 Appointment was for life or until resignation rather than for a fixed term; the council had power to fill vacancies.The first members were drawn from the committee of the Keble Memorial Fund whose work had raised the money to build the college.The council met three times per year, including a meeting on St Mark's Day (25 April) – this was not only John Keble's birthday but the date on which the foundation stone was laid in 1868, and so was adopted by the college for commemorations and celebrations.