VICTORIA INSTITUTE. 



REPOET OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR 1913. 

 Kead at the Annual General Meeting, February 2nd, 1914. 



1. Progress of the Institute. 



During the year just past, the Institute has sustained a most 

 serious loss in the death of its Secretary, Mr. F. S. Bishop. To 

 his enei'gy and devotion much of the recent improvement in 

 the position of the Institute has been due ; and his removal 

 from us has affected adversely the Pieport which the Council 

 have to present as to the numbers upon the roll of the Institute, 

 and its financial position. But for this untoward event, the 

 past Session would probably have shown a continued improve- 

 ment in both respects ; and the falling off, though slight, which 

 has to be reported, is chiefly to be ascribed to this cause. In 

 other respects the work of the past Session has been most 

 successful ; the papers contributed to the Transactions have 

 been of great interest and value, and the crowded attendances 

 that they have attracted have rendered the question of securing 

 for the Meetings ampler accommodation than that which our 

 own rooms can afford one of pressing importance. 



2. Appointment of a New Secretary. 



The Institute has been fortunate in securing the services as 

 Secretary of Mr. E. Walter Maunder, F.R.A.S., late Superin- 

 tendent of the Solar Department, Eoyal Observatory, Green- 

 wich, and author of several standard works on astronomy. 

 Mr. Maunder is not only widely known as an astronomer, but 

 he has also had experience in organization and in the conduct 

 of a learned society, having founded in 1890 the British 

 Astronomical Association, which he has since served as 

 President, Editor, and in other capacities. He was also for five 

 years one of the Secretaries of the Koyal Astronomical Society. 

 He is well known to the supporters of the Institute, as he 

 delivered the Annual Address in 1908, and for the last four 

 years has served on the Council. 



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