The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-01-25 00:00:00

ANNUAL 3iEETING OF THE VCCAL
ASSOCIATION.

This meetingwas announced bur s o'clock on Thursday
evening last ; but, in conasspience 1.1 the win-a.pearance
of *nue of th PIC essential for the C.nuluct of business, the
time of punctual p'.,1110 w. 1,1 waited for about 20 minutes
or lialf.an-Imur, and notal•ly SUMO of the honorary mem-
bers complained .1 the delay. The Mayor was prevented
from taking th, ihair liy family affiction, and Dr. Smith,
vice.pre-i,lent, WAS out of town. Among those present
were : --Dr. Moorhead, Mr. Lundie, Mr. J. Vincent, Mr. J.
J. K. Sh.rt, Rev. F. Fisher, treasurer, Mi. Younghusband
awl a (me .•ther ladies, Mr. Debenham, Mr. eqllett (Great
Western, station), Mr. Crickmay, Pm., Mr. Av con.
ditetor, Mr. Terser, treasurer, Mr. Gibbs, Mr. Diandford,
Mr. Godfrey. ste.
Dr. MINIRIIEAD was called to the chair, awl said he
regretted very much the inelencholy circumstances which
prevented the alayor attending to-night, and expressed
his sincere awl hearty sympathy on the bereaveinent with
which it had pleased Prusuleuce t., aftliet him—(t,eier,
hear). Dr. Nloorhea.l went on to speak of the value of the
.tasociation, and said he had oftun attended the concerts
given hy it in these Assembly Mean., and when the taunt
is s. much thrown in "sir faces that we are not musical,
we ought to lie I of such an association as this.
Having referred to the Training School for music, inaugu-
rated by Dr. Moorhead alibi that the %Vermouth
VOCAI was mainly indebted bur its succsas to
Mr. Avant awl Mr. Th.rne. to Mr. IL Oakley, the hon.
treasurer, and t. Mr. W. Tarver, h . secretary, for their
valuahle services. Music,he said, exercise* • very beneficial
intbiewe on the nation by its harmonising effects, and
while we acknowlmlce the sable of sueh works of art as
the Ve,11.14 de Medici awl the Dying Gladiator, who but
has felt els. the influence of sucti airs as "Scots wha has,"
awl " Auld Lang Syne"—(applause).
Mr. IL Oassxxv, the treasurer was then called on to
(mama the balance sheet, which he read as follows
d.
To 111•1.411C0 forw.nl . 10 14
Mr Avant. conductor .. 10 10
Mr Avant, two concert lON 2 2
Mr Tionve, accompanvist 6
51r Thorne. two concert foal 2 2
hire .4 C.ineert MHO, two concerts . 111
PrifessionMs at tw. tatncerts . 13
Professional bum at two cum:arta 7 17 1
Plat ions) 0
Mewl,: for vocalists and hand . 5
Ili•tel mem . 410
hogal Howl Maned:memo •. .. 310
hinting . 4 10 1
Printing Concerts .. .. • • .• 3
Printing iwwoks of wonls 2 15
Xlvertlseincnts 1 8
Carriage of nhunts „,, .. 15
Expenses of prActice room . .. 1
Telt-grams JUNI Sundriai .. • • • •• 15
95 11 1

Honorary sulestritert. • 32 0 6
Conoert n.veipts . 27 I 0
Sale of .. • . I 3 9
Salo of Isioks of surds 2 0 6
Balance due to Treasurer . 16 2
95 II II
Mr. Oakley said he was not afraid of the balance due to
the treasurer, but he should not like it to go on with •
deficit increasing about every year, for with a little
effort, they could get up is concert to pay this off, and still
go on with the usual converts. They had increased the
honorary member's subscriptions £5 this year, and he did
not see why they should not now increase another LA.
A 4 to the office of treasurer, it WAS a great honour;
but he did not see why a few should always retain these
honours, and he would lie pleased if someone would relieve
him of the honours, and doubtless Mr. Tarver would be
willing to be relieved of the office of hon. secretary.
Mr. As ANS then went through the items to show that
the association's expenses were notlarge asemnpared with
others. Ile had £lO 10s, as conductor, and the guinea for
cach concert fee; but in Dorchester they paid Mr. Smith
EN a year, and 1.1 o. each concert fee; Mr. Thorne's
16 6s. :IA accompimyist were also well earned—Chem, hear).
Mr. Avant went through the other items to show that
d they were very low, an were nut the cause of the deficit.
The £7 17s. for a hand might seem rather a heavy charge
on a vocal a+sociation, but their engagement had done a
great deal of gasl to the society, and he hoped to propose
a means whereby this cost would be lessened. The music
cost in the first year LIN, and last year only £9 ss. Ti.; he
had supplied it at cost price for the good of the association,
and would much prefer that next year the se:retary
should order the music. It was his object to save the
society every penny, and he hall not put • penny into his
own pocket front the music —(applause).
Mr. 1.1:111M1 moved the adoption of the report. As to
the unfortunate deficit, if the hint given were adopted.
and if the ladies and gentlemen would undertake another
concert, those who are admitted free should conic as to
an onlinary concert, and induce others to come as well.
The duties of officers of • society were sufficiently onerous
when all the debts were paid at the end of the year ; but
still more so when there was an increasing deficit, so that
sonic means should be taken to reduce it.. No one could
take exception to a single item on the balance sheet. As
to the treasurer's offering to resign, it was very difficult
to get rid of a treasurership when there was an awful
debt, the secretaryship was one without emolument, and
the remuneration to the conductor and accompanyist was
very moderate.
Mr. VINCENT seconded, and the balance sheet was
ad.opted.
Mr. OAKLEY stated that Mr. Wheeler, with reference to
Use extra concert proposed, had told him he would Ise very
pleased to work for the concert, and do the whole of the
printing gratis—fapplause).
Mr. lxxont said he would take a dozen tickets, and Mr.
VINCENT also pr!nised to do so.
. _

Mr. Avatcr saj.l ho aijo would work the concert for the
benefit of the funds. He had made the acquaintance of
Mr. Collett, their new Great Western etationmmater, who
he we pleaded to ilnd lied considerable mudcal experience,
and WWI a good violinixt, go they would not require Mr.
Stine from Bridport, and that would save them the
emit, lie recommended having the extra concert before
Lv.9l. -

Rev. T. FISHIER suggested that those of the committee
els, had brazen faces should go round and try to increase
the nu?slier cf bce. inembers. _

-147.-11:-;ilii:-iii;jr;t-Oi.i;ress hand, sir—(laughter.
jr. Minus questioned whether the members would have
time to gut up three concerts, and be suggested curt•iling
the privileges of the half-guinea members who at present
have two-thirds as many tickets as the guinea menibers.
Ile had heard of gentlemen taking two half-guinea tickets,
and thus getting four tickets. He also thought all the
active members should pay .for their music.
Mr. AVANT agreed with Mr. Gibbs's suggestion that the
members ought to pay for their music. They would be
able to get up the concert by the week before Lent, for he
would t..ko si wider music.
jr. thiti.r.v said, au to curtailing the privileges of the
honorary members, he should be afraid to shake the
position of the society.
Mr. LUNDIC thought they had not lost • seat at either
of the concerts through the tickets of the honorary memo.
here
A vote of thanks to the officers was passed, and they
were rerelected.
. .

On -ihT•eir.c-iion of a rotuinittee with additions, Mr.
Gibbs, Mr. Blandford, and Mr. Godfrey resigned. The rest
were appointed as named.
Mr. CILICILWAT supported the proposition that all active
members pay for their music, and this WM agreed to.
The proceeding closed with a vote of thanks to the
Chairman.