Activities Curbed by Hostilities; Financial Position Not Excellent; Many Gifts Received PPEALING to the members Shanghai, Jan. 20. to do everything in their power to secure the society's future welfare and to establish it on sound financial basis, Mr. Arthur de C, Sowerby, President of the Royal Asiatic Society, addressed the annual general meeting at Wu Lien Teh Hall, 20 Museum Road, yesterday afternoon.
"During the 1937-1938 season, nly six meetings were held" Mr. Sowerby continued, "but during the present season already six have been held to date including the first of the proposed annual "The outgoing Council," the President continued," adopted a policy at the commencement of the present season of arranging for lectures of a somewhat more popular nature than have been given In the past, withal however, lowering the cultural star dard always maintained, and those of you who have attended the meet {ngs so far held, will, T think, agree with me that the lectures we have Iitened to, have been both instructive and interesting."
In continuing his report, the Presi dent said that the library and the museum was being visited by an In-Cereasing number of people who were Targely students and research workers who have been deprived of other sources of securing the information and data they require following the destruction of many cultural institu tions here and elsewhere in Chins pos tion of the society, Mr. Sowerby was still far from satis to continue its present activities and usefulness, something would have to be done to Improve this state of In his capacity ox honorary direefor' of the Shanghai Museum, Mr. Sowerby said that since the last report had been made in June 1937, Conditions prevailing in Shanghai had been anything but. favourable but that the museum had remained open to the public throughout the hostill-Ules with the exception of the frst week, Atlendance fell off rather: badly, Mr. Sowerby stated, but since January 1038 it has steadily increased, the totals for November and December being 2623 and 2171 visitors respectively.
Various acquisitions had been made by the museum during the period under review and particular mention was given to a contribution received from Mfr. M. A. Powills of Chicago, of six Chicago Clearing House Certificates, issued as a. result of the National Bank Moratorium of 1033, but. never circulated and of which practically the whole issue Was. subsequently destroyed, only a few cancelled notes reaching collectors. Mr. Sowerby believed that in a few years, such notes will become very rare, The small Museum shop which was opened in 1937 for selling Chinese antiquities, art objects, curios, stamps and coins. as well ax stuffed and mounted birds and animals on.
Commission basis, whilst mot doing roaring trade, has brought in sum-lent income to Justify its existence, Mr. Sowerby said, The taxidermist's shop hax also yielded something towards the upkeep of the museum, but not os much as informer years, owing to the fact that the shop's chief patrons local sportsmen—had been unable to indulge In their usual pastime of shooting, owing to prevailing conditions.
'A number of interesting specimen have also. been received by the zoological department, amongst them being a mounted specimen of a China Wild Dog (Cuon rutilous). the lower Jaw of a pig from Malekula, a crimson-winged Laughing Thrush from Szechuen province and a number of other birds as well ax spiders and worms of which latter the spootes had not yet been determined.
The honorary Wbrarian and the honorary treasurer also made reports on their respective departments and the following committee was elected for the ensuing year:
President: Mr. A. de C. Sowerby: vice-presidents! Dry Bernard 'F.. Read Mr. E- Gibson, tion, Director of Sfuscum: te" de aid Keeper" of - Atchacology Gikton. Hon." Keeper of Ornithology? Sie S$. Wukinson, Hon, "Librarian: Mise 'A, 'Avranam, Hon. 'Preasurer' Mr. W. Hi. stewart. Editor of Jgurnal: Dr Bernard Read,' Councillors: Sir Herbert Philips, Me. RD. Abraham. Mev.
Grenay, Bessrs. C. It. Crosbols. J 'Jones. C_'Kalene, Dr. J- Usang Ly, Rev. 1"R" Mintean, 'Rev. P Lo Haws' Pott ins. d S. Sowerby, Messrs. W. il. Way ud richard Hubert, Hon. Secreiary:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.