65 
by pickpockets, which outrage evoked an expression of sympathy from 
the members of the Society, and in all probability aggravated the 
malady (angina pectoris) to which he succumbed on December 16th, 
1908. 
The Society possesses a minute book of the proceedings of the 
Haggerston Society for June, 1858, to July, 1859, this being the first 
year of the Society’s existence. There is no reference therein, how¬ 
ever, to the subject of this memoir, and it would therefore appear 
doubtful whether the statement that has appeared elsewhere, that Mr. 
Clark was one of the founders of the Society in 1858, is correct; the 
fact that he would then have been under sixteen years of age would 
seem also to make this rather improbable. It seems evident, how¬ 
ever, that he joined the Society very soon after its inception, as the 
minutes of December 5th, 1867 (the next record available), show 
that he was then a member of the “Committee of Management” — 
corresponding more or less to the unofficial members of our present- 
day Council — and was taking an active interest in the proceedings 
and control of the Society. It is interesting to note, as indicative of 
the character of the Society in these days, that the President referred 
to the election of Mr. E. Newman, in 1869, as an “ honour to a 
society of working men.” 
In 1871, Mr. Clark was a member of a committee appointed to 
revise the rules, and from this date onwards the records show that he 
always took a special interest in this side of the Society’s affairs. Two 
years later he was elected a Vice-President at the midsummer election, 
the meetings at this time being held weekly, and the election of officers 
half-yearly. The Society’s posts changed hands rapidly in those days, 
and in the following December Mr. Clark retired from the Vice- 
Presidency and became Secretary until June, 1874 ; during this year 
he took an active part in the formation of a collection for presentation 
to the Bethnal Green Museum. 
In 1876, Mr. Clark was President, and during 1877,1880 and 1881, 
he occupied the post of Curator. In the latter year he was concerned 
in a movement to disassociate the meetings from connection with a 
public-house—the Society at this time meeting at the “ Brownlow 
Arms”—but this suggestion met with but scanty support. In 1882 
he was the recipient of a testimonial from his fellow members for 
services rendered in connection with the “Cabinet Club,” while in 
1883 we find him taking an active share in the organisation of opposi¬ 
tion to the Great Eastern Railway’s proposal to extend their line to 
High Beech. 
In 1884, Mr. Clark and others offered prizes in competitions for 
setting, season’s collecting, etc., which met with little success, a fact 
attributed to members’ unwillingness to compete for prizes. In 1885 
a “friendly” competition was therefore arranged, and Mr. Clark’s 
exhibit was awarded the prize for setting, being pronounced “ perfect ” 
by the judges. 
In 1886, Mr. Clark was again concerned in an agitation for the 
removal of the Society to more appropriate premises as a remedy for 
its waning fortunes; this met with more success than the previous 
attempt, and in 1887 the removal to Albion Hall, London Wall, was 
effected, and the Society’s present title adopted. 
xviii. 
