Clubs & Societies in British Guiana to 1844. 75 
harmony that a social meeting of both parties should be 
held to establish good-will and a better understanding 
under " the exhilarating influence of a good dinner and 
generous liquors," so as to secure for the future more 
cordiality between the two professions " so mutually 
necessary to each other's welfare and prosperity." One 
of the abuses to be reformed was the missionary system, 
which was stigmatised as undue interference between 
master and servant, and this induced the Revds. RICHARD 
Elliot and John Davies, to join in the controversy, the 
whole correspondence being afterwards published in a 
pamphlet. 
On the 25th of January 1816, the first Masonic Lodge 
was consecrated, a procession being formed at Brother 
Marshall's Hotel at noon and proceeding to the build- 
ing, where the customary formalities were performed, 
the Revds. G. STRAGHAN, the English clergyman and B. 
FLOORS, the Dutch Minister, being both present. 
The establishment of Agricultural Societies in Berbice 
and Demerara was soon followed by one in Essequebo, 
which appears to have been founded in 181 7, the Secre- 
tary and Treasurer being Mr. GEORGE Bagot. The 
meetings were held on different plantations, being ac- 
companied by the indispensable dinner. In March 1821 
it was decided that two gold medals should be pre- 
sented to the persons in charge of estates who reared the 
greatest number of children in proportion to the adult 
female slaves on their plantations in the year 1820.* A 
month later a hundred guineas or a piece of plate of that 
value, was offered for an essay upon the Plantain Disease 
* One these medals was presented to Mr. George Bagot, and is 
now in the possession of Mr. G. B. Steele. 
K2 
