The New York herald., 1877-03-05
CATIONS QUADElCENTENARY.

CATIONS QUADRICENTENARY.
PRELIMINARY MEETlNG--A BRILLIANT GATHER
ING RESOLUTIONS PASSED.
LONDON, Feb. 19, 1877.
on Saturday, February IL, the historic Jerusalem
Chamber was occupied by committee oil gentlemen,
drawn together for purpose which must rive the at
en,ion and enlist the sympathy OF all English speaking
peoples 1t was eminently fitting that beneath the
Of the great Abbey church OF Westminster this
meeting should be convened for tho discussion OF
scheme by which IT IS proposed TO do honor to
the man who, within those sacred precincts, just 400
years ago. set up In the "Almonry" his rude wooden
printing press produced the first pages Impressed
by separate movable type which ever saw the light oil
England-w illiam Caxton. The proposal, mootcd
some time ago, to celebrate in fitting manner this
great event. found expression the interesting meet
ing-,he first Of preliminary series which was held
undcr tho presidency OF the enlightened and liberal
minded Dean Stanley. II trivial cause which
peoplcd the .Jerusalem Chamber with men OF mark,
and led them and to frame resolutions tend
Ing TO the of man who must ever be Immortal
in the annals Of literature.
Among those present we're Lord Hathercy, Earl
Pow,s the Hon. Edwards Pierrepont, tho American
Minister; Baron Solvyns the Belgian Minister; Bishop
Claughton, Dean Church, Sir George lnncs, Bart;
Sir Charles Reed, DR.. Frankand, Dr. W. Sparrow
simpson, DR.. stoughton, Professor Huxley, Rev. W.
H. Milman, Rev. ". H. Lyal, Mr. Theodore Martin,
Mr. hcnry Hucks Gibbs, Governor OF the Bank of
England; Mr. e. H. Palmer Deputy Governor OF the
Bank OF England; Mr. W. Spottiswoodc, Mr. r. G.
Nichols Mr. G. Spottiswoode, MIR. $. ". Kershaw Mr..
W. Rivington, Mr. N Trubner, Mr.. w. Cloves Mr. W.
Cloves Jr.. Mr. W. Q. X. Cloves and MrJ r Robinson
The Secretary letters apoogzing for absence from
Prince Leopoh, tho Duke OF Teck, the Duke OF West
Minister the Archbishops OF Canterbury and YORK. the
nnUnn htPa nd q n
0uiscs OF Salisbury and Harrington. the Bishops OF
Exeter and Manchester, the Lord Mayor. Professor
Tyndal Canons Lddon and Lightfoot, Mr. Gladstone,
the Baroness Burdctt Coutls and SIR Henry Cole.
The Dean OF Westminster then opened the proceed
ings with short but interesting speech Tne spesca
Earl Stanhope then submitted the following resoiu
tion:-
That the art Of printing conferred mankind ad
provides the OF educaon preserves and renders
and nas ever the snecua instrument in enamel
patng mankind from the thradom OF ignorance snpers
He said he could claim but slight acquaintance with
the art OF printing, but he felt greatly honored In NOV
ing the resolution, for reasonsarst, that his great
grandfather had invented iroh printing bress 100
wears since which he believed was still used In PRINT
nY second ed,lions Of the large printing Offices
His second reason pride IN speaking to the resolu
ton was, that William Caxton was native oi kent
his own county He considered the .ceting most i'm
portunt and the object most important one to
slider IL had been said that railways and telcgraphs
had revouonized the world, but one would be almost
This resolution was seconded by the American Minis.
ter at the express request OF the Dean, who invited
him to show show the of printing had benefited
his own great country" which Mr. Perrepont did in
appropriate terms.
crley made the following motion, which was seconded
BY the Belgian Minister
That the introduction Of the art OF printing Into England
by William Caxton whether ~ matter OF history or as
marking the most important epoch IN the progress OF cy
and the in l477 OF The Dctes
printed with date sasana being accepted as indieat
ing the period Of the commencement Caxons lab RS IN
therefore 4ooh OF the Introduction OF the
a'' '"'' '"s s'-""' THE CELEBRATION.
The above resolution beng also unanimously car.
rico, Sir Charles Reed partner IN the firm OF Reed
Fox typcfounders, moved the next, which the pro-
posed form Of the coming celebration was disclosed
Tha. in the epnion Of this meeting the most appropriate
ton Of the worxs Of Caxton other antiquities. appl
&c connected with the M art and that The i.ssal M
the purpose be gratefully accepted. lie said he had been
sp ihs s meeting u general to be
by Subsequent resolution This COMMITTEES would NEE.
london make public the proposals they had TO make
was TINT there should be formed collection what
nigh. .ray be called sss Of art consisting a.
early and amanacs There would also be an
oandnx eecrosyps. stereotype, iithogrsphy, photog
.Dny sss s Ssas .ss Ss ss
aud they had know that they were likely to have
pany placed their hall and garden at the disposal Of the
be held during weeks Of June II proposed that
uH funds accruing the exhibition should be devoted
10 the purposes the Printers Pension society tor the
benefit OF widows and orphans OF printers tear hear
Tue concluding resolution by Mr. Theodore
Martin, who proposed
That the gentlemen whose names appear the proof
submitted to this meeting be appointed
urn promoting the objects OF is celebra
on that Sir Charles Reed Messrs Blades W. Cloves
j. Coe j. Coe - uOdson, a. Austen Leigh, X. e.
Nichols, VI. spotiswoode, q. A. spottswoode and J. g.
wilkins who have acted rs provisional committee be
appoint ed au exscuve committee twh power to add
10 their nuber who shall forthwith call meeting Of the
sectons ot the exhibition among its members. 1t bas
been decided he, said collection aud to get
together woud be requiring great knowledge ant
very industry 1t necessary also thai the com
should inspire confidence in who to b'
contribute the art which every wou
de sire 10 Ia such collection Ii would b,
uubecoming . word to enforce the claim TO conf
dence possessed by the gentlemen whose names had beet
submitted
Earl Powis having seconded the resolution, which
was unanimously carried, Mr.. Spottiswoode proposes
vote Of thanks TO the Dean tor having so kindl!
placed that appropriate chamber at Tho disposa
Of the Executive Committee Tor their 1rst meeting, ant
having given them the benefit OF his most appropri
ate presidency. Few people had been so completely
the printers Trend, not merely IN tho amount of en-
poyment he had gwen the EN-, but In the many acts o
Kindness with which his intercourse with them hat
becn int q RS pcrsed,