The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-18 00:00:00

WORKING MEN'S INSTITUTE.

REPORT FOR 1870.

MEXBERS.—The number of members on the books is
as follows : Annual, SO ; quarterly, monthly, end weekly,
135, making a total of 165 ; being a decrease of 23 upon
last year.

FINANCE.—The income of the year, including the bal.
ance brought forward of £5 108 llf d, amounts to £23
13s lied, and the expenditure to £2l lie 8d; leaving a
balance of £4 llls 91d in the hands of the treasurer.
RIIDING Room.—The attendance of members during
thn past year has been a slight decrease over the previ-
ous year. The tables have been supplied with the fol-
lowing daily and weekly papers and periodicals. Dailies
The Telegraph, Dally News and Birmingham Daily Post.
Weekly : Illustrated London News, Illustrated Midland
News, Beehive, Reynolds's Newspaper, Birmingham Post
and Journal, Midland Counties Herald, Stourbridge
Observer, Brierley Hill Advertiser, County Express, and
Alliance News. Periodicals. All the Year Round, Gout
Words, Good Words for the Young, Chambers's Journal,
English Mechanic, Ciussell'a Magazine, London Journal,
Family Herald, Punch, British Workman, Floral World,
and the Herald of Peace.—The reading room contains
two sets of chess and draught boards and men, and also
a valuable supply of large maps. Daring the year • new
set of chessmen has been provided.—The committee
again offers its best thanks to the proprietors of the
Midland Counties' Herald, Btourbridge Observer, Brier-
ley Hill Advertiser, and County Express, far the gratui-
tous presentation of their papers ; to Mr. C. Beavington
for the Herald of Peace, and to Mr. Thebridge for the
Alliance News.

LII3II4IY.—The number of books in the library is
about 800. During the year there haa been a total issue
of 1431 book.. The character of the works issued has
been as follows :—History, 67; Memoirs, Biography and
Travels, 76; Poetry and Drama, 38; Solstice and Philo.
sophy, 43; Miscellaneous Works, 109; Novels and Tales,
976; Magazines, Essays, and Reviews, 122.
A Shakesperian and general literature class has been
sondueted during the winter season by J. C. A. Scott,
Esq. Other classes have been commenced during the
year, but your committee regret to state that a slinkiest
number of members has not attended to snake it desira-
ble to continue them to the end of the season. Your
committee, however, are pleased to find that night daises
have been vigorously conducted at night schools in con-
nection with most of the day schools in the town and
neighbourhood.

ORPIZSIAL RillAliefl.-111 placing the report before the
public, your committee would call attention to the de..
crease this year in the number of members, in contrast
with the increase which occurred during several previous
years. This institution is really what its name specifies,
a tuna fide working man's institution, being composed of
working men, and governed by a committee and unpaid
officers, chosen from and by its own members. It is one
of the oldest institutions in the country, having been
founded in the year 1856. It is also one of the cheapest,
as scarcely any other self-supporting institution M sup-
ported. as this is, at the low price of id per week for each
member ; especially when we take into consideration the
fact that the members meet in a commodious building,
containing a large reading room, as the report shows, as
well supplied with papers, periodicals, maps, as
many other more pretentious and expensive institutions.
A dwelling-house is attached to the reading room for the
curator of the institution. At the back of the institution
is a yard used as a skittle alley and gymnasium, There
.are, in addition, three good class rooms, a large lecture
room and chess room, and an excellent library. Classes
are usually held during the winter in the class roima ;
most of them free to members.
. .

No lectures or entertainment; have been held during
the last two years in the lecture room, because the public
seemed to express but little desire for them ; but the
committee hope to resume them next winter.

The libraryris opened every Monday night between 7
and 8.30, and is also free to members. The cash secre-
tary also attends the library during the same hour', to
receive the members subscriptions, which can be paid
weekly, monthly, or quarterly, and also to receive the
names of those desirous to become members. Ladies are
eligible as members of the library by payment of Id per
week. A catalogue of the books may be obtained from
the librarian.

rho committee meets on the first Monday a every
month, at eight o'clock.
,„ . .

This institution is purely unsectarian in its sharacter,
being open to all sects, theological or political, or even to
those of no sect, being in this respect the only institu•
Lion of this class in this town or neighbourhood.
Working men of Stourbridge come forward and join
this institution. Come in your working clothes, come
in large numbers, and make it by your presence, your
influence, and your earnest and active support what its
founders wished it to be—one of the model Working
Men's Inatitutions of the country.

Mr. Job Short read the report of the Building Com-
mittee for the year 1870. He said the working men's
account was less this yesr than it was last, bat that ws.s
on account of it being only up to the 51st of December.
It is generally the rule to keep the account open until
the annual meeting. Since the accounts were made up
he had received £7, making a balance of Ell, which
would be laid out for the purchase of books.
Mr. J. C. A. Scott said be thought that many bad lie-
teued to the report with considerable satisfaction. They
must have been glad to have heard from Mr. Evers that
the Mechanics Institution was in such a good financial
position; that the reading reom had been so well supplied
with papers and periodicals. He was very glad to hear
from him that the committee bad decided on filing the
Times newspaper. It was rather au important point, and
he only regretted it had not been done sooner. He need
not remind them that the last few years bad been very
eventful. He was glad to see that education was rapidly
spreading. He should like to see more harmony between
the two institutions, and that they would work together
a little more, especially in having entertainments an I
lectures. He thought more interest was token in enter-
tainments by members if the Association than formerly.
If they had a magic lanteri it might be the means it
twinging the membera together, and if that lecture room
w. licensed for theatrical performances they might be
more successful. He should not like to propose the,
suggestions to them, and hoped they would pardon him
for speaking about them. There woo one matter he should
like to speck of. and that was the skittle alley. Ile
thought it the rough stones were token up, and some
g:ovel put down, aml roiled nicely, it would be beneficial
ti the members. Ile should not say MUCh as regarded
the classes, but lie WAS sorry to say that not many at-
tended thilo, and that the smallness of the attendance
was enough to discourage the teacher,. It might he
throug'i the committee not haying obtained the services
of sufficiently quslilied reawiers. He understood there
were two classes now at the institute; ore a French
class and the other a chemistry, conducted by Mr. Packer
h.:sincerely truded the classes would be more successful
lii point of numbers. He concluded toy expressing hi,
satiefiction with, and moving the adoption of tse re-
po^t
Mr. Blogiunis said ho should like to ask Mr. Eastlbke
If one of iiie classes had ceased to exist?

Mr. Eastlake ssid there wits one, as far as he could
&seer:air.

The Chairman asked if the Reading R 49111 was n. II
attended:'

Mr. Ever said it was batter attended since the com-
mencement of the war between France and Germany.
Mr. Pa,tett seconded the adoption of the report, vrhi,h
was carried unanimously.
_ _

The following gen•Jeinen were appointed as a Building
Committee—five from C.Leil institute :—From the Me.
chauies' : The Rev. D. Magiunis, Mews. H. Hughes, J.
Taylor, J. Barrett, and J. Blurton. From the Working
Men's Messrs. J. Hiekhn, J. T. Short, W. Rider, R.
Jukes, and W. Newman.

Mr. Evers proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. H. Hughes,
for his services in sonneetion with the Building Corn.

Mr. J. Taylor seconded It, and it was serried sumni-
monaly.
Mr. Maginnis said he had great plums in proposing
a vote of thanks to the worthy Chairman, for so kindly
coming forward on the present occasion. They might
congratulate themselves on having such • valuable addi-
tion to the institution as Mr. Marten, and contended
that such institutions as theirs had had • great deal to
do in bringing about the Education Act.
Mr, J. Taylor seconded the vote of thinks, which was
carried unanimously.
Mr. Marten acknowledged the vote of thanks, and
kindly offered to let the institution have • copy of the
Seisatifte American. •

The'following gentlemen were appointed officers for
the Working Men's Institute for the ensuing year :
President, Mr. W. Newman; Vice-President, Mr. W.
Parka; Treasurer, Mr. J. T. Short; Corresponding
Secretary, Mr. Eastlake; Cash Secretary, Mr. George
Cook. Committee: Messrs. T. Brown, J. Davies, 0.
Marsh, J. Heath, D. Hall, J. Hicklin, T. Aston, S.
Edwards, J. Pagett, J. Brewerton, 0. Lichfield, J. Onions
and 0. Homes. Auditor.: Messrs. T. Brown and S.
Edwards. Librarians: Messrs. R. Jukes, J. Dunn, and
G. Homes.
The meeting then separated.

REFRACTORY PAOPRR.—At the Police Court, ow Wed-
nesday, before B. L. Freer, Esq., George Johnson was
charged with destroying the clothes of the Guardians, on
the 14th inst. William Keightley proved that the de-
fendant came to the Union the previous night for lodg-
Mira. He supplied him with clothes, which be tore up.
Pleaded guilty. Committed to Stafford for one mouth's
bard labour.

DRURY AND RIOTOUS—John Cochrane, a tramp, was
charged with being drunk and riotous at Brierley Hill,
on Tuesday last. Folice.constable Cotterill proved that
he was on duty and saw the defendant in Brierley Hill,
drunk. He was making a great noise at the time. De.
fendaut pleaded guilty, and was fined ls and costs; iu
default seven days.
Nsunow ESCAPE 01 • CLEROYIIAN.—in accident which
might have been attended with serious resulte, took
place at four o'clock yesterday afternoon. It appears
that the Rev. R. L. Yorke, curate of the Lye Church,
was driving up Market-street, when the horse suddenly
turned up Mr. Penney'. (farrier) yard. The shaft of the
gig caught the wall, breaking it, throwing out the rev.
gentleman with great violence, and whilst down the horse
backed the gig over him. Fortunately, no bones were
broken, and Mr. Yorke apparently was none the worse,
beyond the shaking which ha received.
ANOTHER ACCIDENT. Another accident happened
about half.past four to Mr. Boucher, farmer, residing at
Chadwick. It appear. that Mr. Boucher had been to
market, and was returning home, and when opposite the
Chequers Inn Mr. Nathaniel Lraith, jun., got into the
trap. The horse started, and in doing so some portiou
or the harness broke, and the trap was drawn for some
distance near the kerb-stone, and thrown completely
over. Mr. Smith was thrown out, and Mr. Boucher lay
under the trap. A number of persons were in immediate
attendance, end caught hold of the horse got the trap
up, and released him. No bones were broken, and Mr.
Boucher escaped with •feer bruises.
THH LATE SHIMITAINIIIIIT AT =I UlllOll BALL.•-••
We understand that the proceeds of the shove entertain.
meat, amoontiag, ate, all squaw were defrayed to VI
is, isaveheen handed ever to Mrs. Brooks.