REPORT. xxi 
churches, but not a conventual building. It has occurred to me 
since that perhaps this may be due in some measure to the cir- 
cumstance that the influence of the Celtic Church was especially 
powerful in this part of the great Mercian kingdom. The in- 
fluence of the Celtic Church seems more to have been directed 
towards spreading Christianity and developing the Church from 
great centres, than by means of monastic establishments. This 
was the system of St. Chad, whose cathedral was not in any sense 
a conventual building. It was simply a cathedral establishment 
with a bishop at its head. The Dean concluded by bearing 
testimony to the value of such societies as the Archzeological 
Society in preserving from mutilation churches which were not 
only temples of Almighty God, but national monuments, in the 
preservation of which they were all concerned (Hear, hear). 
They were also useful in rescuing relics of the past in the midst 
of what might be called a ‘ destructive ”’ 
a study of the past, which showed them God’s wondrous dealings 
with His Church in time past, and inspired them with hopes of 
what was to come (Applause). 
During the past year there have been, including those specially 
summoned, eight meetings of the Council, at which the attendance 
of a fair proportion of the elected members has been very regular. 
This year the Council is indebted to ¢hree instead of two Vice- 
Presidents, for their assistance in its work. 
In the early part of the year it was decided that a seal should 
_ be engraved for use in the official communications of the Society. 
_ A design was accordingly prepared, approved by the Council, 
and is now in use. An Index for the volumes of the Journal 
already published has also been prepared, and will be supplied to 
_ Members this day ; in future, the volumes will be indexed as they 
come out. The wooden effigy belonging to the Church of All 
Saints, Derby, has been sent to London to undergo a special 
treatment for hardening and preserving the decaying wood. 
Members will be glad to learn that the result so far is reported 
quite successful, and it is hoped that this most interesting 
age, and in promoting 
