The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-09-11 00:00:00

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, THE STOURBRIDGE CONSTITUTIONAL

ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting of the members of this
association was held at their rooms High-street,
on Monday night last.
_ _

Mr. Hodgetis, who presided, read the annual
report, which was as follows :

"REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30TH,
1875.

" The time has now arrived for your committee
to present to you the sixth annual report, and to
lay before you what they have done during their
term of office.

"In the first place we have to state that the
well-being of this association, from its commence-
ment is, we believe, to be attributed in a great
measure, to one of our members, Mr. Thomas
Perkin, who has been untiring in his efforts in
assisting to raise it to its present position. We
have, therefore, for these services awarded to him
the sum of Z 3, which we hope will meet with your
approval.

For a long time the inadequate accdiaimodation
we had was severely felt by us, and acted as a
great drawback to our increasing in number. We
are now glad to inform you that we have succeeded
in securing better room by removing to where we
are.

"You are aware that at a banquet held at the
Talbot Hotel, in April last year, it was stated that
with a ESIIM of £lOO we should be able to procure
and furnish rooms whereby greater inducements
could be offered to people to join us. We have
great pleasure in stating that the deputation ap-
pointed to solicit donations for that purpose have
succeeded in securing promises for .tllO, of which
sum £62 is now deposited in the Stourbridge and
Kidderminster Bank. The remainder will be
forthcoming when required. We shacerely hope
you will now take such steps as will cause the
expenditure of the money for the object for which
it has been solicited and promised for.
"Your Committee has not taken any part in
political affairs during the last twelve months, but
note that several bills have been passed, which
they think will be beneficial.
"We have had the pleasure of adding, as Vice.
President, S. A. Brooks, Esq., and several others
to the list of members during the year.
Your Committee would suggest the advisabi-
lity of the Library being well stocked with such
works as will stimulate members to attend, and
make themselves thoroughly acquainted with the
working of the Association.
"Our best thanks are due to Miss Bedford, of
the Abbey, Pershore, the Scottish Reformation
Society, and the Birmingham Protestant Associa-
tion, for supplying us with _pamphlets, which, we
believe have been the means of disseminating
I much valuable information. - . _

_
"We beg to tender our sincere thanks for the
gratuitous supply of the following papers and
periodicals :—to Dr. Campbell, for the Illustrated
London News and Wednesday's Figaro,to the Rev.
U. F. Adley, for a copy of Home Words every
month, and to the proprietors of the following
papers:—The Worcester Herald, the Worcester
Journal, the Wolverhampton Chronicle, the Mid-
land Counties' Herald, the 13rierley Hill County
Express, and the Stourbridge Observer.
"The reading room is well supplied with daily
and weekly papers.
"In conclusion, they urged upon members to be
strongly united, so as to retain the position now
held. This haw not been attained without a great
deal of arduous work, and any laxity would be in-
imical to the interest of the association of which
we feel so justly proud.
"Presents of books, periodicals and newspapers
will be thankfully received by the secretaries or
, the librarian."

The balance-sheet showed receipts of £62 13s
41d, and expenditure of £4l 13s 101, leaving £2O
ls Gd in hand.

The leading- features of the report were briefly
discussed, and

Mr. G. 41. Bowkett proposed, and Mr. T. Green
seconded "That the report, as now read, be adop-
ted." This, on being put to the
.meeting, was
carried unanimously:

The Chairman said the next business would he
the election of officers for the ensuing year, and
the followinc, were elected :—President : Mr.
Thomas Walker, M.P. Vice-Presidents :—Messrs.
H. Allsopp, F. Monckton, M.P., the Revs. G.
F. Adley, I'. Williams, J. S. Bold., C. A.mphlett,
C. H. Craufurd, G. Gilbauks, J. .T. Welch, Messrs.
S. A. Brooks, W. Brown, R. L. Campbell, M.D., J
S. Chambers, C. W. Collis, G. Collis, W. Corbett,.
A. Freer, M.D., G. Grazebrook, H. S. Grazebrook,
H. T. Hickman, W. J. Hodgetts, A. Jones, C. P.
Noel, T. Perrens, W. Perry, Major Smith, H.
Sparrow, W. Trow, Rev. R. P. Turner, Messrs. H.
Walk.2r. M.D., Major Walker, C. Webb, W. Webb,
B. Wood, and B. Wooldridge.
The following were elected as a committee for
the year :—Messrs. S. Harubrey, T. Hunt, J. Piper,
D. Scott, J. T. Green, T. Perkin, J. 'l'. Horsley. G.
H. Bowkett, J. Chappell, E. Cookson, E. Holden,
and S. Broughton. _ _ _

Mr. Hugh-es having resigned the treasurership,
Mr. A. P. Price was appointed to the office.
Mr. T. Perkin gave in his resignation as libra-
rian, and afcerwards suggested that Mr. D. Scott
be elected to fill the vacancy.
This was seconded and unanimously adopted.
With reference to the secretaryship, Mr. D.
Batham said he must decline to act any longer as
"honorary" secretary. During the past year he ,
had ha ol to make eight journeys, write 256 letters,
240 post cards, and send out 450 circulars and re-
ports. He felt that he ought not any longer to
do such an amount of work as this gratuitously.
Mr. Bowkett proposed that Mr. Batha.ra be paid
three guineas for his services during the past
year.
This was seconded by Mr. Scott, and carried
unanimously.
Mr. Batham was again re-elected secretary.
Mr. Hart was appointed collector, and Mr. Piper
auditor.
Votes of thanks were given to the retiring offi-
cers nnd to the Chairman, and the meeting sepa-
rated.