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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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