The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-09-02 00:00:00

A WELL-DESERVED HONOUR.

At 4 iliv,k,..w, n Monaay, Lonl Shaftesbury wan pre-
'word with the freedom • the city in the Corpora-
tion I hilleries, in the presence (of a numerous com-
pany of I Ikingnishe.l persons.
_

MNllNimilomm..—__

l'he fort Provost, in making the presentation, said
there were few arts of grace in the hands of our re-
pt ',eidetic.. which they could exercise with so much
pleasure as the one in which they were almut to
engage. of their city they lent all ion reason to be
proud. It Was of ancient date, its charter dating back
to a very remote time when archbishops ntleol and the laugh
was a ntere hamlet clustered in the north-east quarter
o here the cathedral now stood. Since that time there
hail grown up the great city which lay everywhere around
them a city noted for its commerce. he hoped for its enter-
prise. They felt that they really heel something to say for
their city, and that the Memoir they were about to confer
kat one worth bestowing. Ile legged to say 011 behalf of
Vie citizens generally that they recognised in the long
of philanthropy in whielt Lord Shaftesbury had been engaged
swork which merited the highest approval at their hands.
There were very few assiiciations having for their object to
Improve the moral and better the physical condition of the
niasses in which he bail not takett a prominent part, and he
thought it might safely be sahl that it WAS tin his endeavours
chiefly that they owed the establishment of those industrial
schools which, everywhere in the country, hail been. doing so
nsuchgissl. (Applause.) It would he well, perhaps, if the atten-
thin af the whole community ci add be more ardently directed
to the neglected .classes of society. Our colonies depended
upon as very much for their future in this respect that the
diameter of those going to theta from this country would
largely determine the conilit in whieh they would be
final cmituriea in lire. Therefore. the murk id seeking to
elevate Vie masses was one in which such a city at
tilitigrow shoal,/ peculiarly engage, and Shoillii, moreover,
do its very utmost to strengthen the bands of one
like his Lordship. who hail given this work es great an
impetus. (Apia:time.) The oerasiiiit which hail brought his
Lordship to tilasgow was cue with which they all hail the
utmost sympathy. There were various itasociations working
amongst them, all accomplishing in their several spheres a
certain amount of gi sal lint lie believol that the expressed
sympathy of ouch a man as his Lordship, if one who had had
enterprises of the Sante kind in a wider held than Glasgow,
would give to these asso,tations a atimithis greater than
which the approval of any other man in this country could
bestow, (Applause,/
Mr. Angus Turner (Town Clerk) read the extract minutes
°foamed ardlairizing the presentation, and the Lonl ffrovirst
then fonnally eionveyeil the document to Lord Shaftesbury.
ltwas enclosed in a silver-gilt box, richly chased, and bear-
tie on the too On sums of Glasgow.
Lord shafteslatry, in the coon-se of Ilk reply, said the
character of scotland suet of a Smitehman fully prepared
loin, for kindness and hospitality, but he confessed he Was
not prepared for the reception which they hail given hint on
that occasion. Ile hull never crossed the loonier without pro-
fit and lustrus thin, but now it seemed he was to riesi the
bonier of Scotland with honour omit with respect applaome
that toe was to lie smile is eitizi it of this en ~vtled City, whi,Se
merchants were princes and in hose traffickers Were honour-
able of the earth. it triad have betel a matter of great eon-
gratulation to himself and t his foindly alai a matter of high
honour to lie enrolled antang any body 14 free and indepen-
dent citizens; list it hen he found lie was to Inc enrolled as a
citizen of the second city of the umpire, n hose name was in
every country, whose ships covered the I ocean, and whose pro-
ducts were knoWli in every soil, In every clime, he felt he
hail attained an honour which was a full reward fur any
humble taboos w loich lie might have bestowed iin the cause
that they hail pleased to speak of in ith no. amehapprobation.
lie might say that iris the time he begau the work to which
they hail alluded he hail ever had before him that the great
moil saving prineiplei of this free military e ere to be found
its the improved sooial, nairal, and religions condition of all
classes of our people applause ; and he felt. if we hail soich
a basis as that, there was no amount of freedom that might
Ii it be In stowed on them, because he was since that
there would be 110 I,:oit id gratitude eishibitell by those
milt who were imbued 0 ith such deep Anil solemn princi-
ples of their sense of duty and responsibility to tiod and
Ito-hr fellow men. Cipplause.t As he I trove along through
all that beautiful cianntry, annul :IS he entered that niart Of
industry anil occupation an/ itiny life, he could not lint
think of what was now disturbing the initillS of Continental
people and even our own—thiiiat Wars anil rumours of wars
which were to be the sign of the latter days, and he secretly
pap it withili his heart that soar might lie kept from these
magnificent provinces and from these beautiful cities, and
that the blink of industry and lamest occupation might not be
tiros/mil in the clang of trumpets and the rear of artillery.
Might (nal in his merry avert from this ei.abtry such it cala-
mity an that, and might we he allowed to go sin advancing
111 reerytiling eOlll.l tend to the ..... liirt of mankind
insist to pri , le and to adorn clviiinitioin! Very many pram The Act to regulate and control the discharge of
than 30 years ago—la' Wins etrivinw down throWh psuipers front workhouses mini wards provided for the
Hertford:ilia, with the old link.; ci wellington in ilia ear- casual 'Moor has been printed. The °Nee}, if the statute
'laze. It was a beautiful summer erelllll-4, the Milli was is to remove to the length time for which,
I
and everything looked flourishing and joyous. f. 1,2
panne," nialr be Ii filly reintirml tO remain in work-
wss siient for ft quarter of an boar or twenty ininitt,P. L• • •. . • . • .
th, ~„,, of that tines lie I will tell yoot w hat I have fames after giving niitice of their discharge, alai, to
lit-in thinking about, I bine heen contemplatiog this very make provision for regulating :mil controlling the dis-
-I"'"unflil ronnlrY. awl h have been thinking what a curse charge a iulers from workhouses and wards
Sian- pric
ar is. Suppose,” he said, " I hail to take niilitarY vided for way ;Arens and wanderers, and for dminig
non of this district I would have to lay low every bunitiful with disorderly paupers in the workhouse and for
thing which you ace here. Take my word for it," said that
suppre the ssion of vagrancy. The Antis not to apply
lily old veteran, the hero of a 11111:tired battles —"take
Woril for it if Pont hail seen but one day of tin Scotland or Ireland. A pauper, after giving notice
51 ar you would pray to Alnsighty God that you to quit the workhouse, who haul not previously
might never see such a thing again." (Applause.) Ile could ulischarged himself within a month, is to give 24
7..,t but feel, amid all the tenable threats that we bear, hours' notice ; if he had discharged himself once
What dangers siectilaint this our military, and yet at the or oftener within a month 48 hours' notice ;if more
8911111 (hue lie was encourancil when he
Sco thologh th tOf e 1.11111.1
than twice within two months before giving the
i hic iCalia. tch motto aroma' the se itelt this
l tle, "New° t
e nac
n • otice, 72 lninrs. The Guardians rir the Master, if u.nr fun, ssrh- wh, Il 111 simple aseinag, his,
"Just pat let isle alone, for if pm don't I will give you quite the Ili gird be not sitting, may alteror rescind the chirec-
as
g'."l.P. bring." That he owned to be the character Lion, lout it is not to apply tin casual istupers. " A
of SCOteillnlell :led the character of Englishmen. Their lan- casual pauper shall not Inc entitled to discharge himself
gauge was the language of define,. and to ,t of agUrce- fr dot a casual ward before eleven o'clock in the morn-
Ilion. (Hear,
thlo ar.) That aas the p: o :te ' - ..:141 •
nig oil the day following his admiesion, nor before he
t'ecoPYi and ey should never resortli' ti"zeept
It Sean ailSOilliely niunsl onanswriaiiiy for the safety and hiss iterformed the work prescribed for him as herein-
lIIITIOnr of the mins. They hail ships, colonies, and menus after mentioned, and where a casual pamper has been
nierce, but to these niust be added the grand principle of admitted on more than two occasions during one month
true constitutional freedom, without which there coatih be into any ward of the :same union, he shall not be ens
no security, without w kb there conlil Inc MI !imminency or titlml to discharge himself before nine o'clock in the
the
PrOsPerity, witloout addidi there ld I ont ottment
, . , morning uif the thiril day after his admission, and he
among people or security in tins i miu
roVerlinicln
loben when they come M the great extension of freedom may at any time &tiring that interval be removed by
which they how eujoy, then mu ale griyad prjacipte thaT any acer of the Guardians or by PACO COUnt'Able