The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-06-14 00:00:00

visir TO El AGLET BY Tfig DUDLEY GEO.

LOGICAL SOCIETY.

ANNUAL NESTING.

ai.nual meeting of this Society was hold on
Monday, at the le)ttelion Arms, Irani. y. Mr. Charles
Cochrane, as chairman of the committee, proposed lb.,
Rey. Mr. Thompson as president of the society for
the ensuing year.—The Rev. Mr. Gib on seconded.—
Mr. Thompson haring briefly aecepted the office. Mr. W.
Madeley read the report of the committee for the past
year.
The report shows the number of paying members to be
134; honorary, 35; • slight increase on the numbers of
last year. The balance-sheet showed an amount of £43
da 7d in the hands of the treasurer, besides the amount
of the reserve fuud (a 8 So 4.1) deposited in the Dudley
and West Bromwich Bank. The committee purpose to
invest, portion of the former sum in the purchase of
books. The report went on to state that at the last
annual meeting the retiring president—Professor Elam.
say, LL.D., FR S--delivered an important and interest.
inn address, "On the strata." That meeting was largely
attended, not only by the committee, but by as many of
the coal-masters and mining engineers in the district as
could be accommodated. The:committee hoped to pub-
lish this address, but the professor having stated his in-
tention to publish his views on the subject, as one of the
memories of the Geographical Survey, the committee
felt they could not anticipate its publication. At this
annual meeting the members and their friends visited
the limestone pits of Messrs. Dixon and Barnes, the
gloomy o.m-us of which were converted into fairy
palaces by the brilliance of innumerable candles. There
were four meetinge held last year in addition to the
annual one—viz , on May 7th, at Trentham where the
members met the North Staffordehire Naturalist Club.
On July sth the members visited Stratford•on-Avon,
and viewed the many places of interest connected with
the birthplace of our great poet, Shakespeare. Titter-
atone Clee Hill, was visited on the 13th of August, when
Mr. B. Johnson delivered an address on the geology of
the neighbourhood. Under the guidance of Mr. E. B.
Marten, the members visited Lilleshall Abbey, and Co.
amined the outcrop of the carboniferoua limestone on
Lilleshall Hill, the remains of the Abbey, dm. The Com-
mittee regretted to state that the arrears for the past
year amounted to £23 12s 64, and those of past years
to £l2 16s. They were sorry to have to announce the
resignation of Mr. W. Madeley, who bas so . ably filled
the office of secretary for seers years, and proposed Mr.
E. Terry for the offi c ui conclusion, the c:mmittee
asked a continuance and increase of their support, both
by induchig others who are interested in the objects for
which the society has been established to become mem-
her., and also by the interchange of communications on
scientific subjects, for which the meetings are an well
adapted. They felt that much good might be derived
from the field meeting, if they were regarded by the
members as got up, frequently at much trouble, for the
purpose of imparting scientific information, and not as
agreeable excursions for the amusement of the members.
Lastly, they would urge upon the members the fact that
the study of geology from books is valueless sinless ac-
companied by study in the field, and that the examina-
tion in the field is equally valueless unless systematised
by the acquisition of correct geological instruction.
The report was unanimously received and adopted.
A. summary of the balance-sheet was then reed be the
Secretary, from which it appears the balance in Stine
last year was £3 2s Id ; aubseriptions up to June. 1873,
£45 13s 6d ; arrears, £5O lls 6.1 ; total, £99 7a H.
After the expenditure there was • balance of .£43 84 7d
in the hands of the treasurer. This was also unani.
mously received.
On the motion of Mr. Hollier, seconded by Mr. Perry,
the following gentlemen were elected vice-presidents for
the manning year :—S. Albert, J. P. Barker, H. Beckett,
C. Coehrane, Major Fletcher, Dr. Fraser, Rupert Kettle,
F. Smith (Shenstone), E. F. Smith. and G. Taylor.
Mr. Gibson proposed, and Pr. Paver seconded, the
appointment of an acting committee, the names being
the smelts last year, with some slight alteration.
Mr. de Lessert. in a brief, hut highly eulogistic speech
m..ved a vote of :thanks to Mr. Madeley, the retiring
sacretary. ihe Rev. Mr. Noel seconded the motion,
which was carried.