The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-10-15 00:00:00

REPORT OF COMMITTEE FOR 18694870.

The time has now come for the Committee to resign
into your hands the trust conferred upon them twelve
months ago ; but before doing so they would like briefly
to notice the proceedings of the association under their
management.
First, they would call attention to the fact thet during
their year of office they have purposely abstained from
holding public meetings of every description. At the
beginning of the year it was thought that after the in.
tense political excitement of the preceding year, a reac-
tion would be sure to take place, when the interest of the
general public iu politics and political demonstrations
would be much diminished. The Committee, therefore,
determined to postpone for • time the holding of public
meetings, and to devote their attention to other matters
of deep importacce, whidi were necessary for the suc-
cessful carrying out of the objects of the association.
It was also thought advisable that the association should,
as it were, stand upon one aide, and quietly Iwoit the
effect the development of the so-called liberal pole,
would be certain to have spin many, who, fore time had
been deluded by its specious, but hollow promises and
pretences. The wisdom of this course is already abund-
antly apparent. Many who a few months ago would not
' listen to the arguments of a political opponent, have
since been thoroughly convinced by hard facts and the
stern teachings of experience that the Radical policy is
, anything but the VellilllolE barium they once thought it.
The conduct of the Ministry with respect to Mr. Newde-
gate's Convent Enquiry Committee, has destroyed 1111101
of the confidence once felt in the party, and has given
rise to a widespread suepicion that the policy of the
Gladstone government is too much controlled by those,
who, to bay the least, have no love for the Protestant
institutions of one country, while their wholesale and ill
timed dismissals of workmen from the dockyards ; their
refusal even to enquire into the effects of the French
Treaty upon the trades of England, and their general
disregaid and ignoring of the great distress which exisli
among the working classes, have clearly shown thou-
sands of working men what little right the liberals have
to the self-conterred title of working man's friends ''

Your Committee have used their pert enrce-a—V—ou—rs to
form a library for the use of members, and with the
kind help of members and friends were able to open it
early in the year. Since then donations of books have
been received from our respected President and Mrs.
Amphiett, from Dlr. C. A. Collis, Mr. Alfred Freer, and
other friends. Other books are promised, and, to doubt,
our successors will have much pleasure in receiving and
' adding them to the Library.
The reading room continues to he of great use to mem-
bers, and is well supplied with newspapers and period.-
cals. tbi r best thanks are due to lir. Campbell for ths
present cf the Illustrated London News, and Penny Il-
lustrated Paper every week, to Mr. A. P. Price for Judy
weekly, and to Mr. W. Cooper for the Bulwark, each
SWAMI. Also to the proprietors of the following news-
papers which are regularly supplied to the reading room
gratuitously the Worcester Ji•urual, Worcester Herald,
Woiverhatupton Chronicle, Midland Counties' Herald,
the County Express and Stourbridge Observer.
The Committee last year devoted much attention to
the revision of the Parliamentary register of voters fur
this and neighbouring districts, and under the able was.
&gement of Messrs. Lioldingliam and C. W. Collis in
Worcester-hire, and Mr. A. P. Price in Staffordshire sub-
stautial gains to the Conservative cause was the result.
This year your Committee have directed their attention
to the same necessary work, which they hope will be at-
tended with success equal to that of last ye r.
In the early part of the year many of our mambois
sea friends glinhy availed themselves of an upportunit)
of signing all address of sympathy to our brethren of the
Irish branch of the Church. "Ibis whitens with a large
number of signatures from all parts of Eligland was re•
ceived with gladness by our fellow-churchmen 11l the
sister isle.

A petition got up by the association, and largely signed
for a parliamentary enquiry into conventual and monas•
tic institutions was presented to the House of Communa
by our President, It. P. Amphlett, Esq., in April last.
WII have to di.plore the loss of two of our respecteu
Vice.Presidents--11r. Howlsod l'rice and Mr. John Hunt,
and of Mr. James Morris, one of our most active mom.
be, who have been removed by death during the past
year.

- - -
In conclusion, the Committee beg to urge upon the
members the neci,ssity of looking strictly after the
liamentary register of voters, as so much depends upoe
the proper performance of this necessary work. Tney
would also impress upon members and iiiends that if the
association is to continue to prosper, they must give Weil
best attention to inereasnig the Library, and adding to
the suppl of tiewspapers and periodicals for use of redo
big room, and of enlisting frieuds who have nut yet kneed
oar rduk. to Unite with us in earnietlp and constantly
striving to carry cut the objects of the association.
' '

Pre:;nti of i;,w,lcs, perio:licals, and u.w.pprn iIl he
thurikfully received by the secretary Hod 1, I. Arian, r.t the
rooms.

The Chairman said that the balance-sheet for
the past year stated that the annual subscrip-
tion; amounted to £24 12s fld; members fees,
Ss 3d; sundries, 14s 4d and that after pay-
ing rent, gas, newspapers, periodicals, dm, there
was a balance of £4 26 in hand.
Mr. J. Horseley moved the adoption of the
report, which was seconded by Mr. A. Freer,
and carried unanimously.
Mr. R. Ampblett, M.P., was unanimously re•
elected as President, and the following gentle-
men re-elected as Vice-Presidents :—H, M. In-
gram, Esq., M.P., Revs. C. Cratifurd, 11. Sher-
rard, G. Gilbanks, J. S. Bolder% T. Williams,
G. F. Adley, \V. ,J. J. Welch, R. P. Turner, C.
Amphlett, Messrs. R. L. Freer, J.P., A. Freer,
R. L. Campbell, H. T. Hickman, C. P. Noel,
J.P., G. Grazebrook, C. W. Collis, W. Roberts,
C. Webb, H. 'l'. Rogers, IV. H. Webb, W. G
Webb, M. Grazebrook, H. S. Graaebrook, B.
Wooldridge, and W. Hodgetts.
Mr. T. Perrin,' and Br. A. Jones were elected
in the place of Mr. Hunt and Mr. R. Price, de-
ceased.

ComurriEe.--The following were elected as
the eiiiiiinittee - Messrs. T. Perkins, R. Pear-
son, S. Broughton, Joseph Piper, G. Bose, I.
Chappell, F. Halliday, J. Horseley, J. Southall,
T...Sliare, and J. Johnson.

'treasurer : Mr. J. Hughes; seeretarics
Meiars. Halting and &ahem Librarian, Mr.
T rki.. and Mr. F. Joseelyne as auditor.
of thank; was given to those gentle-
men nl4O II ni gi%en free papers to the association
during the past year.

Mr. Perkins moved that the best thanks of
the meeting be given to the President, Vice-
Presidents, Treasurer, Secretary and other offi-
cers of the association for their services during
the past year which was seconded by Mr.
Chappell.
A vote of thanks to the Chairman, which was
duly responded to, close I the proceedings.

CHURCH OF ENGLAND ASSOCIATION.

A meeting, called by requisition, was held in
the reading room of the above on Tuesday even-
ing, to take into consideration the advisability of
amalgamating the above association with .the
Young Men's Christian Association of London.
The Rev. .1. S. Bolden, occupied the chair.
There was a large number present.
After reading the requisition calling the meet-
ing, the Chairman observed that suggestions had
been made for the rules of the association to be
altered, to admit Nonconformists to the govern-
ing body of it, and, further, to amalgamate it
with the Young Men's Christian Association in
London. The Association was established as a
Church of England Association, and the pro-
perty accumulated by members of the Church
of England, and he considered it an obstacle in
the way of disposing of the property as sugges-
ted. He had no desire to prejudice the mem-
bers either way, but until that difficulty was
removed he could not cousent to the amalgama•
tion.

Mr. Newnam said that he thought association
was not doing its work as a Church of England
association. There was very little religious in-
struction afforded beyond a Bible class, which
was not very woll attended. Ile thought by al-
tering the rules and making the amalgamation
suggested new life would be thrown into their
operations, and more good might be efhieted.

„ .
Mr. A. Freer considered it would not be advis-
able to alter the rules and admit Nonconformists
to the governing power, because the as,ociation
was established by Churchmen. and for Church
purposes.
The Rev. H. Slierrard also spoke against Ow
amalgamation from the same view of the previ-
ous speakers. He thought Nonconformists, by
being admitted to the governing body, would not
be able to do more than the present authority
was capable of doing.
After some discussion, the Rev. H. Sherrard
moved, and Mr. Richards seconded, a motion, to
the effect that after due consideration it we::
thought not desirable to alter the rules of the as-
sociation to admit Nonconformists to the govern-
ing power, which was carried unanimously.
A vote of thanks to the chairman for presiding
terminated the proceedings.