12 
PART OF A LIFE HISTORY 
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though it was not until 1878 that they were called Honorary. 
During the forty-one years they have numbered forty-six, 
including seventeen who had previously been Ordinary 
members. In 1868 ladies were first entered on the rolls 
as Associates, but in 1872 this title was dropped, and 
ladies joined as Ordinary members. In 1882 a class of 
Associates was instituted for members of both sexes, who 
should pay half the ordinary subscription, and this has 
continued until now. In 1895 it was resolved to form a 
third class — Sectional Members, who were to pay 2s. M. 
to the general funds, i.e. only one quarter of the full sub- 
scription ; but after five years’ trial it was found necessary 
to abolish this class, which had not proved satisfactory, 
either in numbers or in paying even the small subscription 
required. 
The Society began with a membership of 168. In 1865 
this had risen to 240. Two years later it was only two 
less ; but there seems to have been some jealousy of the 
Society in the district, and a letter found its way into one 
of the local papers on April 29, 1867, announcing the 
intended dissolution of the Society. The Council promptly 
investigated the matter, and discovered that Mr. Leipner’s 
handwriting and signature had been copied and forged, 
and an old letter of his also made use of, in order to impose 
upon the Editor of the paper. A letter from the Council 
was inserted the following day, speaking of the hoax as 
childish, weak, and wicked ” : “ weak, because such a 
statement was calculated to put even fresh energy into 
the officers of the Society ; and wicked, because the author 
was endeavouring to diminish the usefulness of a Society 
which had already done a good deal of useful work, and 
would doubtless accomplish much more.” Two years 
after this the membership was only 176. In 1876 the 
numbers had fallen to 158, but in 1887 they had risen to 
251. Then began another period of depression, and 
