UXNEAN SOCIETY OF LOXDOX. 35 



both. This difference between the two classes is an accidental, 

 not an essential feature of Fellowship. AVhen we fixed a uniform 

 composition-fee for all Fellows we excluded this 'accident ' from 

 consideration. But, while we did this, we nevertheless regarded 

 the use of our library and our meeting-room as advantages. Had 

 we considered accidental circumstances at all our obvious duty 

 would have been to have asked a rather smaller composition-fee 

 from the non-resident Fellow who may be compelled to compound, 

 than from the resident Fellow who need not compound unless he 

 chooses. 



In iixing our present sliiliiig-scale we resolved to take into 

 account the 'standing in the Society' of any Fellow who might 

 compound. This circumstance is as purely accidental as that of 

 residence within or outside tlie United Kingdom. What is more, 

 "when taking into consideration the ' stauding in the Society ' of 

 a compounder, we are at pains now to regard the opportunity of 

 consulting our library and attending our meetings as a dis- 

 advantage. We compensate a compounder of 20 years' standing 

 and upwards for having endured that disadvantage so long ; 

 we make a new non-resident Fellow pay a larger fee than 

 formerly when he compounds, because he does not ordinarily 

 iucur this disadvantage. This we feel can hardly be what we 

 intended ; it is, however, in effect what we do. 



Our position as regards ' Composition ' clearly calls for im- 

 provement. Doubtless the best course, financially, would be to 

 cancel our concession. But, if for no other reason than that 

 many of our Fellows are non-resident, this is far from desirable. 

 It seems possible to continue the concession and, while so doing, 

 both to retain our happy idea of making allowance for the 

 ' standing in the Society ' of a compounder and to add the further 

 improvement of making allowance for the indirect compulsion we 

 apply to new non-resident Fellows. Let us assume that the old 

 fee of £45 corresponds fairly accurately with the collective as 

 opposed to the individual 'expectation of life ' of the Fellows. 

 We might then permit any non-resident Fellow who compounds 

 on being elected to do this on payment of £45 in addition to his 

 ' admission fee.' Save as regards non-resident Fellows who 

 compound when first elected, the fee for composition might be : — 

 For Fellows of less than 10 years' standing, £50; of 10-20 

 years' standing, £45 ; of 20-30 years' standing, £40 ; of 

 30 years' standing or over, o£l35. This scale ought to safeguard 

 our financial interests, provided all composition-fees received be 

 invested. The scale suggested is, it will be appreciated, only 

 offered by way of illustration. The actual scale it will be for 

 Council to decide. 



Our various well-meant but not always efiective attempts to 

 afford relief in respect of the payments to be made by the Fellows 

 of the Society, teach us that the only safe course to ado])t is to try 

 to aft'ord relief all round. Before we consider what form this ' all 



cl2 



