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Although no longer known as “The Feather Club,” this society still flourishes under the title of the 
“ City Columbarian and after a sojourn of some years at “ 1 lie Crown and Cushion, London 
Wall, its meetings are now held at the “ City Arms,” Blomfield Street, Finsbury. 1 he bead-roll 
of its worthies includes the names of Mr. Carrol (for forty years a member), and Messrs. Moray, 
Harvey, John Chapman, Jayne, Sparrow, Simpson, Sawyer, Pyne, Esquilant, Southwood, Fossick, 
White, Bellamy, Miles Hall, George Young, Wolstenholme (the artist), G. Chapman (its president 
for twenty-five years), Gillctt (its present able president), and Ford (for ten years its faithful 
secretary). The present secretary is Mr. Henning. 
From the Feather Club — or according to its more recently assumed title, the “City Colum- 
barian Society” — sprung in 1833 the “Southwark Columbarian Club,” with its meetings at the 
“ Yorkshire Grey,” in the Borough, under the presidentship of Mr. Nield. To him succeeded Mr. 
J. M. Eaton, followed by Mr. Corker, its last president, in 1857. 
About the year 1820, Mr. F. Redmond, a celebrated fancier in the Borough, first introduced 
into England the Antwerp homing pigeon, and flew his birds from London Bridge to Belgium. 
At his house in the Borough fanciers were also wont to meet. On his removal from the Borough, 
this society, the name of which we have not been able to obtain, also collapsed, and its noted show- 
pen was then sold by Mr. F. Redmond to the members of the City Columbarian. This pen has 
since been the distinguishing feature at all meetings of that society. 
The Fhiloperisteron Society was established by a few members of the City and Southwark 
Societies, who considered the time had arrived to form a West-end Society, and the successful 
result has proved the correctness of their idea. It held its first meeting on Tuesday, 4th of January, 
1847, at the “Crown and Anchor,” Strand : Mr. J. J. Bowler, chairman; Mr. F. Bellamy, treasurer ; 
and Mr. F. C. Esquilant, secretary ; the members present in addition to the preceding being Messrs. 
Archer, Butt, Carrell, Gulliver, Pyne, and Thirkell. To this society must be given the credit of 
originating public shows of pigeons, the proposal being caused by a lively discussion on the colour 
of the Almond Pigeon, when it was decided that colour could not be satisfactorily settled 
except by daylight. It was consequently resolved to adventure a public show, which accordingly 
took place at the British Hotel, Cockspur Street, in January, 1848. Year by year these shows 
progressed, both as to the quality and quantity of the pigeons, and popularity with the fancy and 
the public. They were generally held in the large hall of the “ Freemason’s Tavern,” Great 
Queen’s Street, Lincoln’s Inn, but upon the amalgamation of the Philoperisteron and National 
Columbarian Societies in 1868, they were transferred to the Crystal Palace, and with most 
gratifying success. These shows, up to the present date, are entirely confined to friendly and 
honorary emulation amongst the members, no prizes being offered. 
The National Columbarian Society may be termed an offshoot from the Philoperisteron, 
the majority of the leading members of the latter, amongst others, Messrs. Hayne, Esquilant, 
Tegetmeier, Harrison Weir, and Maddeford, joining it at its foundation in 1850. The first 
president was Dr. Fry, of Brighton ; secretary, Mr. W. W. Towse. Its rules provided for 
election of members by ballot, yearly subscriptions, monthly meetings, and an annual grand 
show at Anderton’s Hotel, in Fleet Street. After about four years, it removed to the “ Whit- 
tington Club,” Arundel Street, Strand, and prospering under the official care of Mr. Jayne, its 
president, and Mr. Betty, its secretary, it finally established itself at the “Freemason’s Tavern.” 
This immediate contact with its progenitor, and the fact that the majority of each society was 
by membership connected with the other, led to the amalgamation of this society with the Philo- 
peristeron ; the principal members, Messrs. Jones, Volckman, Hedley, Date, Esquilant, Betty, 
Merck, Harrison Weir, and Jayne, acting in unison, for the accomplishment of this object. The 
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