The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-02-08 00:00:00

FOR 1878.

MEMBERS.—The number of members good upon the
books is 239, including 19 annuals, being a decrease
upon the previous year of 37.
FINANCE.—The income for the past year including a
balance of £3 163 41d, brought forward amounts to £34
2s 9?d, and the expenditure to £32 3s 10d, leaving a
balance in hand of £1 18s 111 d.
READING Room.—The reading room is well supplied
with :papers and periodicals, and the attendance of
members show a marked increase. Several changes
have been made daring the past year in papers and
periodicals to snit, the different tastes and requirements
,of members, and your committee think that the number
and quality of such, will favourably compare with most
institutes of its kind. The committee tender their best
thanks to friends who kindly present papers.
LIBRART.—The librarian reports that the library is
still well used, an that a large number of volumes had
been added during the year, of such a class that combined
Instruction with amusement. The issues for the year
number 2174 volumes. This shows a decrease of several
hundred volumes, as compared to the previous year; this
arises from a decrease of members, and the necessity of
closing the library for a considerable time, for necessary
repairs and alterations.
Tax EVENING Cr-assn.—ln May last the several
classes, which were in operation when last year's report
was presented, were examined in the work of the session,
and book prizes were awarded as follows :—Latin 3,
French 7, English 4, Mathematics 7, and Book-keeping
4. The Prizes were distributed at a meeting held at the
commencement of the present session, Rev. C. S. Words-
worth presiding. This session began in October, and
the following classes are now in full operation, viz :
Latin, conducted by fey. H. Sherrard, with six students
on tbe roll; French, conducted by Mons. de Vit, with
twenty-four students on the roll; English, conducted by
Rev. W. Manning, with six students on the rcll ;
Mathematics, conducted by Mr. Goddard, with thirteen
students on the roll; Book-kee?ing, conducted by Mr.
Southall, with fourteen students on the roll: At the
Society of Arta' Examination the following certificates
were awarded to students of these classes, viz :—Wm. L.
James, Arithmetic 2nd, English 2nd, Book-keeping 2tid ;
Walter W. Pagett, Arithmetic Ist, English 2nd, Book-
keeping Ist; Herbert Turner, English 2nd; and George
Underwood, English 2nd., The first three have earned
the Society's Commercial Certificate.—lt is very gratify.
ing to find that the classes, thrown upon their own re-
sources, continue to prosper, a result that is no doubt
attributable to the ability and zeal with which the
teachers do their work, and which entitle them to the
hearty thanks of the members of the Institute.
BAGATELLE Roo.—The interest in this room is still
maintained, and affords nightly, amusement of an ex-
hilerating and innocent kind to a large number of the
more juvenile portion of our members, and your com-
mittee are gratified in being able to state that their
conduct is nearly all that could be desired.
LECTURES .AND ENTERTAINMENTS. The following
lectures and entertainments were had during the year.
"The Beginning of Life on Earth," 'sy the Rev. H. W.
Crosskey. F.G.S. ' • "Marvels in the Minor Worlds of
Nature, by the Rev. Dr. :MeCave, DD.; "Life and
Gro-vth of Worlds," by R. A. Proctor, Esq., F,R.A. ; A
Popular Entertainment was also given, the whole of the
lectures and entertainment resulted in a profit of £2l
3s 31.
With the view of adding to the comfort and convenience
of the members, your committee, conjointly with the
mechanics have so altered and rearranged various rooms,
so as to make the one formerly used as the mechanics
library, available for our reading room, and that the
object has been Jealized is proved by the general satis-
faction the change has given to our members.
In concluding this part of their report, your committee
beg publicly to acknowledge the willing co-operation
rendered by tbe mechanics in carrying out several
changes.
It will be observed that the income of the year shows
a considerable falling off owing no doubt to the depressed
state of trade in the district, but we hope ere long that
signs of improvement will present themselves.
STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS.-- IRCOme £34 2s 91d,
Expenditure £32 3s 10d, balance in hand, £llBs
Mr. J. T; Short read the statement of accounts of
the Building Committee, which showed a balance in
hand of £9 2s 3d.
The following are the officers of the Working
Man's Institute :—President, Mr Thomas Robinson;
Vice-President, Mr. Mark Palfrey; Treasurer, Mr.
J. T. Short; Secretaries, Messrs. G. Cook and H.
Lees • Librarian, Mr. J. Hatton I Assistants, Messrs.
B. Cadwallader and H. Pugh; Committee, Messrs.
Orford, Hicklin, Hennesey, Finley, Cadwallader,
Hipwood, Malpass, Burford, Vaughan, Pugh, Riley,
Raybould, Newman, and Charlton. Auditors,
Messrs. Vaughan and Hipwood.
The Rev. D. Maginnis, in moving the adoption of
the reports and accounts, said he must congratulate
his co-members on the satisfactory state of things as
Shown by the reports. The report of the Mechanics
Institute showed an increase of five in membership
and a balance in hand of £2B. The issue of books
amounted to over 1,000 more this year than last, and
during a portion of the year the library was closed.
He did think it was a most satisfactory report to have
presented to them, Considering the bad state of
trade and the sad condition in which many working
men found themselves, he was prepared to find a
more unfavourable report of the Working Man's
Institute, but they had, be was pleased to say, a
balance in hand of £1 18s lid. He was glad to find
that the changing of the rooms had given satisfaction
to the members, He noted with pleasure that the
classes were being carried on successfully. Some
time ago they were assisted by the South Stafford-
shire Association, but that ceased about :a year and
a half ago and they were now practically thrown on
their own resources. The greatest thanks ought to
obleasgsievsewnittho tahoomseuoghenztelaelm. enTwhheo hrewadascoonndeutchtiendsthhee
was pleased to see in connection with the classes and
that was the attendance of females. At one of the
examinations at Stourbridge there were twenty-one
candidates, twenty of whom were females, and four-
teen passed succes§fnlly. He urged upon the young
men the desirability of pursuing their studies and
attending the lectures that were given for their own
' benefit and not let themselves be defeated in such
a manner by the opposite sex. He deeply deplored
the loss of the noble library at Birmingham, and in
' reference to the Penny Bank said that a tea meeting
and entertainment would shortly be given to the
depositors, who nutnbe ed about 500. In conclusion
he moved the adoption of the reports and accounts
that had been presented.
This was 5. conded by Mr. W. Stanley, and car-
ried _

_
The following gentlemen were appointed as a
Boilding Committee: The Rev. D. Maginnis,
Messrs. J Pagett, H. Hughes, J. Blurton, J. Barrett
J. T. Short, G. Cook T. Robinson, J. Hicklin, and
M. Palfrey. Mr. E. Blur:on was appointed treasurer
and Mr. J. Shore, secretary.
Mr. Pagett moved a vote of thanks to those gen-
tlemen who had been conduoting the classes.

This was seconded by Mr. Bailer, and carried.
Mr. Maginnis moved a vote of thanki to the
Chairman, which was peeonded by Mr. Buckler and

carried unanimously.
The Chairman thanked the meeting for the man-
r in which they had proposed and carried the litte
of thanks to himself. He congratulated them on
hying the affairs of the Institute in so favourable a
candit'on, especially considering the gre at depression
in trade, and after endorsing the views of Mr. Mag.
innis on the various subjects, referred at considerable
lenglh to the advisability 'of establi,hing a coffee
hfiuse in Stourbridge, in connection with a company
that was being formed at Worcester. In all these
enterprises there was capital required, and although
£l,OOO was promised they should:end( avour:to pro-
mote the welfare of the workingmen and induce,them
to take an interest in the proposed coffee house by
issuing 1 shares, so as to enable them to take shares
in the undertaking and forward the cause of tem-
perance.