60 



in the hopes that, having a clearer understanding of such matters, 

 we may not only be thus better able to make a full use of our 

 privileges, but also be more inclined to give a hearty support to an 

 institution which I am convinced merits our warmest regards. 



Previous to the year 1876, there were four isolated societies in 

 Cumberland, each giving lectures on literary and scientific subjects. 

 With the very laudable wish to draw these into more immediate 

 connection, the late Rev. J. Clifton Ward, F.G.S., convened a 

 meeting, on February 28th, 1876, at which these four societies, 

 viz.— Whitehaven, Keswick, Cockermouth, and Workington — were 

 united into what became known as the " Cumberland Association 

 for the Advancement of Literature and Science." It is not my 

 intention to deal exhaustively with the rise and progress of this 

 Association, but two or three points require notice, viz : (i) That 

 on September 25th, 1876, our own Society came into existence, 

 being shortly afterwards formally afifiliated with the Cumberland 

 Association. (2) That in 1883 the Cumberland Association was 

 informally affiliated with the "British Association for the Advance- 

 ment of Science," the formal affiliation having taken place a few 

 weeks ago. And lastly, That owing to the affiliation of two 

 Westmorland Societies, the title of the Cumberland Association 

 was, on June 6th, 1884, altered to the "Cumberland and West- 

 morland Association for the Advancement of Literature and 

 Science." The foUov^ing nine Societies in Cumberland, viz : 

 Whitehaven, Keswick, Workington, Maryport, Longtown, Carlisle, 

 Silloth and Holme Cultram, Brampton, and Penrith, together with 

 Ambleside and Windermere in Westmorland, constitute the Union, 

 which term we will now use, instead of the longer and more 

 precise one. 



It is generally allowed that "union is strength." This being 

 so, we will briefly examine the constitution, etc., of our Union, to 

 see whether it really does give strength ; in short — whether it is an 

 advantage or a disadvantage to belong to it. However vigorous 

 and well managed a single society may be, it must, almost of 

 necessity, have within it the elements of decay ; and this is more 

 particularly so in the case of a small society. As the various 



