IN FORMATION RESPECTING BANDS OF MERCY.. 165 NOTE. The first Band of Mercy was established at Wood Green in 1875, by the late Mrs. Smithies, to whose earnest philanthropy this movement owes its birth. After her decease it was continued by Mr. T. B., and Miss Smithies; and, subsequently, was transferred by them to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Now, it is under the direction of the Ladies' Committee of that body. RESOLUTIONS. At the Conference of Bands of Mercy, assembled by advertisements and circular letters stating the object of the meeting, and held on January 31, 1883, it was resolved : : 1. That a Union be formed of all Bands in the Kingdom, and that the R.S.P.C.A. be placed at the head of such Union for the purpose of giving counsel and assistance to the Bands, subject to the following provisions, viz. :—(1) That the R.S.P.C.A. be regarded as the governing body of the Union, but responsible only in matters of a general character. (2) That the Bands retain their individual freedom of direction and responsibility in all matters relating to local proceedings. (3) That the governing body, and the Bands respectively, disburse their own expenses, the governing body demanding no contribution from the Bands, and the Bands receiving no grants of money from the governing body. 2. That it is desirable that uniform cards of membership, members' medals, rolls, and registers, be adopted by the Bands, the governing body providing the same, and supplying them to Bands at cost price. 3. That the halfpenny monthly journal now issued by the R.S.P.C.A., entitled Band of Mercy, continue to be regarded as the organ of the Union, this Conference recommending all Bands, as far as practicable, to extend its circulation generally throughout the United Kingdom, and particularly among the members of Bands. HOW TO FORM A BAND. Call together a few friends interested in the protection of Animals; read to them from the Band of Mercy reports of work done by various Bands; explain to them the means and objects of Bands, and the good results they yield not only to animals but to the moral natures of the members; pass a resolution that a Band shall then and there be formed, giving to it at the same time a distinctive name; pass a second resolution appointing a committee, consisting of a President and Secretary, and two or three other members (more will be better); pass a third resolution affiliating the Band with the governing body (the Ladies' Committee of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 105, Jermyn Street, London); pass a fourth resolution consisting of rules of the new Band, as printed in the following pages, or with modifications; and pass a fifth resolution authorising the Secretary to collect moneys from honorary members, and to purchase members' cards, medals, registers, rolls, and other papers, (these are supplied at cost price-but only to Secretaries of Bands, and only at the Office in London, where assistance and advice may be obtained,) Band of Mercy Melodies, copies of the monthly journal (Band of Mercy), and other Band of Mercy publications, issued by Messrs. Partridge and Co., Paternoster Row, London, and obtainable at booksellers' shops. RULES SUGGESTED. This Band shall be called "The Band of Mercy."* This Band is founded for the promotion of kindness to animals by means of occasional Meetings for readings, lectures, addresses, A Band may take the name of a person, school, village, parish, or small town. In large towns, where it may be desirable to organise more than one Band, no Band should take the name of the town, but some local distinctive appellation should be adopted. singing, etc.; by the distribution of suitable literature; by the preparation of essays on the duty of mercy; and by other appropriate methods, as may be found desirable. This Band shall consist of members paying a subscription of Id. per quarter, and of honorary members paying 2s. 6d. per annum. This Band will admit persons who shall give their assent to the following declaration : We agree to be kind to animals, and to do all in our power to protect them from cruelty and promote their humane treatment. This Band will supply a card or medal of membership to each member on admission. This Band will from time to time, as its funds may permit, give books which teach kindness to animals to the various Sunday School libraries in the locality. This Band will hold Monthly Meetings if practicable, at which addresses or lectures shall be given; or Band of Mercy Melodies sung; or readings and recitations delivered; or interesting work, done by members, reported; or stories and anecdotes, which have come under the notice of members, related, etc. This Band will endeavour not only to promote its special objects towards animals, but encourage its members to avoid unkindness to one another. MEDALS FOR MEMBERS. At the Band of Mercy Conference, it was determined that the Governing Body, appointed on that occasion, should provide a medal to be supplied to the Bands at cost price. In pursuance of this resolution the Ladies' Committee, anxious to perform their trust to the satisfaction of Bands, employed a good artist to copy the design of a medal executed under the personal direction of Her Majesty the Queen for the R.S.P.C.A., from which a die has been made at the expense of the Governing Body. (It will be interesting to state that a cat was put into the obverse of the large original medal by command of the Queen, in order that these little feline companions may be honoured equally with other favourites). The metal is hard and durable, and the gilded surface shows a sharp impression. Efforts have been made to obtain those results at the lowest possible cost. White common metal is not effective, and is very soft; and medals made of such material soon lose their freshness and charm for children. The engravings show two different ribbons and fittings. These excellent medals may be had in three different forms-the star without fittings, at Is. per doz.; the star with ribbon and safety pin at top, at 2s. per doz.; and the star with ribbon, bars, and pin, at 3s. per doz. The colour of the ribbon is dark crimson, which is recommended to Bands, because it is very pretty, is most serviceable, has not been adopted by any other society, and is used in the army for decorations. Light colours soon become soiled, and several shades of blue are already in use as emblems of different associations. CARDS FOR MEMBERS. A new design in colours, beautifully illustrated, may be had, price Is. per doz. ROLLS, REGISTERS, ETC. Registers are recommended instead of Rolls. All medals, cards, rolls, and registers, can be had only from the Governing Body. They are supplied only to Secretaries of Bands. Medals are badges of membership, and may not be worn by non-members. It is important that this rule should be strictly adhered to. It is desirable to establish Bands as separate organizations, or within Sunday Schools and Day Schools, or in connection with Bands of Hope, or other moral, social, or religious associations. Apply to Mr. COLAM, Secretary, 105, Jermyn Street, London. LIST OF BANDS OF MERCY ALREADY FOUNDED. Abbots Leigh (Bristol), Miss Constance Bright All Saints' (Halifax), Miss Reed All Saints' Boothen (Stoke on Trent), Mr. W. Pepper Backhouse (Sunderland), Miss J. Davison Belmont House (Stratford), Miss Hull Binstead (Ryde), Mrs. Tattnall Birmingham, Mr. Henry Bartle Bishopstone (Hereford), Miss L. F. Ridley Bon Accord (Aberdeen), Mr. J. L. D. Smith Bridge End (Brighouse), Mrs. W. Goodall Brussels St. (St. John, N.B.), Miss B. A. Woodworth Caledon (Co. Tyrone), Miss Armstrong Cheltenham Mrs. Bertram Ogle Christchurch (Dublin), Mrs. Shields Church of England (Alford), Rev. G. Tyack Clifton Parish (Clifton), Miss Betton Crampmoor (Romsey), Rev. J. F. Moor Croxton and Eltisley (St. Neots), Mrs. Cooper Darlington (Durham), Miss Ida Bowman Dorman's Land (E. Grinstead), Miss St. Clair Dowanhill (Glasgow), Major Lysons Eaton (Cheshire), Miss Antrobus Ellacombe (Torquay), Miss Robertson Erdington (Birmingham), Mrs. Thorpe Exmouth Street (St. John, N.B.), Miss I. Thomas Failand (Bristol), Miss I. M. Fry Fairford (Gloucestershire), Rev. A. Lediard Foley Street (Wednesbury), Mr. J. J. Proverbs General Gordon (Aberdeen), Mr. McRobb Goldington (Bedford), Miss Aplin Goodworth Clatford (Andover), Miss B. Moss Grosmont (by York), Miss A. H. Bagnall Haltwhistle (Carlisle), Major Coulson Ham and Petersham (Surrey), Miss Bentinck Hawkbill (Dundee), Rev. J. Taylor High Pavement (Nottingham), Miss Eames Hillmartin College (Holloway), Mr. M. Patterson Holton St. Peters (Halesworth), Miss Beloe Holy Trinity (Stepney), Mr. Allwright Home of Hope (Gloucester), Mrs. Sessions Hume (Berwickshire), Mrs. J. Cuthbert Hutton-in-the-Forest (Penrith), Lady Vane Ilfracombe (Devonshire), Miss Prout Ilsham (Torquay), Misses Ring and Keighley Juvenile Band (Hampstead), Miss Holford Kenfig Hill (Bridgend), Rev. J. B. Davies Lady Godiva (Coventry), Mrs. Watts Landseer (Reigate), Miss J. M. Westwood Leicester Borough Police, Serjeant Watkinson Leylands Mission (Leeds), Miss Goodall Liverpool (Lancashire), Mrs. Forrer Llandudno (N. Wales), Mr. J. Morris Llanstephan (Carmarthen), Rev. Noel Church Love-lane (Shadwell), Miss Hills Matfen (Newcastle), Lady Blackett [Atherton McKenzie Corner (Carleton, N.B.), Miss E. G. Melmerbey (Penrith), Mrs. Hall-Houghton Melton Mowbray, Miss Wing Methlic (Aberdeen), Miss McGillivray Mill lane (Malvern), Mr. W. Jones Mirrow (Guildford), Miss Campbell Mission School (Berwick-on-Tweed), Mr. J. Bates Morland (Penrith), Mrs. Markham Mount Sion (Grimsby), Mr. T. Whitfield Mount Zion (St. John's Wood), Miss Weaver Mrs. Dent's (Winchcombe), Mrs. Dent Nathaniel (East London), Mrs. Heckford New Farnley (Leeds), Rev. H. J. S. Wood Northern District (Edinburgh), Miss H. Jameson Onward (Deptford), Mr. Mattock Pioneer (Ballarat, N.S.W.), Mr. W. G. Chalmers Preston Candover (Basingstoke), Miss Kentish Ramsgate (Kent), Miss E. M. Nowers Rosslyn Hill (Hampstead), Mr. T. E. Weiss Sandhurst (Berks), Mrs. Harvey Sarum St. Edmund (Salisbury), Rev. N. A. Wells Scott Burn (Stockport), Mrs. Wotherspoon South Luffenham (Stamford), Miss R. Holden Stanton (Broadway, R.S.O.), Miss Wedgewood St. Alphidge (Battersea), Mr. Youngman St. Barnabas's (Bow, E.), Mr. C. W. Barnes St. George's (Leeds), Mr. Harrison St. George's (Norwich), Master H. Marcon St. James's (Nine Elms), Miss Baily St. John's Boys' School (Coventry), Mr. Mellor St. John's (Peterboro'), Miss H. Magee St. John's (St. John, N.B.), Mr. C. F. Kinnear St. John Baptist (St. John, N.B.), Mr. A. Porter St. Luke's (St. John, N.B), Mr. W. H. Smith St. Mary's (Bishophill, York), Rev. S. H. Bennett St. Nicholas (Dovercourt), Mr. Chandler St. Paul's (St. John, N.B.), Miss Snider St. Peter's (Edinboro'), Misses Waddilove & Paterson St. Peter's & St. Paul's (Dover), Rev. R. T. Morgan St. Silas (Leeds), Mr. R. Wynne St. Stephen's (Norwich), Mr. Forster St. Stephen's (New Zealand), Mr. H. Uru St. Stephen's (St. John, N.B.), Miss Macrae St. Winifred's (Mountain Ash), Rev. J. Simmerton Summerside (P. Edward I.), Rev. B. Chapple Swords (Co. Dublin), Miss L'Estrange Sydney (New South Wales), Miss F. Levvy Tavistock, Miss Cobbett Tean (Stoke-on-Trent), Mrs. Ryves Tennyson-road (South Lambeth), Miss Davies The Little Boys (Queen-square, W.C.) Mr. B. Morris Topsham (Devon), Miss J. Brent Townley-street (Macclesfield), Mrs. G. L. Allen Uffington (Stamford), Mrs. Ramsden Walcot (Bath), Miss J. Tyne Wall (Northumberland), Mrs. Waddilove Waterloo-street (St. John, N.B.), Mr. G. R. Day Waterside (Penzance), Mrs. Williams Wedmore (Somerset), Miss E. M. Bailey Wednesbury (Staffs), Mr. W. Francis Wells (Somerset), Miss Harvey Wentworth (Aldeburgh), Miss Olds Westbourne (Bournemouth), Miss G. R. Lewis Westgate Common (Wakefield), Miss Burkinshaw York, Miss Husband and Miss Turner York Road (Leeds), Mr. E. Oldroyd |