EVOLUTION OF THE A.O.S. 135 



were placed at the disposal of the society during the 

 month of March, and the new organisation became an 

 established success. 



For the A. O. S. this formation of a sister society in Scotland 

 was of great advantage, not only in relieving it of responsi- 

 bility in regard to that country, but also in building up 

 there an organisation which, though separate and distinct so 

 far as regards all Scottish affairs, was affiliated to, and has 

 joined cordially with, the A. O. S. for all purposes of mutual 

 interest and support. 



GROWTH OF THE MOVEMENT. 



Thus far, therefore, devolution had been adopted with 

 excellent results ; but there came a time when it was found 

 desirable to carry the principle still further. 



So great had been the growth of the movement by 1910 

 that the Society even though it had been relieved of responsi- 

 bility in regard to Scotland, was beginning to find the work 

 in England and Wales beyond the powers of direction and 

 control of a headquarters' staff in London. Even if a 

 sufficiently large number of organisers could have been kept 

 there to deal with an unwieldy mass of details, the expendi- 

 ture of much time and money would have been involved 

 in constantly sending those organisers to all parts of the 

 country, while even then they would not have been able to 

 keep in such close touch with new developments as could be 

 maintained by organisers resident in the district. 



This position will be more clearly understood from the 

 following table, showing progressive growth, with number of 

 societies, membership and annual trade turnover, since 

 1901 : 



YEAR. SOCIETIES. MEMBERS. TRADE. 



i 



1901 . ..25 517 9,467 



1902 . 41 1,094 16,274 



1903 . 72 3,245 38,909 



1904 . 98 4,926 136,677 



1905 . . . 123 7,439 221,524 



1906 . ..137 8 >7 375> 



