JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS 



AT 



OEDINAEY, FIELD, AND OTHEK MEETINGS. 



[In commencing our Journal of Proceedings it may be well to give a 

 brief statement of the origin of the Club. The first public proposal in 

 connection with the subject was made in a letter addressed to the Editor 

 of the Woodford Times by Mr, William Cole, which appeared in the 

 issue for Saturday, October 25th, 1879. This letter was followed by 

 others from Messrs. Harcourt, Lockyer, Argent and Cole addressed to 

 various local newspapers, all strongly urging the establishment of a 

 Naturalists' Club in Essex. A circular was issued by Mr. Cole, headed 

 '^ Epping Forest and South Essex Naturalists' Field Club," and freely 

 distributed, asking for the support of all South Essex naturalists and 

 archseologists. Sufficient names having been received to warrant the 

 step, a private meeting was held at Buckhurst Hill on Saturday, 

 November 15th, 1879, to settle preliminaries. Mr. Cole was nominated 

 as Hon. Secretary j!';'o tern., and was authorised to call a public meeting 

 for the establishment of the Society, and to make all necessary arrange- 

 ments. It was felt that it would be better to have a more comprehensive 

 title than that above quoted, and the one now held by the Club was 

 chosen. Mr. R. Meldola consented to become the first President, and 

 ultimately the inaugural meeting was called by advertisements in the 

 newspapers and the issue of a very large number of circulars, which were 

 sent to the leading inhabitants in all parts of the county. The Editor 

 places the circular letter on record here ; it may be interesting in the 

 future as expressing the views of the founders of the Club : — 



Epping Forest and County of Essex Naturalists' Field Club. 



Laurel Cottage, Buckhurst Hill, Essex. 



Dear Sir, — I am requested to state that the inaugural meeting of this 

 Club will be held on Saturday evening, January loth, 1880, at the rooms 

 of the Buckhurst Hill Art Classes, 3, St. John's Terrace (opposite the 

 church). The chair will be taken at seven o'clock by R. Meldola, 

 Esq., F.C.S., &c., Secretary to the Entomological Society of London. 



The objects of the Club, as set forth in the proposed Rules, are as 

 follows : — " The investigation of the natural history, geology, and 

 archaeology of the County of Essex (special attention being given to 

 the fauna, flora, geology, and antiquities of Epping Forest) ; the 

 publication of the results of such investigations ; the formation of a 

 library of works of local interest and other publications, and the 



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