REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR I907. 7 
of the sculptor’s art produced in the York workshops of long 
past centuries. 
In October last, your Council received the first official 
intimation from the Town Clerk of York that it was proposed 
to hold an Historic Pageant in our ancient city in July, 1909, 
and that the Museum Gardens were suggested as the most 
appropriate site for the exhibition. The announcement was 
received with somewhat mixed feelings, and the matter was 
discussed from various points of view. 
Your Council recognised that they were the duly authorised 
representatives of the Members of the Society and the natural 
guardians of their rights and liberties. A Sub-Committee was 
appointed who met the Pageant Committee and Mr. Louis N. 
Parker who had so successfully directed the pageants at 
Warwick, Sherborne, Bury St. Edmunds, Claremont, and 
elsewhere. The picturesque ruins of St. Mary’s Abbey were 
described by Mr. Parker as a perfect setting for the arena of 
an historic pageant, and he asserted that it was the only site 
in and around York which would satisfy his requirements, and 
went so far as to declare that if the Museum Gardens could 
not be obtained he must decline to conduct any pageant in 
York, but would accept an invitation already received from 
Colchester. 
The Pageant Committee laid great stress on the educational 
advantages of the Pageant, and pointed out that opportunity 
would be provided for the school children of York to attend at 
nominal charges. The question of damage to the turf by the 
performance and the erection of stands was fully considered, 
and the cost of restoration provided for as well as a substantial 
rent and a share in the profits produced. It was felt that to 
refuse the use of the Gardens would be an ungracious action 
to the City, and your Council decided to recommend to the 
members of the Society that they should take a patriotic view 
as distinguished from a selfish one, and this recommendation 
was adopted at a Special General Meeting on the 29th Nov. 
last. Your Council trust that the Pageant may prove a 
complete success, that our members may cordially co-operate 
not only by taking part in representing the historic characters 
portrayed, but in cheerfully submitting to any temporary 
