7 
The Committee regret to record that during the past year 
death has taken away one of the founders of the Club, Mr. 
T. P. Smith, J.P., and the Hon. Auditor, Mr. Thomas Proctor 
A.C.A. 
It was not without considerable misgivings that the Com- 
mittee received the tendered resignation of the late Honorary 
Secretary, Mr. Frank Hudson, LL.B., who had given nine 
years’ unstinted and devoted service to the work of the 
Club. His resignation was accepted with mingled feelings, 
of regret at his retirement, and of admiration of the ability 
which had characterised his tenure of office. The Committee 
were pleased with the response to the appeal for subscriptions 
which they addressed to you, by which you showed your 
approval of their desire to mark the Club’s appreciation of 
the late Secretary’s services. 
The exigences of war have been more noticeable in the 
construction of the Syllabus than in any other aspect of 
the Club life, as may be inferred from the fact that twelve 
new lecturers have been introduced. Nevertheless the 
Committee in providing a wide range of topics to suit the 
diversity of taste, succeded in maintaining a high standard. 
And in order to attain one of the first objects of the Club, 
members in particular, and men closely connected with 
Burnley were invited to contribute to the Syllabus. One 
half of the lectures were provided in this manner. That 
you appreciate the efforts of the Committee in this direction 
is evident from the higher attendance on these evenings. 
An analysis of the lectures delivered during the past 
session reveals the following interesting details : 8 were devoted 
to Travel, 4 to Literary Subjects, 3 to Science, 2 each to Edu- 
cation and War Topics, and 1 each to History, Art, and Music. 
At a time when war literature is so abundant, only two topics 
closely connected with the war were introduced into the 
Syllabus, and these were treated by two lecturers eminently 
qualified to deal with the subjects. In such a splendid 
series of lectures it would be invidious to single out any for 
special comment. 
Lantern slides were used to illustrate fourteen of the 
lectures, and the expert manipulation of the lantern by 
the Honorary Lanternist, Mr. T. G. Parkinson, invariably 
commented upon by the lecturers, greatly enhanced the 
pleasure affored by the use of illustrations. It is, therefore, 
with much regret that the Committee view Mr. Parkinson’s 
retirement from this position, in which he has displayed such 
skill and earned the well-merited confidence of the Club. 
