LIXNBAX SOCIETY OF LOXDON. 23 



A century after the grant of our Original Charter, we had to 

 ask for a supplementary one. We sought power to do things we 

 could not do under that of 1802, and to effect certain changes iii 

 the conduct of our business. The experience of a luindred years 

 had shown that changes were desirable. We were given all we 

 asked for. We availed ourselves of most of our new privileges at 

 once. Our history since 1904 has justified that action. 



The anxieties of the past four years have left our common good 

 unscathed. The wav preoccupations of the Fellows have not 

 inhibited their work. The stringency of our ecouoraic conditions 

 has not prevented us from publishing some of their results. But 

 our anxieties have had another consequence. They have led us to 

 give closer attention than usual to our management of the affairs 

 of the Society. 



When we asked for our Charter of 1902 one representation 

 made was that it would be expedient and would conduce to the 

 better and more convenient management of the concerns of the 

 Society if we wei'e enabled to limit by bye-laws tlie number of 

 our Fellows and to determine the number of Fellows to be 

 annually elected. Although we had been granted this privilege, 

 we decided in 1904 that the time for its employment liad 

 not come. The attention we have had to give to our internal 

 economy during the Mar has constrained us to make use of the 

 power that has been in abeyance since 1902. We have this 

 session limited by bye-law the number of our Fellows. 



We now appreciate the foresight that led the Society to secure 

 this privilege. We anticipate that the exercise of this power 

 may yield satisfactory results. We know that the effects we 

 hope for can only come gradually. They need not, on this 

 account, be less certain or less beneficial. If the resolution of 

 this session be maintained, it may prove as advantageous as the 

 wise decision of sixty years ago to establish our ' Journal.' We 

 can await the ultimate effects of our new bye-law with some 

 confidence that their development will not disturb the even tenour 

 of our progress. 



We realise, however, that our decision is to have an immediate 

 effect with which we must deal. This immediate effect is the 

 creation of a waiting-list of those interested in the cultivation of 

 the science of natural history who desire to become Fellows of 

 the Society. The existence of a waiting-list obviously involves 

 some modification in the conduct of our business. 



A possible consequence of the existence oF a waiting-list maybe 

 that we shall take a keener personal interest than heretofore in 

 the responsible duty of choosing new l^'ellows. This should be 

 one of the greatest benefits to accrue from our recent action. We 

 may anticipate, however, that it will be one of the last I)enefits to 

 manifest itself. Custom is powerful ; neglect of this duty is 

 widespread. By degrees our apathy may disa[)p('ar. 



