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

THE LYE.

ORDINATION SERVICE AT THE LYE.

An Ordination Service waa held in the Mount Zion
Congregstional Chapel, Lye, on Monday last, when Mr.
1 homes Parker was publicly ordained to the Christian
Ministry. The proceedings were commenced by sinning
the 891st hymn. The Rev. G. W. Robinson read a por-
tion of the •Ith chapter of Ephesians. from the 4th to
the 16th eerie; after which the Rev. W. W. Jobb offered
prayer. The Rev. 1). K. Shoebotham gave an exposition
of Church principles, the subject of hie discourse being
taken from the 4th chapter of the Ephesians, 21st. 22nd.
and 23rd verses.

The Rev. J. Marsden tlieu ruse and said he should not
occupy heir attention by making a speech. hat at once
proceed to ask Mr. Parker, the usual questions.
In answer to the paestions put by Mr. Marsden, Mr.
Parker said when he was between 19 and 20 years of
age, he was in Manchester, and he went to hear • dis-
course delivered. its felt he was a sinner, and he prayed
and wept behind • men much halm-then himself, hoping
he edeoild not be teen. After the disconrse was over he
Li el iii `CI the preacher, hot he witereil into a di-Cll9-
NEM with a %mom Catholic. He iv..et oia, and did not
know what to do; he felt he had been very wicked. The
next Sunday he went to a church where he had not beast

f,r six years. He attended the prayer meeting, and by
that time he had no hesitation in telling hie associates
what God had done for his soul. Me taught in the Sun-
dae Schools, and about twelve months afterwards he
bought shoot £2O worth of books, and gave himself to
reading. Ile had passed through many temptations and
trials, but he had always continued in the faith. Several
iinestoins wore aviiwered bv Mr. Parker, which Mr. Mars.
den said gave cvrry satisfaction.
The Richards then offered op the ordination
prayer, after which the Rev. F. S. Williams delivered the
charge to the newly ordained minister.
After the service tea was provided in the school room,
to which • good number sat down.
. _ _

A meeting was held in the chapel after the tea, when
those assembled were addressed by the Reys. F. S.
hams. D. K. Shoebothem, J. Richards, J. Marsden, N.
W. Jubb, G. W. Robinson, J. Boseley, J. Morgan, T.
Cousins, M. (I. Astbury. W. Baguet', and D. Jones.

PROPOSED TRUCK Isnoyartv.-A meeting of nailers was
held on Monday, at the Dudley Arms, High-street, and I
after considerable discussion, they decided to defer the
question of striking for a higher rate of wages to a fu-
tore meeting. The attention of those present was dir-
ected towards the advisability of inviting the Truck
Commissioners to hold an inquiry in this district. It is
admitted that whilst the system is not carried on so ex-
tensively as a few years ago, yet it has a very injurious
effect upon the poor Bailers, and also the ehain and trace
makers of the district, but more especially the former ,
class. In many cases as SOO.I as a few nails are made, I
the hand ieraftstnan is obliged to take them to the " fog- !
ger," in order to obtain sufficient food to last him and
his family for the following day, and even in some cases
to provide the next meal. Although cash is paid, the
greater portion of the earnings of the family is expected
to be spent at the shop kept by the logger, or there is
very little work found for them. 'the prices of the
goods are not only higher, but the quality of them infe-
rior to those 'sold by the grocer ; sugar, buon,
cheese, and other articles are sold at the rate from a
penny to twopence per pound more than elsewhere, and
the flour from Rd to Is per bushel more. In not a few
eases also ale and beer is sold in a similar manner. Mr.
John Price, chairman of the Amalgamated Hailers'
Union, who is in cmimunication with the Royal Com-
missioners at present sitting in Smith Wales, is endea.
souring to obtain the prices and quality of articles sold
by the " foggers" and those by the tradesmen of the
district. Many of the poor millers would hail with
gladness an inquiry into the effects of the tommy shop I
system upon their trade, as the great majority admit that '
it has produced the greatest misery in their midst, ruined
their trade, and in not a few cases brought them almost
to the point of starystion.
THE CO-OPKRATIVE AND INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY.-The
thirty-seventh quarterly report of this society has just
been issued. It states that the committee are highly ,
gratified in still being able to report the steady advance-
ment of the society, which they are warranted in saying
by a calm review of its operations. Its mode of proce-
dure, the extent of its business, the profits realised upon
its transactions, and the moral and social advantages ac-
cruing from it, mast evidently prove to all dispassionate ,
and unprejudiced ol.ervers that it is effectually doing its
work considerably to the moral and material advance-
ment of the community. The distribution of life's ne-
cessaries are carried into the domiciles of care and toil'
worn hrethern, relieving many a shoulder of the burden
which has well-nigh crushed them, and lessened the anx-
ious cares that have torn the heart-strings of life; and
made existence joyless and almost unbearable. The full
consummation of their aim and ideas require the com-
plete amalgamation of the different units for the consti-
tution and working of a society or body. The committee
were fully cognizant of the operation of a series of causes
and circumstances that are militating against tbe more
rapid adsancement of the society. The poverty and
semi-pauperism which so extensively prevails in that
locality, and its concomitants-ignorance, apathy, and
I vice-is foroidding'vxpectations of any extraordinary leap
I in the way of progress, and lead them to defer the hope
I of the complete emancipation and ennoblement of their
class, to a period yet future and distant, but they still
aimed at the improvement and elevation of the whole.
Their sole object is to do good, and that each house
should share in-all the advantages of fraternal sympathy
and practical brotherhood. The statement of accounts
shows a balance from June, £7. 158. 101 d. ; contributions
from members, £53. 12s. sd. ; investments on loan capi-
tal, £23. 15a.; grocery sales at:Cross Walk, 11,129. 10s.
84.; drapery, £6O. 15s. ; nails, £317. 19s. -Id.; grocery
sales at Lye branch, £455. us.; total of sales, £1,964. ;
sundries, .633. 12s. 101 d. ; total receipts, £2,082. 16a. 2d.
The expenditure showed £326. 10s. 41d. for bills from
June quarter; goods added, 13,496. 16s. Id. ;Prawn from
share capital, £156. 13s. 1. ; fixed stock, rent, salaries,
wages, ,t-c., £75. go. 9d., leaving a balance in hand
amounting to £27. is. 1011 From the trade account it
eppears the stock-in-trade last quarter amounted to
£1,119. Is. 21d. ; the present quarter was £989. 3s. 3d.
Goode added had amounted to £1,658. 4s. 3d.; and sold,
£1,964. After deducting working expenses, discountsland
returns, and the increase of the stuck-in-trade, a sum of
£lO7. 10s. 21d. goes to the profit account. The sum of
£l5, is disposed as interest, at the tate of 5 per cent., on
£1,200, worth of shares. A dividend ot £B5. on £850.,
at 2s. in the pound, is allowed. After allowing for de-
preciation of fixed stock, interest on investments, and
allowance to reserve fund, a balance of £65. 155. goes to
the next quarter. The committee have dec.ded to re-
move the nail business from the present building, and
convert it into a shop for drapery sides, &e. The report
and statement of accounts is considered very satisfactory
during the depressed state of trade and the unsettlement
of the wages question.