578 
NOTICE OF MOTION AT THE ANNUAL MEETING. 
by different sections of tlie trade, upon which much might be said; but for 
the present I can only say that my own desire, and I believe the desire of the 
Society at large, is to act with the utmost liberality, to throw aside selfish, 
motives, and simply seek the greatest good to the greatest number. 
11, Grey Street, Neivcastle, April, 1864. Barnard S. Proctor. 
NOTICE OE MOTION AT THE ANNUAL MEETING. 
TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL. 
Sir,—It was intended by those who promoted the requisition to the Council 
for the Special General Meeting of last month, that the resolution then pro¬ 
posed and adopted, declaring the expediency of applying to Parliament for an 
amended Pharmacy Act, should be followed by the proposal of a second re¬ 
solution, affirming the desirability of, at the same time recognising as eligible 
to election for membership under such amended Act, all bond Jide chemists 
and druggists who are as yet unconnected with the Society, , and who, within a 
given time after the passing of such Act, might apply for the privilege. 
It was impossible to foresee that in the discussion that took place on the 
first resolution, almost all the speakers would address themselves to that 
which would have been the point of the second. Preference to your report of the 
proceedings will show that the general expression of feeling was decidedly in 
favour of “opening the door;” but as the resolution then before the meeting 
did not actually embrace this point, the vote was not taken upon it. After 
three hours’ debate, those who were present became naturally desirous of 
hearing the heads of the measure proposed by the Council, and no convenient 
opportunity afterwards offered for introducing further discussion. 
In justice therefore to the members of the Society, I ask your permission 
to state, that at the ensuing Annual Meeting a resolution will be offered for 
adoption equivalent to that, which I have here referred to as having been 
contemplated at the Special General Meeting. 
As matters now stand, it is, I think, very desirable to have the clearly as¬ 
certained feeling of the Society on the subject, and. with your permission I 
will state why it is that I hope an affirmative vote will be given. 
At the very first Pharmaceutical Meeting, held on the 11th of May, 1841, 
a paper was read by the late Mr. Jacob Bell, “On the Constitution of the 
Pharmaceutical Society.” That gentleman wrote—“ The ultimate objects con¬ 
templated in this Society are the union of the chemists and druggists into 
one ostensible recognized and independent body.” 
“They consider that their own interest, as well as the safety and welfare of 
the public, demand that no person shall dispense medicines who has not under¬ 
gone an examination as a test of his competence.” 
Again, at the public meeting held on the 15th of April, 1841, the Committee 
who originated the Society reported that it had for its object “the union of 
the members of the trade into one body” 
As one of the founders, I can confidently affirm that I do not remember to 
have heard of any abandonment of these fundamental principles. 
True it is that many persons refrained from joining the Society on the several 
occasions when it was open to them to do so; but surely their apathy does 
not affect the true policy of the Pharmaceutical Society, or the objects for 
which it was designed. I contend that this policy has been to look forward 
to the day when examinations would be made compulsory, and until that day 
arrived (as on past occasions, so on the present) to strengthen the Society by 
the admission of all chemists and druggists (duly certified) whose standing 
and personal influence may help to forward our great object. 
We all know that the original Pharmacy Bill, of the late Mr. Jacob Bell was- 
