The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-04-25 00:00:00

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DUDLEY MECHANICS' INSTITUTE,

ANNUAL SOIREE ON TUESDAY NIGIIT.

The annual soiree of the Mechanics' Institute
took place on Tuesday night in the Public Hall
of the Mechanics' Institution. The attendance

was not so numerous as had been anticipated,
but there WAN a fair atteodanceof the of the
town. In the absence ot the Rev. Dr. Browne, ,
president, Captain Frederick Smith, M.A., oc-
copied the chair, and amongst those present on ,
and near the platform were—the Rev. 11. Her- I
per, M.A., Bey. J. G. C. Browne, M.A., Rev. E. ,
H. L. Noot, Rev. James Bond, Reir. J. D. Gravin;
Rev. D. Evans, Rev. M. Gibson, Bey. W. Paeey,
Alderman Budge, Mr. S. D. Fereday, J.P.,
Councillors J. Stokes, 0. Wright, W. Corvesor,
S. Lewis, and W. Thompson ; Mr. W. H Brook
(Town Clerk), Mr.Chief-sdperintendent Burton'
and Messrs. W. H. Richards, W. Minty,J. Ridg-
way, W. Barred%le, J. F. Timmins, H. J. then.
don, J. Bateman, J. Williams, E, Wilier, T.
Browne, J, Booth, 0. Mainwaring, John Finch,
W. Brown, L. Dickenson, Chicken, T. Naginton,
S. Waring, S. Dudley' Westbury, and others,
including a large asantitWage of ladies.

After tea the chair was taken, at seven o'clock,
by Captain Smith, who, in opening the proceed-
ings, said he was sorry that the Vicar was pre-
vented from sudden ill-health being present as
their president. They would have to accept him ,
as a substitute and give their full share Of sym- •
pathy to the liev. Dr. hi his illnesa, At a meet-
ing of that kind it Was expected that the speak-
ers should refer to the subject of education.
This question was frequently a dull and tedious
question, and various opinions were expressed
on the subject, and he scarcely knew how ally-
, thing new was to be maid after the gneation had
been so thoroughly debated in the HOLISOti of
Parliament. Ho had, however, views of his
own, which he held from personal observations
of the working population of the district. Ile
b-.2lieved that the flood of education which had
into the working clas3es hol not brought
that amount of contentment and happincis
which formerly existed. The education of the
BOUllatA very well in theory, bat in prac-
tice it did nut work so well as in theory—(hear,
hear). The ilea now abroad amongst the rising

generation was that manual labour WaS not SO
illignifled as mental lab:tar, and the majority of
the young men preferred tho labour of the Iltql
jOSI.,'!;vI of ilia labour of the hands, and, as a
matter of coarse, many of them were out of
work in consequence ef this desire to turn to
mental labour in preference to manual. This
feeling was a growing IniSfOrtilllO. RS ill his (Tin-
ian it wag 11,110 the less hollolll*Abie to work with ,
the hands thairthe heal —(chacrs). In mental !
labour exhausted nature had frequently to be !
revived by stimulants. which were productive of
ill results, 11n1 it had been shown that in cases
of persons 01(11 grating to the colonies—New
Zealand for in-:Lance—who, although educated,
were compelled, by the exigencies of the situa-
tion they were placed in, Co perform their own
manual labour, and were happy and contented
in the performance of such work, lie believed
that education, mixed with rational amusement,
was good for the work-jug classes, and was
pleased to see the progress of such institutions
at the one they were placed in. If properly
managed, they were calculated to make lahour
dignified, and the working classes qualified to
judge temperately and fairly of the position they
occupied in the social scale. In conclusion, the
learned chairman remarked that a blending of
technical education in our Institutes would bring
about a more wholesome feeling than was found
at present. The Chuirmam. then distributed a
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number of prizes and certificates to successful
candidates in the Society_ of Arts examinations.

Mr. E. Huffier (one of the Vice-presidents),
next addressed the meeting, giving a short his-
tory of the Institute and the Night-school. He
expressed a hope that the bill of the Duke of
Marlborough would get the expenses of the
Night-school del-3 ed, and a surplus left for ex-
tending its usefulness—(eheem. The Night.
school had been a benefit to many of the street
Arabs, who Were, at the intercession of the
Borough Bench, admitted at a low charge ; and
this charge was supplied by the justices ; so that
it was probable many who might become erimnal
would be reelairued—(cheers). In conclusion
the speaker advocated for such institutes and
schools a general system of education combined
with moral sod Migious histraction which would
bring them up to a knowledge of their ditty to
Goa, their neighbours, nutt themselves
(cheers),

The 'fly. R. Harper, MA, (}Toad-master of
the Grammar School:, expressed his gratifica-
tion at tha practical views expressed by the
Chairman, himself a practical man, on the sub-
ject of education. He believed that a real, sound,
practical education could be obtained combined
with manual labour, and moral culture could aim
be obtained with manual labour. The speaker
proceeded to advocate the claims of the booth-
tnte on the people of Dudley, and expressed a
hope that future year would improve the pros-
pects of its advancement. He advocated a reg-
ular and systematic course of lectures, as being
one of the best means of promoting the interests
of the institution, and making it beneficial to all
classes of the community. lie thought that the
question of political economy was also somewhat
neglected, and believed that if lectures on this
subject were given, it would tend tom better feel-
ing between masters and men. The rev, gentle-
man advocated the establishment of a Working
Men's College in connection with the Institute,
and expressed his willingness to give his gratui-
tous services to the geometrical and higher '
branch() t. In conclusion, the rev. gentleman
' wished increased success to the Institute, and
proposed the following resolution :—" That this
meeting regards with satisfaction the various
means adopted in this Institute for the promo-
tion of education and rational amusement, and
recognises the claims of the Institute to in-
creased support and encouragement."
The Rev. M. Gibson, in seconding the resolu-
tion, enlarged upon the benefits of the institu-
tion giving to those classes compelled to toil for
their subsistence an opportunity for improve-
ment combined with recreation. He hoped that
the working elaswes would generally avail them-
selves of the opportunity offered for their ad-
vancement, and that the list of members would
be speedily increased, and the usefulness of the
Institute further developed—(cheersi. Patriot-
ism, philanthropy, and Christianity called upon
them all to dispel ignorance, and consequently
dispel crime—facers). This would be followed
by security, happiness, virtue and peace ; and
these ends were only attained by the steady pro-
gress of education. Dudley, years ago, had
anything but an enviable notoriety for immoral-
ity ; but within the last four years it has beeo
shown that immense strides had been made
at a recent assizes there was not one prisoner
for trial from the borough —(eheers.) After
wishing farther success to the Institute and the
educational canoe in the town, the rev, gentle-
man seconded the resolution, which was carried
unanimously.

On the motion of Mr. Councillor Stokes, votes
of thanks W(Til :mirth-NI to I,!u liliOA mid goatle-
men who gave their musical :.lerrices daring the
intervals of the addresses, and to the chairman
for his courteous conduct in the chair.
At the close of the preceedings, a sniree
Plitt,' took place, and dancing WtPi kept up until
a late, or rather early, hour.

INTORTANT TO MOTITIRIL-4ITS. WinSIOW'S Soothing
Syrup, for children teething, is port.oly hnrmless. It
producee nature', quiet sleep, by reli c evie the child from
puce. and the little cherub awakes as "'bright as a but-
ton." It cures wind, colic, and regulates the bowels,
gives rest to the mother, and health to the child. It has
been thirty years in use in'Ainerica, and is now sold in
this country by all the principal medicine dealers at he
lid per liottle.—iSse asicertiscagnt in another column.