Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 24, 1913.djvu/127

 REPORT OF BRAND COMMITTFLE.

NEW EDITION OF BRAND'S POPULAR AXTIQUITIES.

Ix reporting the progress of the work deputed to them the Brand Committee desire to commence with an abstract of a few particulars respecting the origin of the undertaking.

When Miss Burne delivered her address as President of the Society in 1910 she directed special attention to the paramount interest of National Folklore, at the same time urging a practical endeavour to utilise the mass of material which, owing to the exertions of the Society, has been collected. Miss Burne's stirring appeal for a vigorous attempt to complete the series of County Folk- lore met with so much appreciation that she followed it up b\' a circular letter to the Council on the same subject, which was discussed. In the meantime Mr. Crooke, our present President, threw out the suggestion that a practical manner of carrying out some of Miss Burne's views would be to prepare a new edition of Brand's Popnlctr Antiquities, thus utilising the great stores of National Folklore dispersed through the publications of the Society, as well as in the considerable literature on the subject which has grown up since the publication of Brand's work.

The President favoured this proposed solution of a difficult question, and asked Mr. Wheatley to prepare a memorandum on the best means for carrying it out. The whole matter was discussed at a Council meeting on April 20, 19 10, and it was agreed that the Society should undertake the publication of a new edition of Brand's work.

The Council appointed a Committee "to consider what steps should be taken to carry out the proposals contained