Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 5 1887.djvu/367

359 NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL.

25, 1887.

last Annual Report dwelt upon the necessity of having a greater amount of support from subscribing members, in order to put in hand the important work, A Handbook of Folk-Lore, which the progress of the study of Folk-lore has now shown to be necessary. The Council had hoped to have commenced this work last year, but upon considering the resources of the Society they deemed it wiser to apply themselves almost entirely to the effort of obtaining a larger number of members, and of ascertaining what increased measure of support the Society was likely to obtain. In consequence of these efforts the Council are happy to report that the roll of members has increased, the losses by death and retirement being 16, whilst no less than 40 new members have joined the Society. Further plans have also been suggested for bringing the Society more prominently before the notice of many residents in the country who take an interest in Folk-lore, and it is hoped that a continuance of the efforts in this direction will once for all place the Society upon a sure financial footing, and so enable it to turn its attention to the work that lies before it.

It has been deemed advisable in accordance with a long expressed opinion to secure permanent Offices for the Society's use, and the Council consider themselves fortunate in having secured adequate accommodation and a permanent address at 22, Albemarle Street, Piccadilly, at the rooms of the Royal Asiatic Society, where the Society's Evening Meetings have previously been held.