The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-10-23 00:00:00

ANNUAL SOIREF. OF THE ASSOCIATED
INSTITUTES.

On Tuesday evening, the annual soiree In
connection with the Associated Institutes was
held in the Corn Exchange. Upwards of 150
sat down to tea, after which the chair was occu-
pied by Lord Lyttelton. There were also pre.
sent the Right Hon. C. G. Lyttelton, M.P., H.
W. Foley, Esq., J. A. Scott, Esq., W. H. King,
Esq., Captain James Walker, Rev. D. Magina is,
Messrs. C. Evers, J. Taylor, C. Blurton, H.
Hughes, W. Muckley, J. Pagett, T. Wall, W.
Haskew, &c.,
The noble Chairman, on rising, said he was
not ,s.oing to occupy their time, but before pro-
ceeding to business that evening, he should say
a few words about the Institutions. He well re-
membered when there was but one Institution
in Stourbridge, and that was the Mechanics;
and as that did not exactly answer all purposes
that were required of it a Working Men's Insti-
tution was started. Both Institutes wero now,
and had been all along, associated with each
other, and they had been attended with a very
considerable measure of success. If they looked
at the last report they would find that in the
Mechanics Institute there were 40 annual, and
71 quarterly members, there being 111 members
in the Mechanics; and 94 annual, 129 quarterly
and weekly subscribers; making 153 members
in the Working Men's. Total in both Institutes
21; t. That was a very fair number for a town
of the size of Stourbridge, and the members
being the best of their class, it was hard to say
bow much good might be done by them in a
population of that kind. His Lordship then
referred to the Society of Arts, and the endea-
vours it made by examinations to improve the
secondary education of the country. He was
glad to see that ten members of Use Institute
had gained certificates in the recent examina-
tions of the Society. The action of the So-
ciety was intimately associated with the general
question of the education of the people. The
whole subject of the elementary education of
the people, wss understood to be at present un-
der the consideration of the Government, and
they were now looking forward to a measure
being introduced in the course of next session.
Whatever it might be, members of Parliament
could hardly be expected to speculate upon it,
as they wound no doubt wish to reserve the con-
sideration of it till the measure was before them,
witlioat pledging themselves to any course.
That measure, however, would form the founda-
tbm of the education of the country, with insti-
tuitions such as those under whose auspices they
were met would carry on beyond the elementary
stages. The subjects for which the certificates
were granted were Grammar, Geography, Eng-
lish History, and Scriptural Knowledge. His
Lordship then distributed the certificates to the
following students: Thomas Aston, Wordslev ;
John Miles, Beauty Bank ; Edwin Cook, ()la-
se-jam:l; Widiaii; Cook, Oldswinford John
Dunn, Bowling Green Lane ; John Husselbee,
Werdsley ; George Cook, A niblecote James
Davis, Willjsmii 114gers, suit Usury Rogers, all
of iiitsurlaidge,

Solo pOne—" Le jet (Veal'," Mr. Forrest.
Song—. A Home that I Love." Miss Trotuan.
Mr. .J. A. Scott was the next speaker. On
rising. he said be hi, 41 been naked to apeak on
technical education., uid lie must 10.7 e that he felt
very considerable difi icenee in entm ing upon it,
end wished it 'hail fel into shier hwids. He nn-
deratood by technical education Rome special
knowledge that has to he eoperadded to general
eultnre before a man could deem himself fitted
to enter noon any :iv vertion in life. He believed
that even in liteenturl itself seine sort of teeh•
nical edunation wean, cessary before ninon (meld
excel in it, such for 14,lance an en smite pereep
tion of the idiom of a :language. whether modern
or obsolete. Such 'echnieel knowledge he
thonglit had been ruattifeated in a. high degree
by their noble ehairmar, who had lately exeOuted
is work which might bt describe,' as impossible
to moat men, viz., th" trnnalic ion of Milton's
" Cornea "into the Gee k tongue. That, how-
ever, was hardly the kind of of technical edu-
cation meant in the snhieet given to him to
speak noon. He sap:nosed technical education
! meant pointed rather to its ennlieation to success
in tr id° or mannfacteres. There was a techni•
eal edneation in PV4 ry handicraft which would
take care of Itself. heemise it was incumbent
upon every one going 'nto any trade or manu-
facture to make himself acquainted with it. He
would, however, rather reverse the order of the
thought. He thought they should he entering
on a line of thought more profitable if they con-
sidered the way in which artisan might be in-
duced to pass from the technical education they
already poaaessed to some sort of scientific train-
ing. Mr. Scott then went on at some length to
point out how closely some trades were allied to
operations in nature, or how easily artisans en-
gaged in certain branches of trade or mannfac-
ture might proceed to consider great truths of
natural science in connection with their daily
operations and avocations.
Song—Mr. Bryce, "The Miller ef the Dee."
Nana Role—Mks Beddrol.
_ _ _ . _ .

_
The Hon. C. G. Lyttelton, M.P., on rising,
said he did not come there to make a sneech;
but rather to make the acquaintance of those
present. Be hod been naked to speak on Me.
Armies' Institutions end their noes. They must
excuse him if he declined to enter into it, as he
felt there could not be two opinions as to the
objects of Institutions of this kind. Ho had
not seen the renort, but front what he had heard
the amalgamations of two Institutes was a very
good thine, as they brought men into contact
with pooh other, and enables them to become Sc.
quainted with the news and movements of the
day. through the medium of the reading room.
The twines of these institutions, however, was
the higher education imparted by the classes at-
taelied to thent. As they wore aware. the great
subject of education woe a geed deal before the
country; rout the Stete wenlil, he hoped, offer
the blessings of education to every child in the
kingdom —(cheers). Re hoped. too, that every
child would be compelled to attend school end
he taught ; hut they must be aware that the
State, haying done thnt much, could not he ex-
pected to do inneli more. They (meld not expect
the State to continue to give education to adults;
but at the age of 12 or 14 children mint be re•
leashd from all interference of the State. Pro-
bably it would be found impossible to hasp them
at school later than the ego of 11 or 12 ; hut at
any rate there would coins a time in every child's
life when he would have to ask himself or her-
self, whether the education already achieved
slenild be carried on ; whether they should en-
deavour to become intelligent valuable members
of society, doing their best to improve them-
selves marally intellectually end socially. It
was at this period that institutions like the pre-
sent ought to step in, 1111,1 he could not conceive
any better ninellinery they could employ than
the classes usually found at Instantious of this
kind; and concluded by hoping the Institutes
would continue to prosper.
Duet—Mr. Pegett and "Miss Jones.
The Rev. D. Maginnis said he had been re-
quested to announce that arrangements had been
made for classes being formed at the lustitute.
The !..übjeet had been ably discussed by those
hmionrable gentlemen who had preceded him,
and he should at once pro.-teed to business. An
Elementary Class had been formed under the
care of Mr. Lastlitke, where writing. rending,
English history, and geography will be taught.
A French Class is now being carried on presided
over by Monsieur de Vit. At present it consis-
ted t 4 only eight members, most of those being
females. he hoped some of those young per-
sons present would join it. Mr. .1. A. Scott had
undertaken to commence an Elementary and
Mathematics' Class. The Committee had con-
sidered the desirability of forming an Elocution
Class, and Mr. Scott had kindly consented to
take the MKT) avement of it, providing that there
would he sufficient members. Be (the speaker)
himself had offered his services, end any time
he was required he should come forward—(hm,
hear). He did hope that those present would
take an interest in these classes.

Song—. I'm a Merry Zingars," Miss Heath-
cook.

Duet—i. The Great Tobacco Controversy be.
tween Mr. and Mrs. Potts," Mr. Bryce and Miss
Tremor's.
Song—', Nine," Mr Pogett.
Song--" The Nightingale's Trill," Miss E.

Piano solo—Mias Bedtlard.
Fong —M r, Bowater.
nuet—"lfear, me Norma." Misses Heatheock,
Song-. Never enurt lint one Mies Tremens.
The whole of the singing and music was per-
formed In en aiintiritlitti
Captain Walker proposed that Mr, H, W.
Foley take the chair.
Mr, Foley liddrog,ed thorm present, earnestly
eoliciting the hid of the ladies in the formation
of the Meows, as lie said they Lad more intlu-
euce with the young gontlenvin, and would per.
suede them to join. Mr. Foley proposed a vote
of thanks to Lord Lyttelton for presiding that
evening.
Tins being seconded,
His Lordship said ha should always feel great
pleasure, in doing all in his power to aid their
Institutes, but as he had received a Government
appointment, which would take him away from
home more than he was at present, he should not
he able to do much.
The meeting was closed by singing the Na-
tional Anthem.