The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-02-19 00:00:00

R. EPORT FOR 1870.

It is DOW some twelve months since this Union was
flret commenced. It was decided to form a Union by a
meeting of Sunday School teachers held in the lade.
pendent School Room on March the 4th, of last year.
They then appointed the usual officers, and eight 20111.
mitten men; too from each school that belongs to the
Union. Some of the Wesleyan friends were at that
meeting, but through sonic cause known to themselves
they have not been able to join the Union. At • meeting
held on Starch the 18th in this plece, it was decided that
there should be quarterly tea meetings held at each place
in rotation, and that at those meetings a paper should be
read by some one chosen by the committee on subjects
relating to Sunday Schools, and that discussions shonld
follow. Four of such meetinge have been held, when
papers bearing on the Sunday School work have been
read by Ur. Ellie, Mr. Joseph Mills, Mr. Facer, and Mr.
Thomas Hipwood. At each meeting an animated dis-
cussion toek place on the subject of the paper, and an
iecreasitiff interest has been manifested ; end your com-
mittee believe that great good hag orison from these
nieetings. On Sunday, October the alst, an asgregaie
meeting of all the te.ichers and scholars belenglug to the
schools in Unioa Si.i held in the Coro Exchange', when
about 750 children were present, who sang souse sweet
hymn., an" were addressed by our president, Mr. Taylor,
said our titateurer. Er. Platt. With teacher., children,
sod friends, it is supposed that near 1010 perimis were
insert. This meeting was acknowledged on all Land•
C,, be a succesolul one, and BO doubt did netich good. In
t:lti tr.., trig a eras preached in the Independent
Cle.ip..l, by the ;iee. denies Richards, to the parcnissif
the Sunday Schools. The committee
t...ode: thy, 1,0.4 tiaaks to Mr. Richards, ter his

crc bern a Saturday evening preparation slam
for teacher:. formed, and though only counneneed sonie
few wee'..n the attendance has been good, and those that
have attended have derived much help in their work as
Sunday School teachers. The meeting is held in the
vestry of the Independent Chapel every Saturday even.
ing at 7.80. And last, though not least among the bene-
fits that have been derivtd from the Union. are Vie
monthly prayer meetings which have hem, hell the last
Sunday iu every month since the Union coitiniem•ed.
On reviewing Vie past. your committee (el (hers
h muse for rejoicing. Everything :het ha. been 11/I.lel.
take.. li,eu carried to a i time, ii.y 1.4
u;,.11 the pin.t deep thael.fuleees to toe thver id all
goad. T., the ftiturc they look vial, believiug :hat
(101 l Will enrich the Union with bles-iiitis greo. not

The President said he had gre::t pleasure in
moving a rese,lution that the report he ahopted.
The resolntion was seems ,uel by Mr. Richards,
sea carried neanimously.
Mr. Platt said the income fee that year had
been £2 14s ; the expenditure. £2 4s 2J; leav-
ing a balance in hand of 1:1; 1041 - (cheers).
The following gentlemen were then elected as
the officers for the present year: Mr. J. 'tailor
was, on the motion of Mr. Platt, seconded by
Mr. Mitle, re elected as preAderet. Mr. J. Mills
was elected treasurer. Secret. ries : Messis.
Platt and Wheelwright. Committee; Messrs.
Thompson, Hip wood, Pearsall, Cartwright, Ellis,
Perkins Bridgwater, and Whiteh :use.
Mr. Taylor said ha had great I:least:we in in-
troducieg Mt. Smyther, who represented the
London Sunday School Union.
Mr. Smyther, on rising, was received with
loud eheering. He said it gave him great plea-
sure to come before them that evening. Six
years had elapsed since he bad vb-ited them.
He was glad to say they had assembled in greater
numbers thistime than they did on the previous
occasion. He had COMO to visit them from the
parent seedy. He hoded he shauld he able to
take back a satisfactory report to them. Ile
would give them Isis opinion of abut a Sunday
School teacher had to du, and whet iedluenee he
could have over his pupils. He gave two or
three instances showing what intlue rice the
teachers had over the scholars, not by blows or
harsh words, but by kindness and gentlenesie
In London a teacher had a chess of young men,
one of whom was the only son of respectable
parents, who placed the utmost confidence be
him. The youth was employed at a bank, and
by some means or other committed a forgery.
Ile was, of course, disellarged. The teacher
was one of the first to hear of it. and he went
to the manager anl pleaded for his scholar in
such an eloquent manner that it sheeted that
gentleman so much that he took the boy back
egain, saying it was the first Sunday School
teteffier he had ever heard interest himself like
this one did. It all depended on a to seller
whether ithe class was formed or not. If the
teacher came late, or forgot the lesson, the
scholars would do the same; but if the teacher
came punctually to his time, the scholars would
come punctually also, and so in that manner the
class would be made larger, and not get deserted
by the young men.
The Rev. James Richards said the teacher
must be a converted man. It would be of no
use having a teacher who was not converted.
After a few other remarks, Mr. Richards re-
sumed his seat.

The Rev. D. Jones, the Pastor, said he was s
teacher in connection with the Union. Sunday
Schools are like creepers growing up the side of
the church. They are distinct bodies. The
church and schools ought not to be distinct.
He knew by experience what it was to be a Sun-
day School teacher. After a lengthy speech on
the duties of a Sunday School teacher, the rev.
gentleman
.sat. down.

w Mr. Platt said he heartily concurred with what
Mr. Jones had said. If any one came to the
school on a Sunday they would see rows of chil-
dren and yonnepeople ; but as soon as they got
to the age of a'iout 15 they left the school. He
wanted to know what they were to do to keep
these youths at the school, and to bring back
those that had gone away ?
Mr. Srnyther said he thought the best way
to bring them back would be by advising with
them, not by passing them in the street; but to
give them a hearty shake of the hand ; to talk
to them kindly; and do all they could to bring
them back and keep them in the right path.
Mr. J. Tsylor proposed a vote of thanks to
Mr. Smyther, for the kind way in which he had
delivered hia address to them.

Mr. T. Taylor seconded the resolution, which
was carried unanimously.
The meeting was brought to a close by singing
the Doxology.

BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—The weekly meeting
of this Board was held yesterday, Mr. Brookes
in the chair. There were also present :
Messrs. Richardson, P. Parget, r, Rhodes, Guest,
T. Parg(ter, Maurice, and Holmes. Admitted
into the house during the week, 25; discharged,
; dead, 3; remaining, 480. Corresponding
week last year, 479. Out-door relief hingswin-
ford district, /42 59 8d ; Stourbridge district,
/27 158 60; Halesowen 01str1ct/24 2s 4d;
total, 194 3s 6td, against /94 13s 8141 act year.
Asap.= CASE.—At the Petty Sessions held
yesterday, before B. Lyttelwood, R. L. Freer,
J. Holcroft, Esqs., and Major Fletcher, John
Green, Thomas Cartwright, and Benjamin Grif-
fin were charged by Richard Davis with assault-
ing him, on the 10th inst. Mr. Perry appeared
for complainant, and Mr. Maltby for the defend-
ants. Complainant said he,was formerly signal-
man at Hagley, and took a siding. Green is al-
so an ageut, and has a siding for a rival firm.
On the above date a gentleman came to him
about some coal. Green came up to the gentle-
man, and produced a list of prices. He after
threatened to punch his head, and used threaten-
ing language. The other two defendants came
up to him and caught hold of him, and used
threatening language. James Meridith and
Frederick Price were called to; corroborate.—
There waa a cross *cumin against Richard

_
Davis by Joun Oraen with assaulting him at the
same time. In the first case Green was fined
Is and costs, in default 7 days. The case
ag.iinst CartivriOit and Griffin was dismissed :
also the assault against Davis.
CLIARGE OF TRESPASS —Francis Loynes Was
charged with trespassing on land belonging to
Lord Lyttelton, in search of rabbits. William
Kettle, keeper, said he saw defendant and his
brother on the land, with a dog and a net. He
saw them run a rabbit Defendant denied the
charge and called his brother, who corroborated
him. The Bench did not consider there was
sufficient evidence to convict and dismissed the
case.

HARMONIC SOCIISTY'A SOIREE.—On Monday last the
Tea Meeting and Soiree Musicale in connection with the
above society was held in the Corn Exchange. The room
was well filled at the tea, and a great number came in
afterwards. After tea the soiree took place. Mr. H. 0.
Firmstone, of Wollaston Hall, kindly took the chair, and
on doing so said he would say a few words to those as-
sembled. The object of the entertainment was to raise
the funds of the Stonrbridga Harmonic Society, who had
lost some money through a recent concert, lie consid-
ered such a society was beneficial to young people. It
kept them from contracting low vices. He had no musical
trout himself. or he might have occupied another posi-
tion that evening. His family were all musicians, and
were engaged that evening, but they were always glad to
come forward to offer their services when they were re-
quired. He asked those present to do all they could in
the support of the Harmonic Society.—The programme
was a very attractive and varied one. The overture to
Taneredi," by the band, elicited its share of applause;
as did also the singing of Mis Pearsall aid Mr. Bourne.
The part singing was very tine, and reflected great on
the conductor and the performers. The pianofoi to solo*
by Mrs. A. W. Fennell were received with rapturous ap-
plause. Mr. Milstein and Mr. Grundy in their several
songs received well-merited encores. Masers. Chadwick
and Roberts came in for their stare of applause ; as also
did Miss Jones and Miss Gilbert.—A. vote of thanks was
proposed to the Chairman, and the entertnimuent was
brought to a conclusion, by the " Tickling Trio."