The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-03-29 00:00:00

THE LYE.

On Monday evening last, the Lye " Onward Lodge,
of Good Tempters held a grand demonstration in the
British School-room, Lye. About 200 Good Tempters
and friends partook of an excellent tea ; after which the
chair wee taken by Mrs. F. Blades, NI.C.T., of West
Bromwich.
Mrs. F. Blades opened the meeting by stating that she
had now been a total abstainer for 36 years. As many
of those present were aware, she formerly resided at the
Lye. In those days chaiumakers and others were getting
over V a week ; but notwithstanding this their wives
and families were in the most deplorable condition on
account of the intemperance that prevailed amongst
them. She, seeing this, remonstrated with them, and
pointed out to them how much better off they would be
if they visited the public-house less frequently. Most
of them would listen to what she had to say without
making any reply; but one day one of the men that she
was remonstrating with turned round on her with this
question : " Don't you sometimes take a little r Of
course she was obliged to admit that she did. He im-
mediately retorted," Very well, then; you take what you
think will du you good, and we du the same." This reply
made a deep impression on her; and she thought the
matter over and finally resolved never to touch it again.
On going home she communicated her determination to
her husband and her reasons for arriving at it. He at
first laughed at her, and t )Id her there was no necessity
for it us she was not in the habit of getting druuk. She,
however, firmly adhered to her purpose and from that
day to this she had never tasted iutoxicants. Her hus-
band also became a total abstainer. in the year 1838
they gave the first tea meeting at the Lye, and no less
than 500 persons attended it. People might say that at
the present time they were better than their forefathers,
and not no much addicted to drinking as they were
formerly ; but this was net the ease. She considered
the necessity for total Abstinence quite As urgent in the
nt day as ever it had been. The drink was the
cause of all the crime and poverty at the Lye. She al-
prese
she took up a paper she looked to ascertain whatever
wive felt a great interest in that place, and whenever
uews she could with reference to bow the people were
getting on Too often she was glad to put the paper
down again as in most instauces what else would see re-
corded would either be a case of brutal assault, or of a
man beating his wife; or, perhaps of a murder. She
would ask how was this;' Was it that the people of the
Lye were irretrievably bad; or worse than other people?
To this she would reply " No ; toe people of the Lye
were noble-hearted people, capable of doing great aid
state of things? Why, it was the drink Sine years
good things." Then what as the cause of this deplorable
ago she met a man waiking Meese:el Me streets playing
a flute for a living, who had once been a respeetible
tredesman at the Lye. It was the drink that had
brought him to that wretched elate, as it bad done
countless thousands of others. She hoped thet if there
were any there who were not teetotallers they eeuld be-
come so that night. People who signed the pledge
sometimes thought by that one act they had done a
great deal. And in reality they have dune so. They
have left the old beaten track and started life anew.
They belong to another portion of thecommunity. They
belong to what some people call Me "foolish ten, tellers"
Some pi ople expected to get a greet deal from temperance
at once_ She would warn teem not to anticipate too
much in the way of resuits at first lest they segiuld be dis-
appointed. Still they wouldereap substantial benefits
from the change. In the first place they would be free.
It was something to feel free. In the uextplace it raises
character, and enables a man to respect himself, and
this timbres him to get the respect of rimers. And then
also when a m•ia embraces total abstinence his neigh-
bours, relatives. friends, and country will be the better
for his example. She thought it Was a noble thing to du
to try to rescue the poor drueleard. She naked them it
they were prepared to enter into the field of God. She
felt herself that her time was getting very short; and it
was possible that that would be use last occasion on
which she would have the opportunity of addressing
them, and sire could only hope that the great work of
temperance which was being so nobly carried on amongst
them would prosper arid achieve every success—tap-
plause).
The" 1.0.G.T. Handbell Ringers' from Birmingham,
here gave a splendid " Peal of Belis." the tier° being
marked with great accuracy. At the couclusion the
audience eqcorid the performance, but the President of
the meeting (Mrs. Blades) leformed them that there
were so many speakers and no much to be got through
that it would not be advisable to accede to their demand.
She then called upon Mr. Use, the leader of the bell-
ringers, to address the meeting
Mr. Gee said he was sorry to have to apologise for the
absence of Brother Matins. He Was at Carlisle ;or he
(the speaker) was positive he would have been happy to
have been there on that oceesion ; and if it bad been in
his power he would lave been there. They had met
there that night to defend the cause of Good Tomplary.
He had no eoubt that those who were outside of their
order thought they were a peculiar kind of fishes. He
must say they were; and like liaises they were very fend
of the water--(laughter). The order of Good Templary
was a temperance organisatiuu. He (the speaker) was a
teetotaLer for some years before lie became a Good
Templar, and he thought it wad the fault of the teetotaller
that they had not made use of him before they did.
When he was intiated iii Good Templary at the lodge
about 18 months ago,he found teat he was placed amongst
a large circle of friends, brothers, and sisters, and that
he was no longer an isoiated waif floating about the
ocean of society. He was there taught that he Was a
coward or he would have gone there before in the cause
of temperance, lie would advise those teetotallers who
had wives who were not abstaieers to become Good
Tempters at once, and then their wives would become
Good l'emplars also. He rtee speaker) had been
married for six or seven years and he had had very hard
requested tier to give its trial she would say that she
work to get hie wife to become a teetotaller. When he
would, and for a week ore fortnight she would abstain.
At toe end of that time he would notice her looking
rather pale and as if there was something wrong; and
ate: a bit she would say " 1 feel so bade and he could
not help telling her that if that was the ease she had
better have a Little strumlent to do her good. After a
short time he wound ask her to try again, and :she wood
do so ; but slwaye with the souse result. At length he
despaired of ever making a teetotaller of her. When he
became a Good Templer, however, she, he supposed, got
to know that there were Good Templar sisters as well as
brothers, and her curiosity was eroused ti Imo a; what
they were doing is the lodge room. She according:y
said one evening when he was going to the lodge, " 1
ehould like to go with you." She was curious. She
said Me would go there too ; if it was a proper place for
her husband it was a proper place for her. He told her
that she could not be admitted without she became a
Good Templar, and eventually she became one. He once
heard an anecdote with reference to the influence that
Good Teruplary bad in preserving a man who was an
abetainer from the danger of again falling into the paths
of intemperance. The next morning after a mau had
joined a Good Template' Lodge he was on the road to
hie work when several of his former associates, who were
aware of what he had
.been doing, came out of a public.
house that was on his way and holding glasses of drink to
heir mouths, tasted them, and smacked their lips trying
to induce him to taste it also. For • moment he
wavered. But a young lady who was passim{ at the time
saw at a glance teem was taking place sad she went up
to the man and spoke to him and gave him " the gripe
He no longer wavered hut pushed the drink from him
and went on his way. He did not know the young
peraon who bad done thie ; but she knew him well
as on the previous evening in the exercise ether office as
deputy-marshal she had to lead him arm•insarai up to the
chief to be initiated. How many were there who had
fallen away from the paths of temperance because they
felt they hail no one to sympathise with them. Th, y
should ail remember the power of the grip. The order
had made prodigious strides in that country, and he
theught a great deal of Its success Was due to Brother
Malius. They had at the present time in England alone
(the speaker) Iraq a brother
Blieliood Tempters in England.
" outside guard " of No. 1
OtinvnhePaesiefiaurrtm'shi'peutation was talcum the number
adsGTlPoo'enaelleupon'llenf'ers at the low standard of an average of
.ere to each lodge, whereas there were several
17°L8'1.8)0fhord6oGdonng,tgMeohewesem: which had 500 members. They had many in
Cornwall which were over 301) strong. Then if they take
the 3,700 lodges in Great Britain alone at a computation
a 70 members to each lodge they would tied that there
were no less than 259,000 Good Templar., in the British
yes, That number did not intend to sit quietly and
bite their finger nails. They had had some influence in
Parliament during the last year, and they would have
more influence during the present one. Thee, again,
their order was international. There were great numbers
of Good Tempters in America and Australia. And he
would remind their good friends that in May next they
should have a Right Worthy Grand Lodge in London,
at which there would be representatives from America
and Australia. It was only by fraternising together that
they could give one another spirit to pursue the work
which they had undertaken, and he concluded by hoping
that great results would follow from that great greeting
in London. At the conclusion he sang a Good Templar
melody, and all those present joined in the chorus.
Mrs. Blades t aid she was also one of the first 14 who
attended a Good Templars' Lodge in England. The
Se HOOL BOARD...A. of this Board was held on
contractth e
--- -
Friday last. The meeting7iiiV EHRod.gson (chairman) pre-
hll7.l)llttllehmateewtiansgtwhcasfirlesetldchinarteCrrefgooresastlroedegte(Bthiarmt iwnagsy-
obtained in England. She had been often asked what
erielw
made them wear the badges they wore ; She would as
'tub a (nice.
t eadm and Bet-her,
informl eh r t Tfec 'h
ict
01:
d There
feorw were also
erection re isoenf
he
in answer to this that the same feeling actuated them
Cc , lions,stc
as did those who liked to see nice furniture in their
lerk was
houses. In fact, it looked attractive, and, no doubt, was
an attraction to many. The Freemaaous had their behalf of the Board, was authorieed to sign theeirmanon
badges and orders, and ale ) the Foresters. She knew
one of the Foresters, and when a gala day came round
all the people of thh neighbourhood would turn out to work may be commenced at once. The
see him in his regalia. Clerk rend:
letter from the Education Department, stetin th t
The heedbell ringers here played the " Blue Bells of would recommend the Public Work, Loan Co a a they
Sootland." tamissioners
to lend the Board the sum of £l,OOO for the f
Mrs. Bevington said that it would not be necessary for providing the new school. The Visiting Officcmear reaplrte I‘;'
to d
her enter into any explanation as to the aims and teat during the past year he had served 118 notices in
objects of Good Templery. She herself felt proud of refer once once to the nonsattendance and irregular attendance
belonging to such an reeler. Brother Gee had Raid of 135 children; that he had appeared before the Magni-
something with reference ;” the growing Power of Good trates at Brierley Hill five times, rempeeting cases that
Templery. She (the speaker) knew some publicans who had been brought before them, and had attended the
were becoming afraid of their vast power. One of them County Court, Stourbridge, two days. respecting the re
had said that their proceedings were like ball-play. She specting the recovery of arrears of school fees. in all
could only tell them that if they would come down towhich of
cases the persons had either paid before the trial,
the Stourbridge Triumphant Lodge they would find that or were ordered to pay the amounts within fourteen
th ,y; were making bomb shells there. They must win ; daps afterwards; that be delivered 485 bills for arreers
ti • : should win. Wherever she went the one thong',; of school fees ; that he lord made 684 visit ' 4 respecting
uenermoet in her mind was Good 'Cemetery. A teen 1 irregular ant tt d •a en e, and found that one great obstael
. I Aairl to lice sometime stile° tfmt they were a lot o' to r,gular Attendance, ecpecially in the • e
Is sties; and at some places morning, is that
. es that she went to she we ; a large number of children have to take dMners to the
asked to speak about anything but Good Templarism. works at such 1111 early hour; and that he had devoted
Bat she could not help speaking about it if she tried, for eonsiderable portion of his time in looking afte a
r the

'The ley. J. Hodgson (Vicar of Kinver) occupied the
chair, and, in opening the meeting, said some consider-
able time having elapsed since the meeting which ale
roved of the action of the committee appointed to con-
setts the scheme issued by the Endowed School Com-
missioners, he wrote to inquire from the Commissioners
and the Education Department whether anything had
been done in the matter. He received a reply on the
15:11 of March, with which were enclosed copies of the
home on revised by the Commissioners. The letter
s,ts forth the various eltiratious made by the Commis-
iloners. Adverting to the vicar', letter with regard to
the sale of the property, the Commissioners believed that
in its present form the propeity was peculiarly incon-
venient, and the sale now directed to De made only when
cauvenieut, which would require the sanction of the
Charity Commissioners. The Head Master would have
power to appoint and discharge the assistaut masters,
subject to the approval of the governors. The Com-
missioners could not agree with the vicar iii his descrip-
tion of the position of the Head Master. Both the En-
dowed Schools Act and the Public Schools Act provided
that the Head Master should be dismissable at pleasure.
The Commissioners hoped that both the master and the
school would be, in a po-ition too high to warrant the
very low fees The vicar had proposed. The boarding
tsrms had been raised from £25 to £2B per year. The
Commissioners regretted that they could not raise the
age for boys leaving the school, nor were they able
either to act or advise as to the recovery of the lost
lands to which the vicar had referred. That quoit:oh
Wdll one which the trustees of the charity could take in
hand and determine. With respect to the resolutions
passed at the meeting of September 9th, the Com-
missioners replied that they believed the school as recon-
stituted would be of more real benefit to Kinver than
hitherto. It was possible, but the Commissioners
believed very improbable, that occasionally a boy might
intend to pass from Kinver School direct to the Culver-
say, and a few might desire to remain beyond the age of
15 years. Ent if the character of the school were framed
with reference to those few, the Commissioners con-
sidered that it would be to sacrifice the interests of the
great majority of boys to that of the smaller number.
She letter then dealt wills the alterations made in the
scheme as revised. The constitution of the governing
body has bees modified so as to accord very nearly with
the wishes of the meeting, but it is provided that the
first co-optative governors shall hold office for life, and
the concluding words of Clause 8 are retained. The
Commissioners have substituted £5OO. Consols for
£666 13s 42 in Clause 60, sad £1.3 for £2O in Ciause 61.
The Commissioners expressed a hope that the scheme,
as now amended, would commend itself to the minds of
the parishioners. They did not propose to submit the
scheme to the Education Department for a short time,
dosing which time they would be ready to consider any
further repreeeutatioue that may be made to them.
Having received the letter, the Vicar said he at once
communicated with the Head blaster of the school, and
the committee were again called together to consider the
seheme. the result of their coneultatious were that the
committee thought it advisable to insist upon lour points
in the scheme, viz., sections 30, 44, 46, and 54. The
first in importance was section 46, which limited the age
of the boys *Mending the school to 15 years. The cora-
mittee di cided to insist upon the age being raised to 16
years.
Mr. Oebourne asked how the nisjority of boys leaving
it 15 years of age could be effected, if the age clause WU
raised to 18?

the Rev. W. H. Bolton (Head Master) said the Com-
missioners thought that if the master had a boy who
wit studying for the University to the age of 18 years, he
would spend the whole of his energies upon that boy to
the neglect of the other boys

Mr. 'Osbourne : Then 1 should say the master would
wont dismissing.
'dim Vicar, continuing, said the second point insisted
upon was Clause SU. He considered that it was necessary
for the efficiency of the school to have the head master a
graduate of some British University. Then the com-
mittee thought it their duty to insist upon the boarding
fees being left in the hands of the governors to tix from
time to tune, as they did not think that £.28 per year
would be sufficiently remunerative for the food, lodgings,
instruction, and the constant supervision which the
master would have to keep over the boarders. The last
point had reference to the subject of secular instruction.
They had decided to add to Cmuse 54, " it shall be com-
petent for the governors to make arrangements for any
other subject to be taught the boys who parents or
guardians shall express a desire to do so at an extra fee
to be fixed by the governors." lie had been favoured
with the minutes of the annual meeting of the feeoffees
of the school which had been forwarded to the Endowed
:-UAiool Commissioners. The feeoftees strongly objected
to the exclusive rights existing from time immemorial of
the parishioners of Kinver from the benefit of the school,
and to several classes of draft scheme which were de-
structive or prejudicial to such exclusive rights, any in.
vssiOn thereof being clearly repugnant to the intention
of the principal donors. They protested against the
diversion of the revenues of the charity to any other use,
but they were debarred from offering any vigorous opposi-
tion through want of funds. The commissioners in
reply acceded to some of these proposed alterations.
As to "any invasion of the exclusive rights as being re-
pugnant to the inteations of the charitable donors," the
original founders appear to be unknown, and the only
limitation of two donors known was tuat the school should
be free only to the inhabitants of Kinver. The Com-
missioners endeavoured by the scheme to establish a
thoroughly good school in liiuver within the resek of ail
classes of the inhabitants. for the Commissioners conceive
the surest means of securing the efficiency of the school
was to threw it open to all comers, this regard being hod
to the requirements of the parish. t\ hatever special
advantages were due to the inhabitants were secured by
section 49. The Conunksiouers could not believe that
the trustees desired to maintain that even after the wants
of Kinver had been provided no other boys should be ad
-
witted to the school. The Vicar said he was not in
favour that the school should be so exceedingly exclu-
sive. He considered competition • very good thing in •
senool. lie had been in communication with Mr.
Auiphlett, M.P., who stated that he was too busy to bring
in a motion for the rejection of the scheme, but should be
happy to support such a motion.
eir. T. lioiyoake moues', and Mr. Osbourne seconded
—" That this meeting having heard the explanations
given by the vicar of the views entertained by the com-
mittee wits regard to the eh:mites made in the scheme
ha the lianver Grammar School, are clearly of opinion
that it is for the interests of the school awl neighbour-
hood that the Commissioners be again urged to accept
the four alterations suggested by the committee."
This was carried, and, ou the motion of Mr. 'T. Bolton,
it was decided to forward a letter to the Commissioners
Oviag the reasons for the parish still adhering to the
alterations, and a second 'elder to Mr. W. E. Forster,
asking him to delay the approval of the Education De-
partment until the report of the committee on tie En.
dosed Schools Commissioners were made known.
A vote of thanks to the Chairman and committee for
their services terminated the meeting.