In 1934 Henry Salt suggested the establishment of the Ernest Bell Library Memorial as a fitting memorial to his close friend. In this Library the literature of vegetarianism and all the other humanitarian movements in which Mr. Bell was so deeply interested would be collected and made available.
In the November 1934 issue of Cruel Sports, Henry B. Amos gave an update on the project:
The Ernest Bell Library Memorial
The movement for a humanitarian Collection or Section within one of our large national Libraries in London as a Memorial to the late Mr. Ernest Bell is now assuming more definite shape. As stated in an earlier issue, the idea was first mentioned by Mr. Henry S. Salt to the writer last May, when, together, they agreed to sponsor it and lay it before the humanitarian public generally. Sir Maurice Abbot-Anderson, Miss Lind-of-Hageby, and Dr. B. G. Allinson, and, later, Mr. H. Gr. Chancellor, were invited to join Mr. Salt and the writer in a Committee, to. carry forward the project.
On July 28th a circular was issued to over thirty humanitarian groups in this country and to a few in America which had been closely in touch with Mr. Bell. Favourable replies were received from most of these, but a few, whose Committees had not met since the holidays, have still to report. Quite a number of valuable letters of support have also been received from representative workers, including—The Countess of Warwick, Mr. T. Baty, LIL.D., Mr. Edward Garnett, Mr. Samuel Hopgood Hart, Mrs. Speedwell Massingham, Rev. Francis Wood, Miss Catherine Greville, Miss Kate Whitaker, Miss C. A. Andrews, Mr. E. G. Barlow, etc.
Amongst the Societies which have replied are the following:—
The Howard League, and the National Council for the Abolition of the Death Penalty. The former “assured” us of its support, and the latter “heartily endorsed” the proposal.
The National Council for Animals Welfare are “very much in sympathy with the general idea,” and the Animal Defence Society sent its “sincerest good wishes for success to the excellent scheme.”
The National Canine Defence League secretary felt sure his committee would support the proposal as “we all cherish the name of Mr. Bell.” The National Society for the Abolition of Cruel Sports, and the League for the Prohibition of Cruel Sports both approved the proposal. Mr. Bertram Lloyd, the Hon. Secretary of the former, wrote: “Your letter was discussed at length at our Council meeting. There was no opposition and all welcomed it.”
The National Equine Defence League Committee decided that the proposal should be “strongly supported.”
The British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection, the London and Provincial Anti-Vivisection Society, and the World League against Vivisection, all wrote supporting the idea, and promising co-operation. The Executive Committee of the Vegetarian Society was “heartily in agreement,” whilst the London Vegetarian Society’s Executive thought the scheme “an excellent one.” The Fruitarian Society passed a resolution that the matter was one of “public importance and considerable social value,” and Miss May Yates, the Founder and Hon. Secretary of the Bread and Food Reform League, thought the idea “a splendid one.”
The Pit Ponies Protection Society thought the idea “deserving of every support.”
Both the Scottish S.P.C.A. and the Ulster S.P.C.A. approved the proposal, the latter promising to do “all in its power to pro-mote its success.”
America was equally warm in support of the project. Writing on behalf of both the American Humane Education Society, and the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Dr. Rowley, the President, said: “I can assure you of the hearty endorsement of our two Societies, believing that this project is one worthy of the co-operation of all humane organizations.”
Fuller particulars will be reported in due course; meantime it is hoped that a meeting of all interested, will be held at the Central Hall, Westminster, on Saturday afternoon, December 1st, whilst the Animals’ Fair is being held, to go further into the matter. Full details of the meeting will be sent direct to each Society in due course.
All communications should be addressed to the Hon. Secretary, Ernest Bell Library Memorial, 6, King’s Park Road, Bournemouth.
Henry Salt and Thomas Baty Support
WE give below copies of two letters in support of a proposed Ernest Bell Library Memorial:—
Sir,
From the letters that have reached us, I have little doubt that the proposal for the establishment of an Ernest Bell Library, which would specialize in humanitarian and progressive literature, and so form a sort of centre for students, will meet with a wide response.
I would now suggest that it would be a most helpful step if individuals who favour this idea would lend their names to strengthen the appeal that will have to be made to some Public Institution for the use of a room, and if Societies and Journals would also express their agreement.
Such a Memorial would be so personally suitable, in view of Mr. Bell’s many and long continued services, and so valuable to the cause of humane progress in general, that it is difficult to see how any objection could be made to it: the sole question is whether the initial difficulties can be overcome. I trust all friends of the humanitarian cause will lend their aid.
HENRY S. SALT.
Sir,
May I venture to write in strong support of Mr. H. S. Salt’s suggestion that an Ernest Bell Library would be by far the most appropriate Memorial to our old friend. If “the true University of our time is a Library of Books,” then such a collection as is proposed would constitute a real Humanitarian College, such as could keep in perpetual memory the vital humane character and activity of Ernest Bell.
Your obedient servant,
T. BATY, (D.C.L., LL.D.), London.
(Thomas Baty)
Project Abandoned
In the September 1935 edition of Cruel Sports, it was reported:
Mr. Amos, who has acted as Hon. Secretary of this Project, greatly regrets to have to announce that the proposal to form a Library or Collection of Humanitarian Literature as a Memorial to the late Mr. Ernest Bell has fallen through owing to the difficulty of securing suitable housing accommodation. The project is, therefore, now abandoned.
Vegetarian Society Undertaking
In 1936 it was announced that “The Executive of The Vegetarian Society have undertaken the establishment of a Humanitarian Library as a Memorial to the late Ernest Bell, President, Treasure, Secretary, or otherwise an active worker for, and generous supporter of numerous humanitarian societies.”
The collection was to be housed in the Manchester Reference Library (Manchester Central Library). Appeals for books and journals appeared in both the Vegetarian Messenger and the Vegetarian News.
N.B. : It’ s unclear what success, if any, the Vegetarian Society had with the establishing the Ernest Bell Library. The Vegetarian Society does have an excellent collection of historic humanitarian writings.