[From Manx Quarterly #10, 1911]

Annual Meeting of the Manx-Language Society.

The annual meeting of the Manx Language Society was held in Kelly's "Empire," Central Promenade, Douglas, on Tuesday, Mar. 28, 1911, immediately prior to the Manx Music Classes in the Guild competition. The Lord Bishop resided, and there were also present the Rev Canon Kewley, the Rev C. H. Leece, Meesrs W. A. Craine, H. Percy Kelly, . Moore, S. K. Broadbent, W. H. Bell, . W. Caine, the Hon. Secretary (Miss Morrison), and the Hon. Treasurer (Mr . Cubbon).

Copies of the new reprint of Cregeen's Dictionary, and of a handbook of lessons in Manx, based on the Berlitz system, and compiled by Mr J. J. Kneen, were laid on the table for the inspection of members.

The Chairman, at the outset, expressed his regret that this was the first meeting of the society he had been able to attend, but assured the members that this absence was due to no lack of will on his part.

THE BALANCE-SHEET.

The Treasurer (Mr Cubbon) submitted the annual financial statement as follows Yn Cheshaght Ghailckagh. Statement of Receipts and Expenditure from Hollantide, 1909, to Hollantide, 1910.

Receipts.

Audited and found correct.- J. KEWLEY, M.A. 24th March, 1911.

Mr Cubbon, in moving the adoption of the accounts, explained that though there was a balance of £26 in hand, several payments were due in respect of the printing of the Dictionary and Mr Kneen's Lessons, and of the prizes offered for the classes in the Guild Competitions, which would reduce the society's funds by about £14. -Mr Cubbon wished to make it known that the society had made itself responsible for the greater portion of the prizes for the Manx section of Yn Chaglym Kiaullee, amounting to nearly £4; but that they could no longer continue to do this, as the annual income of the society from subscriptions was little more than £4. They had, too, their literary work to attend to. Perhaps some patriotic sons of Mona abroad would be good enough to give a shield or other prizes for the chief Manx classes.

The accounts were passed without comment.

THE SECRETARY'S REPORT.

The Secretary (Miss Morrison) then read her annual report as follows:— Manx Language Society Report, 1911. Though years seem to pass over the head of the society in much the same more or less humdrum way, one always finds, in writing the annual report, that each year has its own special character. This year may be distinguished as a literary year-there is always a certain satisfaction in knowing that the results of some of one's efforts are embodied in a tangible and lasting form.

It is pleasing to be able to announce that the reprint of Cregeen's Dictionary, begun six years ago, is at last complete, with the addition of an appendix of 3,000 English words; and some 50 bound copies are in our hands. There seems to be a great demand for the book, judging by the numerous enquiries made for it. Lately people have incessantly been asking " When will the Dictionary be out?" and subscribers across the water, too, have been clamouring about its non-appearance. It is to be hoped, therefore, that it will prove a great success in every way.

" The Lessons in Manx - Berlitz Method," by Mr J. J. Kneen, which were begun in the " Examiner" last March, and which have been published by the society, are now for sale in a small volume, price 1s. The simultaneous appearance of these Lessons, which are entirely in Manx, and the revised and cheap Dictionary, is a fortunate coincidence. As the editions of both are limited, those who wish to possess copies should apply at once. We owe Mr Kneen a great debt for his invaluable work in both these books. The publication of Dr Clague's book, which is in the hands of Canon Kewley, is looked forward to with the 'greatest interest and eagerness by all learners of Manx. It will be most valuable from a language point of view, as it is written in both colloquial Manx and English, and also from a human point of as being the reminiscences of a man of such wide sympatheies and keen observation as the well-beloved doctor. In the recent death of his widow, Mrs Clague (of Castletown), the society has sustained the loss of a good friend and helper-one who will be greatly missed.

The Anglo-Manx Vocabulary, which was originally to have formed one part of Mr A. W Moore's large book, is still in course of preparation, and it is hoped that it will be out during the coming year; but the work is necessarily slow.

A loyal friend to the society and to the Manx cause in general has passed away in the person of Mr Nelson. He never missed an annual meeting; he was one of the judges at Yn Chaglym Kiaullee; his loss will indeed be felt in very many ways. His Manx pieces, it will be recollected, have been sung at the festival, but perhaps he will be best remembered by his translation of Moody and Sankey's Hymn Book into smooth Many verse. The society has been approached by Manx readers as to whether it would not be possible to gather Mr Nelson's translations into one volume, and the suggestion seems worth consideration. His verses appeared chiefly in the " Examiner" and the " Ramsey Courier."

We shall have the opportunity, after this meeting, of hearing Manx music sung in our sweet old language. The entries to the Manx Classes of the festival are most satisfactory, averaging the same numbers as last year. The judges are Canon Kewley, Mr T. Moore, and Mr J. W. Ivimey ; and we have to thank Mr Ivimey, Miss M. L. Wood, and Mr W. H. Gill for arranging us the music as test pieces. Prizes are, as usual, guaranteed by the M.L.S., and our thanks are-due to Mrs George Moore, Mrs J. F. Gill, Professor Boyd Dawkins, and Mr E. L. Dickson for so generously giving prizes.

It seems to some of us that, as regards Manx Music, a way is open into which lovers of our language and of the Manx spirit might well direct their energies. The M.L.S. make it an aim to teach the school children the songs of their country, as being one way of rousing patriotism. The Manx Classes in the Manx Music Festival are distinct-a class by them-selves. The festival as a whole is Manx only in so far as the competitors are Manx the music is such as might be heard anywhere. The Manx Classes, on the other hand, are for Manx music sung to Manx words, and there is a special class for Traditional Manx Music hitherto unpublished. The classes, then, are worthy of the support of all who wish to i aid us in our struggle — and it is an uphill struggle at times — to hold fast to what is left to us of our nationality. The music of a country may be said to be the soul of that country, and while the folk-songs live the national spirit cannot quite die out. There must be many Manx people in all parts of the world who would think it a privilege to assist in the work of preserving the songs and airs which some of them heard from the lips of their parents in their earliest days. It is for their sake that this point has been so strongly insisted upon. The M.L.S. is poor, and though it does what it can by publishing Manx Music and promoting these Manx Classes, much more remains to be done by those who cling to the old language, the old songs, the old Island.

CREGEEN'S DICTIONARY.

The Chairman congratulated Miss Morrison on her most interesting and excellent report. The society was very fortunate, he thought, in having such a secretary, and her report showed how thoroughly she went into and mastered every part of the work of the society. He was very pleased to see the Dictionary, and thought it possessed just what the old Cregeen wanted, an English glossary at the end. One was sometimes at a loss to know where to turn to in Cregeen for an English word of which one wanted to find the Manx equivalent. This want had now been admirably supplied without increasing the bulk of the book largely. When speaking of this chief work of the society, he also thought of Mr J. J. Kneen, of Port Erin, whose name appeared on the preface of the reprinted edition, and who was also responsible for the new direct method of teaching Manx. Their thanks were due to Mr Kneen for the interest he took in, and the very valuable practical help he was able to give to the work of preserving the Manx language.

THE LATE DOCTOR CLAGUE'S REMINISCENCES.

Canon Kewley endorsed the chairman's remarks with reference to the services of Miss Morrison. With regard to what had been mentioned in the report concerning Dr Clague's reminiscences, Mr Moore and he had practically completed their labours, and the book was in type now. It would contain 260 or 270 pages, with portraits of Dr Clague and Mr Moore, and would probably be published at 3s 6d. The number of the edition would be 500.

Some discussion took place as to the advisability of increasing the edition to 1,000. The work is being done at the instructions of Mrs Clague, given before her death, and it was recognised that the executors of her estate could not under-take the responsibility of increasing the edition, while the financial position of the society was not such as to permit of their giving an order for an additional 500 copies. It was thought possible, however, that private guarantees could be obtained either for the cost of the increased issue or for the sale of a certain number of copies; and a small committee was appointed to inquire into the practicability of the proposal.

Reference was also made to the projected publication of a selection from the manuscript music left by the late Dr Clague.

Canon Kewley said there where thousands of sheets of manuscript in Dr Clague's selection, and the task of selecting them had been simply bewildering. Mr W. H. Gill, however, had finally completed the preparation for the Press of a selection of the music, and again the question arose as to what part the society might take in the publication of that selection. Eventually the matter was referred to a committee, eonsisting of Mrs Laughton, Miss Morrison, Canon Kewley, Mr Cubbon, and Mr Craine.
Mr Cubbon suggested that the same committee should consider the advisability of publishing, certain manuscripts in the possession of Mr Kneen. Mr Kneen had in hand a voluminous and valuable Grammar of the Manx Language, and it would be a pity if that were left unpublished.
After discussion, a separate committee was appointed to deal with this subject, to consist of Canon Kewley, Miss Morrison, Mr Cubbon, Mr Kelly, and Mr Moore.
The election of officers was then proceeded with.
The Lord Bishop was elected president; and the Archdeacon, Canon Kewley, Canon Savage, the Rev C. H. Leece, the Rev J. Karran, and Mr Moore vice-presidents.
The retiring secretary, Miss Morrison, and the retiring treasurer, Mr Cubbon, were thanked for their past services, and re-elected.
Mr H. Percy Kelly was elected on the Executive Committee, to fill the place of the late Mr Nelson, and the remaining members of the committee, viz., the Rev R. D. Kermode, Messrs J. J. Kneen, A. H. Tyson, W. F. Teare, and W. A. Craine, were re-elected.
On the General Committee, a vacancy had arisen through the death of Mr W. J. Cain.
The Chairman made a feeling reference to the recent death of this gentleman, remarking of him that he was a fine old Manxman, and that he (the Bishop) had studied many a chapter of the Bible with him.
Mr P. W. Caine was elected in Mr Cain's stead, and the committee also includes Mrs Laughton, Miss Corrin, Miss Creer, Miss Corkill, Mr W. Kneen, Mr J. Taylor, Mr R. Lace, Mr S. K. Broadbent, and the Rev E. U. Savage.
The Manx Language Society wish to draw attention to the Manx Lesson Book, (Mr J. J. Kneen), which has just been published by the society. It is based on the Direct, or Berlitz Method-certainly the simplest way of acquiring a language.
The great lack is that of teachers. But with this book in the hands of a reader of Manx, who has a fair knowledge of pronunciation, very considerable progress could be made in a short period of time. Those who would care to teach should apply to the secretary or treasurer for a copy of the new book. The price is 1s; by post is 2d.
The price of Cregeen's Dictionary is 7s 6d ; postage 4d extra; postage abroad 7d extra.