The Marylebone Club
PAST PATRON-H.R.H. PRINCE ALBERT.
| 1826. | Charles Barnett, Esq. |
| 1827. | H. Kingscote, Esq. |
| 1828. | A. F. Greville, Esq. |
| 1829. | John Barnard, Esq. |
| 1830. | Hon. G. Ponsonby. |
| 1831. | W. Deedes, Esq. |
| 1832. | H. Howard, Esq. |
| 1833. | Herbert Jenner, Esq. |
| 1834. | Hon. H. Ashley. |
| 1835. | Lord C. Russell. |
| 1836. | Lord Suffield. |
| 1837. | Viscount Grimston. |
| 1838. | Marquis of Exeter. |
| 1839. | Earl of Chesterfield. |
| 1840. | Earl of Verulam. |
| 1841. | Earl Craven. |
| 1842. | Earl of March. |
| 1843. | Earl of Ducie. |
| 1844. | Sir John Bayley, Bart. |
| 1845. | Thos. Chamberlayne, Esq. |
| 1846. | Earl of Winterton. |
| 1847. | Earl of Strathmore. |
| 1848. | Earl of Leicester. |
| 1849. | Earl of Darnley. |
| 1850. | Lord Guernsey. |
| 1851. | Earl Stamford & Warrington. |
| 1852. | Viscount Dupplin. |
| 1853. | Marquis of Worcester. |
| 1854. | Earl Vane. |
| 1855. | Earl of Uxbridge. |
| 1856. | Viscount Milton. |
| 1857. | Sir F. Bathurst, Bart. |
| 1858. | Lord Garlies. |
| 1859. | Earl of Coventry. |
| 1860. | Lord Skelmersdale. |
| 1861. | Earl Spencer. |
| 1862. | Earl of Sefton. |
| 1863. | Lord Suffield. |
| 1864. | Earl of Dudley. |
| 1865. | Lord Ebury. |
| 1866. | Earl of Sandwich. |
| 1867. | Earl of Verulam. |
| 1868. | Lord Methuen. |
| 1869. | Marquis of Lansdowne. |
| 1870. | J. H. Scourfield, Esq., M.P. |
| 1871. | Earl of Clarendon. |
| 1872. | Viscount Downe. |
| 1873. | Earl of Cadogan. |
| F. Ladbrooke, Esq. | H. Kingscote, Esq. | R. Kynaston, Esq. |
| B. Aislabie, Esq. | R. Kynaston, Esq. | A. Baillie, Esq. |
THE MARYLEBONE CLUB IN 1874.
Patron-H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES.
President- The MARQUIS OF HAMILTON.
- The Committee
- Treas.- R. BURGOYNE, Esq.
- Sec.- R. A. FITZGERALD, Esq.
- Trustees.-Earl of Dudley, Earl of Sefton, Hon. F. Ponsonby, R. Broughton, Esq., W. Nicholson, Esq.,
- *Earl of Clarendon, *C. Marsham, Esq., *Major Denne, *Lieut Col. Parnell, A. R. Smith-Barry, Esq., W. H. Dyke, Esq., R. Forster, Esq., C. E. Green, Esq., Hon. R. Grimston, J. M. Heathcote, Esq., Hon. C. G. Lyttelton, C. Marriott, Esq., E. Rutter, Esq., J. H. Scourfield, Esq., E. W. Tritton, Esq., R. D. Walker, Esq.,
- Auditors- R. KYNASTON, G. D. PORCHER, & R. J. WARD, Esqs.
*Retire by rotation.
Assistant Secretary and Clerk to the Committee - Mr. J. MURDOCH.
Professional Bowlers engaged at Lord's in 1874, - Thomas Hearne, Sen. (captain), Biddulph, Alfred Shaw, F. Farrauds, Walter Price, M. Flanagan, John West, G. Nixon (Cambs), J. C. Davey, R. Clayton, A. Rylott, F. Morley, F. Randon, and W. Scotton.
ground Keeper - D. Jordan, Son.
Size of Lord's Ground - About 9 Acres.
The 87th ANNIVERSARY MEETING of the members of THE MARYLEBONE CLUB was held at Lord's Ground at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6th, 1874, the Earl of Cadogan, the President, in the chair. His lordship opened the proceedings, and called upon the Secretary to read the annual report.
The Secretary read as follows:-
The committee, in presenting their annual report, have the pleasure of announcing that the past season has witnessed no decline in the material prosperity of the Marylebone Club.
The club now numbers 1,802 members; 29 resignations and 13 deaths have occurred, whilst the fact that no less than 228 new members were elected during the season of 1873 may be regarded as a sufficient proof of general approval of the management of the club.
The receipts of matches in 1873 vary but little from those in 1872 - the receipts in 1873 amounting to £3,012 11s. 6d., as against £3,047 8s. in the previous year.
The expenses of matches in 1873 amounted to £1,615 7s. 7d.
To keep pace with the increasing strength of the club, the committee have not hesitated to extend the area of the annual match list. The members are no longer confined to matches upon Lord's Ground; challenges have been accepted in all parts of England, and great success attended the Eleven that represented the club at the end of the season in Scotland.
The attention of the committee was directed several years ago to the state of the match ground, which now gives satisfactory evidence of the care expended on it. The premises having been thoroughly restored, the committee decided upon improving the out-fielding portion of Lord's Ground. The sum of £250 has been expended during the last autumn upon different parts of the ground. The turf has been raised, and the surface levelled from the match wickets to the outskirts on the south side abutting on the tennis court, and it is contemplated to carry out the levelling throughout the entire length of the ground next autumn.
The practice wickets have also been relaid, the underlying clay removed, and the committee trust that great improvements will be found during the present season.
The match list will be found to differ from those of previous years. The counties having generally disapproved of the scheme entertained last year, the committee have instituted a series of divisional matches. The North, South, East, and West of England will be represented at Lord's. The Elevens will be selected by the committee, and they hope to bring out many players who, from various circumstances, may have been debarred from playing for their respective counties.
The ground staff maintains its long-established efficiency. Randon, Morley, and Scotton have filled the vacancies caused by the resignations of Wootton and H. Nixon, and the decease of H. Royston. Two familiar faces will be missed at Lord's this season. The long services of Grundy and Royston demand a passing recognition; the former had retired from the service of the club, the latter was in receipt of a pension conferred a few weeks before his death. They were both distinguished by a long and faithful adherence to the Marylebone Club.
To promote the comfort and convenience of the members an embankment, supporting four rows of seats, has been constructed, calculated to seat 400 persons.
It is proposed to devote these seats exclusively to members and friends introduced by them on special occasions. The ground in front will be kept clear, and it is to be regarded as an extension of the Pavilion in regard more especially to the comfort of ladies and the families of members, upon the grand match days.
The question of county qualification was satisfactorily settled during the past season, and the regulations meeting with the approval of the Counties, will henceforth be enforced in all matches at Lord's ground.
The M. C. C. Cricketers' Fund now amounts to £619 4s. 10d. The match on Whit-Monday, North v. South, will be played for its benefit.
The Marquis of Hamilton has accepted the office of president for 1874.
The committee have had under their consideration the advisability of continuing the publication of the work known as Cricket Scores and Biographies. An occasion has occurred of purchasing the valuable MSS of Mr. Haygarth, which presents an unbroken record of the game up to the present time. The expense of publication will be considerable, and the committee have not thought proper at present to fully commit themselves to it. They are of opinion that the Marylebone Club, having been specially offered the possession of these records by Mr. Haygarth, should not decline his offer without consideration, The labour of many years runs the risk of being lost to the lovers of the game. A continuous history of cricket should be preserved, if nowhere else, in the Pavilion at Lord's.
The committee have determined upon opening a list of subscribers for copies of the new work, and if they meet with the general support of the members and lovers of cricket throughout England, they will feel justified in incurring the necessary expenditure.
The report was carried unanimously.
By the adoption of the report the following gentlemen will take their places upon the committee, viz.:-
Hon. R. Grimston, J. H. Scourfield, A. H. Smith-Barry, R. D. Walker, and C. Marriott.
Messrs. Kynaston, Porcher, and Ward were re-elected auditors.
The SECRETARY read a letter from Capt. Holden, respecting the distinction between an amateur and professional player, and stating his opinion that the time had arrived when some proper definition should be laid down of the term amateur, as distinct from professional.
The question was discussed from different points of view by Messrs. Marsham, Willoughby, and others, and in the end it was proposed by Lord Cadogan, and seconded by the Rev. W. Stanhope, that the Secretary be requested to acknowledge the receipt of Capt. Holden's letter, and to state that it had been read to the meeting, and the subject matter thereof referred to the committee:-Carried nem. con.
The ballot was then declared, in accordance with the new rule, only twelve members being balloted for at one time.
Mr. WILLOUGHBY'S parting shot took effect, and his remarks were to the point. He drew attention to the scene witnessed last season at the end of the Schools Match, and strongly deprecated the encouragement on the part of the members, of similar scenes this year.
The SECRETARY fully concurred with Mr. Willoughby, and expressed a hope that the old boys in the Pavilion would set a good example to the young boys outside. The existence of the match depended upon good order being preserved, and he wished he could depend with equal faith upon the discretion of old Harrow and old Eton as he did upon the boys, to whom he really felt grateful for restraining their genius of fun and mischief as well as they did. Left to themselves he would trust the boys to sustain the reputation of their school, but if encouraged by older members of either school in scenes of riot, it was scarcely to be expected of them to leave the ground without a jolly row.
The meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.
THE DINNER.
Dinner was served at 7.30. The chair was taken by the President, the Earl of Cadogan, supported by the Marquis of Hamilton, Sir C. Legard, Bart., J. Burgoyne, &c.
After dinner the Chairman gave the usual loyal toasts. H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, as patron of M. C. C., received his due share of acknowledgment as a generous supporter of all British sports. His lordship then gave the toast of the evening, Cricket, and success to the M. C. C. In the course of an excellent address he alluded to the prosperity of the club financially, and from a cricket point of view to the deaths of Grundy and Royston, so long known on Lord's Ground, and to the proposed visit of an American Fifteen in August. His lordship regretted that this visit would be at close of the London season, but warmly pressed the claims of the visitors upon the hospitality of the club, as a slight return for the attention shown to our Twelve who visited America in 1872. England should not be behindhand of America, at least in hospitality, and he felt sure he could promise the visitors a hearty welcome to Lord's Ground. He congratulated the members on the position which the club held in the face of all rivals for public favour; and though fashion might attract some few to other fields, he felt justified in saying that there was Life in the Old Dog yet, and that the high prestige of the Marylebone Club would place it far above the meaner considerations of fashion. He concluded by coupling the toast with the name of an honoured ex-president and old member of M. C. C., Mr. J. H. Scourfield, M.P., who, on rising, was received very heartily, and, in a very characteristic speech, observed he had always been an admirer of the game, and he had looked on at the play of many generations, and he hoped that cricket would long be sustained at Lord's in the severe simplicity which distinguished it above all other grounds.
Sir C. LEGARD proposed the out-going President.
The Earl of CADOGAN, in responding, said he felt very grateful for the hearty reception of that evening, and remarked he quitted with regret the woolsack of cricket at Lord's Ground; he had, however, great confidence in his successor, and most warmly recommended him to fill the chair it was now his last sad duty to vacate.
His lordship resumed his seat amidst renewed cheers, and the chair was taken by the new president, the Marquis of HAMILTON, who, on rising to respond, was very cordially received by the meeting. His lordship expressed his high sense of the honour conferred on him by his election as president of the oldest cricket club in England. Cricket was a great social leveller, and long might it flourish, apart from its excellence as a pastime, to bring into happy and healthy connection all classes of the country! The prosperity of cricket was involved in the welfare of the M. C. C., and he trusted that, under the present able management, his year of office would be no less distinguished than those of his immediate predecessors.
Mr. CROWDER proposed The Treasurer, remarking that the club was greatly indebted to Mr. Burgoyne for the elaborate and careful system by which the accounts are placed within the comprehension of all.
The TREASURER replied briefly, mentioning, as an instance of the growing prosperity of the club, that in seven years the expenditure on matches had increased from £600 to £1,600, so that the gratification of the members kept pace with the increased income. The club had expended, from first to last, £50,000, and the sum of £15,500 was all that remained due of this vast debt. The interest on the debt, thanks to Mr. Nicholson, had been reduced to £4 per cent. The Treasurer then advanced a proposition to increase the price of admission to 2s. 6d. on The Schools Match days, admitting the boys of each school free. He trusted that this might be the means of excluding objectionable people, and ensuring a more select attendance and better order on the ground.
The SECRETARY admitted the force of Mr. Burgoyne's remarks, and agreed with him that a certain class might that be excluded. He should be glad also to admit the boys free, but would prefer to do so at the present rate of admission. He was averse to the charge being brought against the club that the receipt of gate money was its principal object. The receipts at present were sufficiently large to meet the expenditure, and the object of the club, in his opinion, was not so much to enrich itself as to promote cricket on the soundest principle, and at the lowest rate.
The question was referred to the committee for future decision.
The Earl of CADOGAN, in a few complimentary sentences, proposed The Secretary, who acknowledged in grateful terms the kindness he had met with at all times from the members. He trusted still to deserve their approbation, and would feel grateful to the members if they would at all times, and in good time, address themselves to him when they perceived any failure on his part in carrying out their wishes. He had only one matter this year to press upon the members, and that was the proper control of their party feelings on the Eton and Harrow match days. It was the only cloud visible on the horizon; it was for them not to let it gather till it broke in a storm that would sweep away the pleasantest réunion of London society. The boys would be appealed to before the match, and he had every confidence in them. The most active secretary and the most vigilant committee would be equally powerless without the support of the members themselves on these trying occasions.
Mr. SCOURFIELD proposed The Winners of the Gold and Silver Tennis Prizes, Mr. Heathcote 'facile princeps', and the Hon.C. G. Lyttelton a good second. - Mr. HEATHCOTE returned thanks, and stated that Lord's Ground now possessed the finest tennis court in the kingdom, and that the play in it seemed to be growing in, favour, thanks to the large expenditure by the club to make it suitable to the requirements of the day.
Mr. FELLOWS proposed The Health of the Benefactors of Cricket, coupling with the toast, as conspicuous amongst them, the protector of Lord's Ground, Mr. W. Nicholson. This toast was received with great enthusiasm.
Dr. GAYE proposed The Committee, which was responded to very ably by Mr. E. RUTTER.
The excellence of the dinner (provided by Mr. Crick) was the theme of general remark. Everything was excellent of its kind.
(The above is condensed from the report of the Meeting and Dinner that appeared in 'Bells Life' of the 9th of May.)
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