700 
TWENTY-SIXTH ANNIVERSARY 
very clearly proves in that official document (Pharm. Journ. Vol. VIII. p, 429), which 
says, And the hye-laws are very stringent in providing that no person shall he elected a 
member, who is not on the register of Pharmaceutical Chemists!'’ So that this proposed 
change cannot be legal, according to our bye-laws confirmed by Act, unless afterwards 
ratified by the Home Secretary. And, further, he thought it an act of injustice to those 
gentlemen whom he thought the very cream of the Society—he spoke of the Major and 
Minor Associates; gentlemen who had passed all the required curriculum of study at 
great expense of both time and money, and who, acting on the oft-repeated assertion, 
that the doors of the Society were finally closed, and that there should be no more leap¬ 
ing over the wajl, and on the bona fides of the Council they had gained this title, that 
was daily becoming more and more valuable. And yet these very men the Society had 
raised, and were raising, had no voice, yea or nay. This was too bad. Ten or fifteen 
years ago, the Society had comparatively little to tempt one to join it; the very name 
‘ Pharmaceutical’ was little known and less understood; but now, day by day, it was 
becoming of greater value, and more appreciated by those who could claim its member¬ 
ship and title. A few years ago, had any two gentlemen of equal attainments and 
business tact commenced in any town, and one of these gentlemen could write up ‘ from 
Savory and Moore, Bell and Co., or Allen’s, of Plough Court,’ etc., he thought no one 
present would deny, that he would probably succeed much better than the other 
gentleman. And why? Because the fact of his having lived in one of those 
firms of well-established reputation, gave a positive proof that he had at least 
seen the business well done, and might reasonably be supposed to be competent 
and trustworthy. Now all young men could not possibly live at those firms, but 
they can all gain a now fully established reputation by passing the examination of our 
Society. Personally, he was one of those who had passed the examination required of 
those established in business, and he could add his testimony, that it was essentially of a 
good and practical character; and, in fact, no person who could not pass that ordeal 
had the slightest claim to be admitted one of its members. A great deal had been said 
about the late and universally respected Mr. Bell’s being most anxious to unite the 
whole of the trade within our Society. He believed he was so, but speaking from acts, 
and from acts only, could we judge of one who was no longer in our midst ? Our bye¬ 
laws, of which he believed he was one of the most active propounders, say most positively 
that, after a date now long passed, no person can become a member otherwise than by 
passing the required examination. That to his mind was most conclusive evidence of jVIr. 
Bell’s views. As to the proposed change and consequent difference between a member 
and Phannaceutieal Chemist, that he held to be so far identical, that the two terms 
were used by members themselves as synonyms, and at the present moment every indi¬ 
vidual member was of necessity a Pharmaceutical Chemist, although by a bye-law a 
Pharmaceutical Chemist might not be a member. He would not longer occupy their 
time, but would move as an amendment to the proposed change by the Council, “ that 
no further steps should be taken to legislate on this matter, as the Society, simply as a 
voluntary one, would soon render such steps unnecessary, by drawing into its member¬ 
ship every respectable chemist in the country ; and further, that the Council should, 
before taking steps involving the absolute destruction of the bye-laws of the Society, 
take the opinion, yea or nay, of the whole Society by means of voting papers, that being 
the recognized principle of the Pharmaceutical Society.” 
Mr. Abraham rose and read another resolution, whereupon the Presidext inquired 
Avhether it was intended as an amendment on that proposed by Mr. Tugwell, which had 
not yet been seconded. 
A discussion ensued, which ended in the withdrawal of Mr. Tugwell’s motion, and — 
Mr. Abraham (Liverpool) then read the following motion :— 
“ That the indiscriminate admission of chemists and druggists to the membership 
of the Pharmaceutical Society would destroy the value of the title ‘ Pharmaceuti¬ 
cal Chemist;’ that the chemists and druggists, having had no part in gaining for 
the Society the reputation which it enjoys, have no claim to its honours, and that 
it is not expedient to depart from the test of examination which has so long prevailed 
in the admission of members to the Society.” 
He said, the Society was formed about twenty-six years ago, when membership was 
obtained by the payment of a subscription, but soon a Board of Examiners was appointed, 
and no one was admitted except those who satisfied the Examiners. A Royal Charter was 
