a-clay. The experience of recent years with respect 

 to the more important Excursions was such as to deter 

 your Committee from making arrangements for a two 

 or three days' tour. 



Several events which have occurred during the 

 year call for some allusion in the Eei)ort. At the 

 Inaugural Meeting in January, the Club was honoured 

 by the presence of the Eev. S. J. Perry, F.E.S., 

 r.E.A.S., of Stonyhurst, the well-known Astronomer. 

 The subject of his learned discourse was one which 

 enabled the lecturer to display his thorough knowledge 

 of the latest discoveries and theories of astronomical 

 science. By means of lantern views the many parts 

 of the lecture were admirably illustrated. 



Your Committee must here express the indebted- 

 ness of the Club to Mr. John Butterworth, Junr., J.P., 

 for the readiness with which he has placed his lantern 

 and his services at their disposal, whenever it has been 

 desired to add this entertaining method of elucidation. 



A second Shakespearian Eecital by S. Brandram, 

 Esq., M.A., was given in the early part of the year, 

 when "As you like it," "the sweetest and happiest 

 of all Shakespeare's comedies " was rendered with the 

 remarkable rhetorical and dramatic power which has 

 won for the reciter such a high reputation. 



At the initial meeting of the Autumn Session 

 the newly-elected President, Mr. J. Langfleld Ward, 

 M.A., delivered an address entitled " The ancient 

 Epic and Drama as reproduced in English Poetry." 

 A lengthened report of the address is to be found in 

 the volume. 



A deeply interesting contribution to local history 

 was furnished by one of the Club's Honorary members, 

 Mr. W. A. Abram, J.P., F.E.H.S. The subject—" A 

 Eeview of the Evidence on the suggested relation of 

 the Poet Spenser to the Clan of Spensers in the Burnley 

 District " — was handled in a clear and exhaustive 

 manner, and besides containing a valuable summary 



