year. Obituary 

 notices of these two members of the Club will be found in the 

 Journal. The death of Mr. Geo. Massee, formerly President, but 

 not a member in recent years, was announced in June. Sir W. H. 

 Lindley, who joined the Club in 1868, and was thus quite one of 

 the older members, but had lived in Germany for many years, 

 has also been removed by death. The Hon. Francis Walter 

 McLaren, M.P., J.P., met his death in August in a flying accident 

 in Scotland. 



The attendance at both the Ordinary and Gossip Meetings has 

 somewhat fallen off, which is amply accounted for, not only by 

 the much-restricted service of conveyances and the darkness of 

 the streets, but by the possibility of air raids, as when these occur 

 the almost total stoppage of traffic makes it extremely incon- 

 venient for those living in the suburbs. These difficulties of 

 course particularly affect those of our members who are no longer 

 young, and thus we lose the advantage and pleasure of their 

 presence, which would not happen under more normal conditions. 

 We tnuch regret the continued absence of Mr. C. F. Rousselet 



