The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-09-20 00:00:00

SOCIAL SCIENCE.
A meeting of those interested in the promotion of
social science was held yesterday, in the Grand Jury-
room of St. George's Hall. Mr. Joseph Hubback was
called to the chair ; and amongst the other gentlemen
present were—Messrs. T. S. Raffles, Henry Booth. F.
Chilton, I. Heyworth, the Rev. Cecil Wray, Rev. J. S.
Howson, Rev. Dr. Hume, Philip Rathbone, and George
Melly.

The CHAIRMAN said it would be in the recollection of
many then present that at the last meeting of the Society
for the Promotion of Social Science there was a strong
feeling that it would be very desirable to have a local
standing committee to continue the good work which.
Was inaugurated on that occasion. At a meeting of the
council held at that time a resolution was carried to
that effect, and it was resolved to recommend to theto
ff
association to appoint local offers, with
add to their number. In consequence of that resolu-
tion, a committee was appointed. The result of the
appointment of which committee wa.§, he believed,
well known to many of the gentlemen present. He
believed that the town at large was indebted in a
great measure to the able paper which was written
by Mr. Howson, and submitted at the third meeting of
that association held at Bradford last year. He would
also refer to another matter—the efforts which had been
made and carried on in Liverpool by Mr. Philip.Rath-
bone, in inquiring into the working of trades unions.
The information acquired by that gentleman was embo-
died in the general report on Trades Unions, also sub-
mitted to the association. It was eventually thought
desirable that the committee should be dissolved, and a
society organised in its place. For this purpose a sub-
committee was appointed, to draw up rules for the regu-
lation and working of the society in Liverpool. , That
had been carried out, and the report was now to be
submitted to the meeting by Mr. Danson. It had been
thought desirable that the report should come before the
people of Liverpool, who took an interest in the subject,
previous to the general gathering of the association.
He then called. upon Mr. Danson to read the report.
The report which had been drawn up contained rules
for the guidance of the Liverpool Society; these related
chiefly to the reading of the papers, and the discussions
upon them. The report having been read, Mr. Denson
proposed its adoption.
Mr. CHILTON seconded the motion. He was sure
that all present must be sensible that without a noble
society, founded for the promotion of social science, and
governed by definite rules, the great question of social pro-
gress could not come forward and be understood in the
way they wished it to .be. They all knew that the
annual meetings of the association were very interesting
to attend, but they must be well aware also that social
progress was a question for quiet work in the first place,
and if their great social' meetings were to be of any
interest they must have a collection of facts from which
correct theories could be deduced. Such facts were
only to be got together by local societies similar to the
one it was now proposed to .form.
Mr. RAFFLES asked to say a few words in support of
the resolution. He was very glad to find that this
movement had been taken up; he himself took a great
interest in a certain department of it, which would come
under the cognisance of the local society. He would
be glad to give any assistance he could to them in that
particular- department. It was quite clear that in a
large town like Liverpool, there must be a great number
of facts to be collected ; and he hoped other towns
would follow the example of Liverpool, by having local
societies also. He bad not heard the whole of the
report read, and was, therefore, to an extent ignorant of
what had been proposed, but he had confidence in Mr.
Danson. He (Mr. Raffles) would be glad. to co-operate
with this society, or in any way forward its objects.
Mr. THOM said that at the meeting of the Association
for the Promotion of Social Science, held in Liverpool,
there was a suggestion thrown out, which at the time
was considered a valuable one. The suggestion was
that the working clauses should be brought into con-
nection with this Social Science Association in some
direct way. In other words, that the working classes
should be looked upon as expounders of their own wants.
He would like to know whether that suggestion had
been yet acted upon.
The CHAIRMAN replied that he had himself assisted
at meetings from time to time called together by Mr.
Philip Rathbone, on the subject of Trades Unions.
On each of the occasions there was a considerable
gathering of working men, who appeared to appreciate
the motives of the gentlemen who were enquiring into
the subject. With those exceptions, he was not aware
that the working classes had been called upon to assist
the association.
Mr. DANIEL GUILE said he believed he was the only
working man in the room. As a working man, he was
glad to hear his friend suggest that the working classes
have a direct connection with the society. He would
say, that although those classes had not been in direct
communication with the organisation of the society,
they bad held several meetings; more particularly on
the subject of Trades Unions. Theie was now a good
feeling growing up in the minds of the working men
with regard to this society ; at first it was not so. The
movement was met very coldly by working men, and
even rebutted ; but he was proud to say that that
ng was dying away, that they now began to feel
feeling
rtrue position, and that their interests were identical
with the interests of those above them. He was glad
to notice that there was a rule for the local society,
which would bring the working classes into close con-
nection with it ; and he would do his utmost, as a
working man, to forward the interests of the association
throughout the town.
Mr. DANsost stated that twelve months ago Mr. Thos.
Jones, a working mason at the Free Library, sought his
advice with reference to forming a self-supporting
society like the one alluded tos If the society did not
at present exist, it was solely due to the man's want of
bodily health and strength.
Mr. PHILIP RATHBONE moved the second resolution.
It was to the following effect—" That, from the progress
which social science has made during the last few years,
it is more than ever desirable to constitute a local Society
for the Promotion of Social Science." Perhaps hardly
any place, not even excepting the metropolis, could
supply more important_facts than Liverpool could. The
collection and collation of these facts would teach what
we ought to do, and what we ought to avoid doing.
There had been errors made, but those, he hoped, would
be avoided in future. Of one of those errors he wished
particularly to speak. The Earl of Shaftesbury's Acts
for the Registration of' Common Lodging-houses had
not yet been, acted upon in Liverpool. Thefe was an
old act of Parliament which was, to a certain extent,
carried out ; but Lord Shaftesbury's acts, while they
had been found so beneficial in the metropolis and
in other large towns, were not at all acted upon in
Liverpool. Those who knew anything at all about the
matter must be aware of the importance of those acts,
and he could himself bear testimony to the beneficial
manner in which they had operated in the metropolis
and elsewhere. He could not doubt but that the magis-
trates would act in consonance with the law, and he was
informed that at the present time informations were
about to he laid under these acts. Within the last few
months a most important part of these acts had been
brought into operation—namely, the registering of the
numbers in each room, thus preventing an unhealthy
crowding together, and procuring, also, a proper sepa-
ration of the sexes. These acts, when brought into
operation, cleanse the very poorest of dwellings, making
them decent and At for the reception of their tenants.
Mr. M'GoWAN wanted to know whether this subject
came within the fair scope of the resolution. He did
not think it did, but if it did he.was able to reply to it.
Mr, RATHBONE said he did not wish to pursue the
subject any further. He concluded by expressing his
pleasure at proposing the resolution.
Mr. GEORGE MELLY rose to second the motion. He
would 'add to the terms of the resolution not only
"science," but that upon which legislation was founded. It
seemed to him that they had. certain practical objects in
view, and he hoped that the local society would do
something towards improving the legislation of the
country. He alluded to the Bankruptcy Bill, which,
he said, received almost unanimous support, and which
was withdrawn, owing to a pressure of business, to be
carried next session. If they went to other sections
they would find that there was no voice so effectual
with the Council of Education as that of their society.
They had been enabled to carry that grant to the indus-
trial schools, and they had secured an advocate in the
House of Commons, and they had got the ear of the
country. The questions which the society would venti-
late were, questions of fact, and the legislation could
not be founded upon those facts until they had
been fairly tested. This society aspired not only to
theoretical, but to practical powers ; it would change or
modify several of the laws. It had already solved
the question of juvenile crime, and it would turn its
attention to that of adult crime. They would see
whether a notorious felon ought to be sent to gaol for
one month or for six months, with a consciousness that
when released he would be as bad as ever.
Mr. M'GowAN said he fancied the object of the present
meeting not, to be for the purposes of discussion and
controversy, but to see whether a local association should
be formed. He would therefore confine himself to saying,
that with reference to the statements of Mr. Rathbone
upon the lodging-houses, there was an entire difference
of opinion between that gentleman and himself. He
expressed his conviction that it was most desirable to
form a local association, and had no doubt that the
resolution was one with which they would all agree.
gr. LAWRENCE IeIEYWORTH moved the next. resolution.

He said the object of the institution was that men migh‘
come from all quarters and give information upon things
about which they would necessarily know more than the
society could know. Thus it was proposed that the in-
formation should be placed before this society, and sub-
sequently referred to the general association. The main
objeCt was no doubt to ameliorate the condition of the
people, to correct the evils which exist in society, and
to discover, if possible, the source of these evils. To see
also that which is lovely, and to endeavour to retain it.
He was most happy to propose this resolution ; and he
trusted that this beginning would not end simply with
the arrangements they were makiag, but that they would
find hereafter that their society was flourishing in those
pecuniary means which are necessary to every society.
The resolution was, " That such of the ladies and
gentlemen as give in their names at the conclusion of
the present meeting shall form the Liverpool Society for
the Promotion of Social Science."
Mr. HENRY BOOTH briefly seconded the resolution,
after which
Professor CRANBROOR addressed the meeting.. He.
wished to make one remark with regard to tee
which the society had in view. The remarks which
were made by Mr. Melly with regard to the practicalnot
purposes and ends of the society seemed him
tonstitution
altogether consistent with the a
and purpose of the society. They bad
the well-being
social science, not social progress,
the motive far in-
of society generally. That may be
hut the promotimi
clueing us to join the
society;and the promotion of
of social science is one thing,__ hedad constitution
promot
of the general
rather disappointed at theeb
movementshad been read from time to
society. The papers will,
as
social progress another. He must say that he was
to show a great deal of
time were certainly
been destitute of that scien-
the title of the society they
benevolence;tific cbaraete butwb tehbe ysfirlhocald
tbe remarks of Mr. Danson,
t. e hoped that the Liverpool
had a right to explei
society would keep
just so far as we could ascertain the
that it wiN only
to re that we would be able to accorn
with regard to time characterm of the papers. He thought
plisli the purposelawTshoef 11aof the society.
was then' put and carried unanimously,
was
also the one referring to the report.
as The Rev. Air. Howson moved the appointmeut of
Mr. Archibald Bridge as treasurer, Lind Mr. Philip
Ratlibotte as honorar,y sec.retaq,
The Bev'. SeCoUaed the.rcetionoxhich was
car Tied by acclamation.
vote a 'thanks to the chairman terminated
A cordial
the proceedings.