HOW TO FOUND A LOCAL MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY. 213 

chosen, not for their own aggrandisement, but to set a good ex- 
ample to other members of the Society, to smooth over many 
matters which are continually cropping up at meetings, to say a 
kindly word to members who have been at some trouble in bring- 
ing forward subjects at meetings, and to aid generally in pecuniary 
matters, or by the influence of their position. 
Then there are the Committee-men and Officers to be thought 
of,—they should all be good business men, and the best micros- 
copists the neighbourhood possesses. They should not be selected 
for the simple -reason that they possess miscroscopes, but because 
they know how to use them, and for the aid they may be supposed 
to render in the’several branches of Natural History. 
It is a great mistake to be lax in these selections, or to assume 
that because one has the classical authors at his fingers-end 
he is necessarily a good microscopist. The Council, as a body, 
should be an honour to the Society, and should contain the most 
important members of the district within it. If this be accom- 
plished, little difficulty will be experienced in keeping up its status ; 
but when party feeling is rampant, and every other member be- 
comes infatuated with an idea that he should be President, the 
Society will suffer by the division of interests which should be 
consolidated. 
A Society should endeavour to found and maintain a reference 
library, and possess a cabinet of slides which may be consulted. 
This renders a Librarian and Curator necessary, and careful ap- 
pointments should be made. 
As to Rules, these should be very well considered. Those of 
the Manchester Microscopical Society may serve as a guide in this 
direction, and therefore they are inserted. 
I, 
The Society shall be known as the MANCHESTER MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY. 
Il. 
The objects of the Society shall be to associate its members for mutual assistance 
in Microscopical matters, to promote accurate working with the Microscope, to hold 
meetings at which papers may be read and discussions take place thereon, to organise 
out-door excursions, to form a library of Microscopical literature for the use of the 
members, to promote the exchange of slides and all other acts which may be conducive 
to the welfare and advancement of the Society. 
INO. : 
The business of the Society shall be conducted. by a Council consisting of a Presi- 
dent, four Vice-Presidents, Treasurer, Librarian, Curator, and Secretary, and ten 
members of Committee, all of whom shall be honorary : seven shall form a quorum. 
All the members of Council shall retire annually, but shall be eligible for re-election 
except in the case of those members of Committee who have attended less than two- 
thirds the number of Committee meetings, in which case they shall not be eligible for 
re-election for at least one year after their retirement. 
IV. rat : 
At the December ordinary meeting in each year the President, or failing him the 
Chairman, shall invite the members to nominate candidates to form the new Council, 
informing them at the same time of those members who are not eligible for re-election. 
Each candidate shall be nominated (with his consent) by_at least two members of the 
Society. Such nominations must be in writing and be delivered to the Secretary on 
or before the January ordinary meeting. The list of nominations shall then be 
printed as a ballot paper and sent to each member of the Society at least fourteen 
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