ACCOUNT OF THE SIXTH ANNIVERSARY MEETING OF THE Cambridge Camden Society, MAY 8, 1845. (From the Newspaper Report.) ON Thursday evening last, the sixth anniversary meeting of the Cambridge Camden Society was held in the Town Hall at half-past 7 o'clock. The great interest attending this meeting led to the conclusion that the usual place of meeting, the rooms of the Philosophical Society, would not afford sufficient accommodation for the numbers expected to be present. Permission was therefore requested for the use of the Town Hall, which was most readily granted, and at the hour appointed a very considerable number of members, non resident as well as resident, assembled, 300 or 400 being present. The President, the Ven. Archdeacon Thorp, took the chair, amid great applause, and among those present we observed, the Rev. the Master of Clare Hall; the Revs. Professors Corrie, Lee and Sedgwick; Professor Pryme; the Venerable Archdeacon Marriott; the Honourables E. H. Stanley, J. H. Nelson, and R. Clive; A. J. B. Hope, Esq., M.P.: the Revs. J. Thackeray, (Proctor), E. Mortlock, J. Hildyard, J. J. Smith, R. Birkett, G. Currey, C. U. Barry, W. Scott, L. F. Page, (Woolpit), W. N. Griffin, F. Martin, W. Airy, M. A. Atkinson, J. Legh (Proproctor), R. Williams, A. Tate, A. M. Hopper, W. J. Butler (Wareside), G. F. Reyner, J. Woolley; Messrs. Hopkins (Esquire Bedell), Paley (St. John's), Caley (Trin.), Harper (St. John's), Goodwin, (Proctor), Frere (Downing), Ellicott (St. John's), &c. &c., and several architects from London and other places. The President commenced the business of the evening by proposing that a vote of thanks be given to the Mayor, who had kindly granted the use of the Town Hall (hear.) There was a propriety in this, for the Camden Society had done something for the town of Cambridge, and the inhabitants were not ungrateful. He next proceeded to submit to the meeting the proposal for the suspension of the 16th law (of which notice had been given some time before), which was passed unanimously; and added, that if no objection was made by any single member, the election of new members this evening might be made by a show of hands. The following gentlemen were elected accordingly: W. Izard, Esq., Christ's college, Rev. H. L. Baker, Ballygawley, Ireland. Mr. J. T. Walters, Cambridge. Geo. Townshend Andrews, Esq., of York, architect. The President read a letter from Mr. Andrews to himself, stating that although he was an entire stranger, understanding that the Society was likely to be dissolved he was anxious to become a member of it before that event should take place, and as a churchman and a practising architect to testify to the vast amount of good effected by its means. He inclosed a letter of recommendation from Archdeacon Wilberforce. The next step in the business of the evening was to ascertain the general sentiments of the members as to the proposed dissolution of the Society, as shown by the voting papers which had been transmitted to every member who could be reached by post, with a request that they might be returned by the 6th of May. A large number of the papers were returned, but the President announced that if any gentlemen present had not sent in their votes and desired to do so, the Committee would receive them now. A considerable number of voting papers were consequently laid upon the table. The President then announced that the numbers received before that evening were Assents to the proposal of dissolution..... ....... To these were to be added the numbers delivered this evening; 105 245 This announcement was received with cheers. The Rev. H. GOODWIN, the Treasurer, read the financial statement for the past year, which he was glad to say was more satisfactory than could have been anticipated. The receipts were Subscriptions £216 15 0 Mr. Stevenson, for "Churches of Cambridgeshire"...... 50 0 0 "The History of Christian Altars" .... 7 10 0 144 8 0 £418 13 8 The expenditure consisted for the most part of small items, excepting £80 to Mr. Le Keux for engraving, and £116 to Messrs. Metcalfe and Palmer for printing. The total of expenditure was £306 16s. 7d., leaving a balance of £111 17s. 1d. But this was not an exact statement, for it did not include a sum due from Mr. Stevenson, who had lately been too unwell to attend to business. That sum, however, would probably be £436 0s. 5d., making a balance of £547 17s. 6d., which might be considered cash in hand. And in addition to this there was a sum of £80 6s. 2d. paid as it were on 8 trust, but which would be returned, and some £10 had been received since the accounts were audited. On the other hand about £30 was due to the Pitt Press, and perhaps £20 to Messrs. Metcalfe and Palmer. The result of all this was that the Society had about £600 as a balance, whereas, when he entered upon the office of Treasurer, it had not more than £250. The Treasurer shortly alluded to a change in the mode of publishing, whereby the Society had got rid of much trouble and responsibility. The PRESIDENT, after a few comments upon the generally flourishing state of the Society's funds, and a compliment to Mr. Goodwin on resigning the office of Treasurer, called upon Mr. Paley to read a list of presents received since the last meeting in April. Mr. PALEY, one of the Secretaries, then read the following list of presents: The analysis of Gothic Architecture, 4to. Parts 1. to XI. From the authors, Messrs. Brandon, architects. Instrumenta Ecclesiastica, parts VI. and VII. Edited by the Society. Specimens of Decorated Windows, part IV. From the publisher, Mr. Van Voorst. A complete series of working drawings of S. Peter's church, Thurston, Suffolk, near Bury St. Edmund's, with mouldings and all details fully drawn out to a scale. Two drawings of ancient coloured glass. From J. H. P: Oakes, B.A., Emmanuel college. Drawings of gable-crosses, and bell-gable, from Skelton chapel, near York : also of a font, from Burford, Beds, and other details. From C. Hansom, Esq., architect, Coventry. Drawings of a series of Decorated Gable crosses, from Notts. From Mr. G. G. Place, architect. Lithograph of the desecrated church of S. Michael's, Saltisford, Warwick. From J. G. Jackson, Esq., architect, Leamington. Specimens of stained glass quarries, manufactured for the Society. By Mr. Powell, Whitefriars Glass Works, London. A manual of Gothic Mouldings. 8vo. plates. From the author. Engraving and description of the brass of a Bishop, from Constance Cathedral. From the Rev. Mr. Ellacombe. The Rev. B. WEBB, the Senior Secretary, next read the following report: "The Committee have now to present the Sixth Annual Report of the Society. "The number of members elected since the last anniversary amounts to ninetyseven, of whom two, being Colonial Bishops, were admitted as patrons. "The State of the Society's Publications is as follows: "A third edition of the tract A few words to church-builders' has been published. "The 'Churches of Cambridgeshire' have only advanced one number during the year. The chief reason for this delay has been the absence from England of the member who has drawn hitherto the greater number of the illustrations. Number VII. containing views and descriptions of S. Andrew's, Haslingfield, has appeared. "Six parts of the Instrumenta Ecclesiastica' have been issued during the year; and the work has now reached the seventh part, containing in all 42 plates. The Society presents a copy of this series to each of the Colonial Bishops. "A third part of the 'Transactions of the Society' is in the press. This will contain a selection of the papers read before the Society until its last business meeting in the Lent Term. Every member will be entitled to a copy of the part. "A sixth and concluding number of the 'Illustrations of Monumental Brasses' has been announced, and is in hand. "The third volume of the 'Ecclesiologist' having been concluded, the Committee resolved to discontinue the publication. They gave permission however to those who had hitherto chiefly conducted it, to continue the work, care being taken to exempt the Society from any responsibility respecting it. "Two entirely new publications have been brought out. The first,' A History of Christian Altars,' a paper read before the Society by the Rev. F. W. Collison, of S. John's college; the other a set of elevations and working drawings of of the Chancel of All Saints, Hawton, Nottinghamshire. The Committee have to express their high sense of the care and accuracy with which Mr. G. G. Place, architect, has prepared these drawings. They have already announced the proposed publication of an illustrated work on Decorative Architectural Painting, by Mr. Blackburne. This will be published by subscription. "During the past year the Committee have made several grants towards church restorations. The following are the instances which were selected out of numerous applications. S. Mary-le-Crypt, Gloucester; S. Mary, Stogumber, Somersetshire; S. Mary, Rampisham, Dorsetshire; Holy Trinity, Rudgwick, Sussex; S. Peter's, Frome, Somersetshire; and S. Mary, Wymeswold, Leicestershire. 1 A "The Committee have made a second grant to the last-mentioned church, in token of their approbation of the spirit and completeness of the restoration. small grant has also been made to the new church of S. John Baptist, Chapeltown, in commendation of the design selected. "The Committee have to inform the meeting that a member of the Society, who has departed this life since the last anniversary, bequeathed the sum of £6000 to be expended by the Society in the building and restoration of churches. The employment of this legacy according to the wishes of the testator, will form a subject of great importance to the new committee. "The Committee have to announce that the general operations of the Society have been very extensive and successful. Very many churches have been supplied with church plate and ornaments: and the workmen employed have greatly improved in skill. "Some specimens of flowered quarries, from the Whitefriars Glassworks, are exhibited this evening. The Committee believe that a great service has been done to the cause of church art by the production of this kind of glass. They owe their thanks to the Messrs. Powell, the manufacturers and patentees, for their readiness in acting upon the first suggestions of the Committee. "By the kindness of a member of the Society, the meeting has an opportunity this evening of seeing three specimens of brasses, finished with proper colours, the workmanship of the Messrs. Waller. They hope that these beautiful examples will be of use in recommending to members this most appropriate kind of sepulchral monuments. "In the last Annual Report notice was given of an intention to select and adopt certain ancient churches, of which working drawings might be sent to colonies of a climate not unlike that of England. This project has been found very successful. Working drawings have been provided of the church of All Saints, Teversham, by Mr. Butterfield; of S. Mary's, Arnold, and S. Michael's, Longstanton, by Mr. Place. Mr. Oakes, of Emmanuel college, has added to many former benefits to the society, by presenting complete drawings of the church of S. Peter, Thurston, Suffolk. "The Society ought to be informed that after the appearance of a letter from the Count de Montalembert, containing many reflections on the society, the President communicated with the writer through the member to whom the letter had been addressed in explanation of the way in which the Count had become an honorary member of the society. The Count has not acknowledged this communication. "The Committee issue this evening a circular calling upon the members by a small effort to clear off the debt remaining on the restoration of the Round Church. They cannot doubt that this appeal to those who have gained the credit of the restoration will be successful. B 10 "The Committee have already given full notice, by addressing a circular to every member, of the circumstances which compelled them to withdraw their recommendation of the dissolution of the society as originally proposed. They also issued at the same time voting papers in order to ascertain the general sense of the members with respect to the expediency of attempting to accomplish a dissolution in the way indicated by counsel. In answer, they have received the written votes of above half the members of the Society, which give the proportion of above 2 to 1 against the proposition; while a very large number of the minority accompanied their votes with the intimation that they assented to the proposition, against their own wishes, merely in order to support what they supposed to be the wish of the Committee. "This result has shewn satisfactorily to the Committee, that the great majority of the members are averse to the stopping at this time of the Society's labours. Very many also have expressed in their correspondence an earnest wish that the affairs of the Society may be conducted on the same princíples as have been hitherto maintained. "These considerations have induced the Committee to believe that it is their duty as the present executive of the Society, to offer to the meeting this evening a scheme by which, in the words of a former report, 'in their opinion the Society may continue to subsist in the spirit of its original constitution, and consistently with duty, usefulness, and honour.' "After the reading of the present report the Committee will have given up their office. The President will then submit a resolution which shall embody the change in the Society's rules recommended by the Committee. "The Committee in conclusion will merely refer to the nature of the changes proposed. They will be such as shall retain those parts of the Society's operations which are confessedly beneficial, discarding, so far as this Society is concerned, everything which brings it into contact with the University." Mr. CURREY, of S. John's, inquired if it was considered certain that the £6,000 mentioned in the report would be placed at the disposal of the Committee. was, The PRESIDENT said he would attend to the question in the course of what he was about to say. The Committee had reported that their functions had ceased, and the society had then no executive except himself. It therefore, his duty to make the meeting acquainted with the nature of the plan which was proposed for the future management of the society. But first he would make an observation or two upon the general sentiments of the members upon the question of dissolution. These were not exactly represented by the numbers he had announced, inasmuch as many gentlemen had voted for the dissolution, stating that they did so contrary to their wishes and opinion, out of deference to the supposed sentiments of the Committee. He had himself, as well as the secretaries, received a large number of letters to that effect, from some of which he read extracts. It had been thought advisable to have the nature of the plan proposed by the Committee printed in the form of a revised set of laws, which would now be handed round to the meeting. The following "Laws as proposed to be revised" were distributed :I. The object of the Society shall be to promote the study of Ecclesiastical Architecture and Antiquities, and the restoration of mutilated Architectural remains. II. The Society shall consist of a President, Vice-Presidents, Honorary and Ordinary Members who shall have been elected (either by the Society by ballot, at a meeting of which not less than one week's notice shall have been given, on the nomination of |