class="sc">The British Esperanto Association," be and is hereby formed. Mr. Geddes (Dover) seconded.

A discussion followed, Mr. A. E. Wackrill (late of Ceylon) suggesting a difficulty as to the equivalent in Esperanto of "Association," and pointing out the desirability of having the same initials for the title in both languages. It was replied that the word "Asociacio" (shortened in the newer Esperanto-German Dictionary into "Asocio") was already available. Finally, after Mr. Parsons (Battersea) had failed to find a seconder for his amendment—"The Esperanto Society of Great Britain and Ireland"—the Resolution moved from the chair was adopted unanimously.

Resolution 2.

Moved by Mr. Ledger (London); seconded by Mr. Gill (Acton). The objects of the Association shall be:—To promote in every way the spread of the auxiliary International language "Esperanto" by the formation of new local societies. By appointing representatives. Appointing delegates for International conferences. The arrangement of congresses. Distributing information throughout the Empire. Arranging for the loan of collections of literature, correspondence, etc. The making arrangements for lectures. The publishing and distribution of books and propaganda literature. The organising of examinations and granting certificates of proficiency, etc., etc.

Resolution 3.

Moved by Mr. Cowper (Deal); seconded by Mr. Hayes (London). That the following gentlemen be elected to hold office until the annual meeting in May, 1905:—Honorary President—Dr. Zamenhof. President—Lieut.-Col. Pollen, LL.D. Vice-Presidents—Messrs. Joseph Rhodes, F.J.I., J. C. O’Connor, B.A., Felix Moscheles, W. T. Stead. Hon. Treasurer—Mr. W. Whitebrook. Hon. Secretary—Mr. H. Clegg. Hon. Auditors—Messrs. Schultz, Comins & Co.

Resolution 4.

Moved by Mr. T. Hoskison (Leeds); seconded by Mr. Finez (Dover). That a provisional Council be formed, consisting of one representative of each existing British group, with power to add to the number, such Council to hold office until May, 1905, when the first annual meeting shall be held and a new Council elected.

Councillors.—Aberdeen, Mr. Christen; Acton, Mr. Gill; Battersea, Mr. Lee; Bedford, Mr. Dudeney; Bournemouth, Mr. Woodward; Brighton, Miss Oxenford; Brixton, Mr. Eagle; Corbridge, Miss Bickell; Dover, Mr. Geddes; Dublin, Mr. Fournier; Edinburgh, Prof. Sarolea; Forest Gate, Mr. Carter; Glasgow, Mr. Wallace; Ilford, Mr. Jeffery; Keighley, Mr. Rhodes; Kensington, Mr. Maitland; Leeds, Mr. Wyms; Leicester, Mr. Mugglestone; Liverpool, Dr. Lloyd; London, Miss Lawrence; Newcastle, Mr. Mills; Plymouth, Mr. Thill; Portsmouth, Dr. Greenwood; St. Andrews, Mr. Haxton; Tynemouth, Mr. Davidson.

Resolution 5.

Moved by Mr. Joseph Rhodes (Keighley); seconded by Dr. Lloyd (Liverpool). That the Association shall consist of Fellows, Members, and Associates.

An annual subscription (the amount of which shall be determined by the Rules) shall be payable by each Fellow and Member respectively. These subscriptions shall be 5s. for Fellows, and 2s. 6d. for Members for the period up to the annual meeting in May, 1905.

Individual Members of all Associated Groups shall be, ipso facto, Associates, but without the right of voting (except through their Group Leaders).

The Rules shall provide for the election by the Council, from time to time, of Honorary Members, consisting of friends and helpers of the cause.

Resolution 6.

Moved by Mr. Cowper (Deal); seconded by Mr. O’Connor (London). The amount of annual subscription for affiliated Groups, based upon the effective numerical strength of each Group, shall be determined by the Rules; but the amount of subscription payable for the period up to the annual meeting in May, 1905, shall be 3d. per head.

Resolution 7.

Moved by Mr. Reeve (London); seconded by Mr. Millidge (London). That the Council be empowered to prepare a draft set of Rules for the Association, to be submitted to the first general meeting.

Resolution 8.

Moved by Mr. O’Connor (London); seconded by Miss Lawrence (London). That the Council be authorised to hire, as soon as possible, a room for one year, with the approval of the Guarantor; and to engage a paid assistant secretary for the period up to the annual meeting in May, 1905.

Resolution 9.

Moved by Mr. Farnes (London); seconded by Miss Schafer (London). That the honorary secretary be authorised at the conclusion of this meeting to enroll members on payment of the provisional subscription of 2s. 6d., and to receive donations, and that the Council be empowered to elect from amongst the members, before the annual meeting in May, 1905, a limited number of Fellows who have proved themselves to be expert Esperantists, and are willing to pay 5s.

For convenience sake these resolutions have been set down in the fashion in which they were finally settled, but no single resolution was passed without comment or discussion, although to most of them unanimous consent was finally given; for example, there was an amendment to Resolution 2, Mr. E. W. Eagle (Brixton) moving that the objects should be as in the printed paper, that is, in the sentence "distributing information throughout the Empire," "Empire" should be omitted. This was seconded by Mr. E. W. Bullen (Dulwich). Mr. J. C. O’Connor (London) pleaded for the larger idea, and pointed out that he had recently received applications for information as to how to start Groups from persons in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sidney, and another distant part of the Empire. The chairman suggested that, even if the words were left out, there would really be no limitation of the activities of the Association to that part of the Empire contained within the British Isles. The meeting thereupon accepted the amendment unanimously, and the words stand simply "Distributing Information." Sir William Ramsay had been requested to become president, but, his absence in America making it possible that a reply would scarcely reach London before the meeting, the noted scholar and ardent Esperantist, Colonel Pollen, had consented to come to our help if needed. Sir William’s telegram arrived just before the meeting, the letter not until later. With his usual kindness he wrote:—

R.M.S. Baltic, 13th October, 1904.

I am most flattered by your request. My position is simply this:—I am on the Council of so many Societies (and on the Senate of London University, too) that I find I have not sufficient time for what is really the business of my life, research. It is true that each Society takes only a little time, say, one afternoon a fortnight, some more; but in the aggregate they take far more time than I ought to give. I am now free from the presidentship of the Society of Chemical Industry; but I must still attend its meetings, for the new president is an American, and cannot be present in London.

These considerations lead me to decline your flattering offer. Believe me it is not want of will; but I have made up my mind not to undertake any more work of the kind for some years. I must have time for my own work, and the only way to secure it is to decline all public offices.

Remember that I am in complete sympathy with your movement.

Yours faithfully,

William Ramsay.

Thus far our efforts have been successful, and the B.E.A. formed, but we must not forget that this is only the first step, we have to formulate carefully the Rules; and suggestions of all kinds will be welcome. The arrangement as to examiners and examinations will be an arduous and difficult work, and this