Abstract of Proceedings 1915-16

( IT ) tent ^tthajoflffjjital j^atfotg. * ABSTRACT OE PROCEEDINGS, 1915-16. HON. SECEETAEY'S EEPOET, 1915 (JUNE 9). DURING the past year considerable resignations, many due to the war, have occurred, and, since August last, proposals for election have been few in number. Our meeting at Maidstone in March last, at which Mr. Potts reported in a letter from Sir ~W. St. John Hope the very interesting discoveries at St. Augustine's, Canterbury, and Mr. Aymer Vallance again discoursed to us (this time on the development of architecture as illustrated by some Ereuch churches), was, considering the circumstances of the times, well attended, 120 being present at tea. I should like the Council to bear in mind the advisability of so altering the Eules of the Society that the Annual Business Meeting might be held at Maidstone, when matters of business and interest might be discussed with more time and greater consideration than when sandwiched in on the day of our Annual Excursion. The two or three members of the Council with whom I have discussed this project have certainly not received the suggestion unfavourably. A more distinctly local meeting was held at Tonbridge in May after the Local Secretaries' Lunch. Sixty were present at the tea, but this was not the full number. Mr. Powell said the Sussex Society derived much benefit from similar half-day meetings, and was in favour of them himself. Sir "William St. John Hope's letter on St. Augustine's excavations was again read, with the assistance of a plan. The situation of the town gates of Tonbridge and the lvi MOCEEDI'NGS, 1915-16. ditch surrounding the town was pointed out on the Ordnance Map. Mr. Handcock described the attempt to discover the foundation of the Chapel Tower in the Castle, took members round the circuit of the Castle walls and shewed the stones brought to light in clearing out the well on the Castle mound. These stones Mr. Touens afterwards photographed, as well as taking some seventeen other photographs of the Castle, the old inns, the Portreeve's house near the site of the Postern Gate, and the old ditch at the rear of the dwelling, and one shewing the moulding and stones of the Norman window in the south wall of the chancel from the south chancel aisle in the parish church of Tonbridge. Your Society did all it could to welcome the British Archseological Association to Canterbury last July, and on the Eriday evening of the week a Paper on " The Old Eoads of East Kent" was read by Sir Charles Warren, K.C.M.G. Vol. XXXI. is now in the printer's hands owing to the kindness of the Eev. Charles E. Woodruff, who offered his services to the Society owing to the fact that one editor is at the front and the other overworked at the War Office. This kindness is very much appreciated by all. I need hardly remind members how necessary it is for each one during the difficult times we are now passing through to endeavour to secure as many new members as possible for the Society. I should like to express my thanks to Mr. Allchin for the kind way in which he always tries to help us by every means in his power, and of Mr. Elgar I need only say that he is as interested in his work as ever, and his assistance is often sought, even from afar, by persons to whom his qualifications have become known. HON. SECEETAEY'S EEPOET, 1916 (JULY 20). BEFORE entering upon the work of the year I should like to state plainly that the two Annual gatherings at Maidstone and the place selected for our summer excursion have not cost the Society anything, at any rate during recent years, except the postage stamps and the printing of the notices sent to members. I wish to emphasize this, as several members have asked whether we could not reduce the Annual Subscription during the war as we no longer hold our two-days' excursion in the summer. 1PR0CEEDINGS, 1915-16. lvil Coming to the work of the Society, the war has injuriously affected our work, partly owing to the disorganization caused by it, and partly to resignations caused chiefly by the war and in several cases tendered with the very greatest regret. Among losses by death two stand out very prominently, viz., the Eev. J. A. Boodle and Mr. Griraud, both of whom, after lifelong connection with our Society, worked for it up to the very last, both dying as elected members of our Council and both being at their deaths Honorary Local Secretaries of their respective districts. To both your Society owes much, and has already expressed to their relatives its very keenest feeling of loss at their recent deaths. The war has also stopped for the time the exceedingly interesting work—interesting not only to the county of Kent, but to the nation and empire at large (a Canadian officer is taking the greatest interest in the excavations)—carried on so heartily by the Authorities at St. Augustine's. Perhaps I may particularly mention the name of the Eev. E. U. Potts, Sub-Warden, who is entitled to our profound gratitude for what has been accomplished. The serious question presenting itself to us, about which the less said the better at present, is caused by the site belonging to different owners, which prevents the excavation of the whole of the site of the original church. We have reason to believe that our next volume of Archceologia Cantiana will contain an account of St. Augustine's by Sir W. St. John Hope. Mr. Elliston Erwood, when lecturing at Maidstone last March, strongly urged the formation by the Society after the war of an Excavation Branch, to be limited to some thirty or forty members, all to be workers, and to agree to work under proper supervision. A similar Society has, he informed us, done good work in Essex. The matter is under consideration by the Council. It is hardly necessary for me again to urge upon all to do their utmost to help the Society through the very difficult times it and kindred societies are now passing through. Every endeavour should be made to retain present members and as far as possible obtain new ones. It is no longer so much a question of increasing our number as of endeavouring to prevent a fall.