Centenary review of the Asiatic Society of Bengal from 1784 to 1883 / published by the Society.

  • The Asiatic Society
Date:
1885
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Centenary review of the Asiatic Society of Bengal from 1784 to 1883 / published by the Society. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    19/772 (page 7)
    part I.] Oi'diiuivy ]\[6}Ttl)6)'S. ilr. Henry Torrens, the affairs of the Society were found to be in great disorder, and considerable differences of opinion existed on many important matters. A complete code of rules, providing for all contingencies, was, there- fore, deemed urgently necessary, and a committee was ap- pointed to prepare the same. After much deliberation and examination of the rules of European societies, the Com- mittee submitted a new Code of Bye-laws, which was formally adopted on January 5, 1851.^ One important clause in the Code required that every candidate for admis- sion as an ordinary member shall address a letter stating that “ lie is anxious to promote the progress of science and literature, and is desirous of becoming a member of the Society/’ This was done as much in accordance with the opinion of the founder, who had strongly urged in his inau2:ural address, ‘‘ not to admit a new member who had not expressed a voluntary desire to become so,” as with a view to prevent unseemly repudiation of membership which had occurred in some cases. In practice, however, this rule Avas found to be unworkable, and had soon to be res- cinded. Other clauses Avere also found troublesome, and a creneral revision was called for in 1859, On the establish- ment of the Indian Museum, the altered circumstances of the Society requiring extensive changes in the rules, a new Code Avas adopted in 1869.^ This had again to be recast in 1876,^ and the last is the one now in force, with a few amendments since adopted. The founder’s inaugural address did not suggest any rule for the selection of members, but Ordinary Members. •pi at the second meeting or the Society (January 22, 1784) members were proposed, avIio were * Proceeding’s. ^ Ihiil., January 18GD, p. 10. I Ibid., Novernber 1S7G, p. 201.