The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-02-20 00:00:00

Xocal au istrict gars.

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ASSOCI &TED

INSTITUTE.

The annual meeting of the members of the
Mechanics and Working Men's Institutes was held
at the rooms of the Institution, on Monday even-
ing last The Mechanics first held their meeting
at which the report and aczounts for the past year
were presented, and the officers and committee for
the ensuing year, elected.
The members then adjourned to a larger room,
where the members of the working men's institute
were already assembled, and and where the gene-
ral meeting was to be held. The chair was taken
by Mr. Cochrane, and there were also present
Mess i's. Hughes, TaylorZßlurton, Paged, Buckler,
&c., &c.

The Chairman said he had been asked to take
the chair that evening, on the occasion of the an-
nual meeting of the AssOciated Institutes. He
thought there would be a larger attendance than
there was. Looking at the number of members
there was belonging to the mechanics—he did not
know the number there was in the other institute
—he presumed the meeting would have been better
attended than it was. The advantages of insti-
tutes like that, to those who could not afford to
get libraries of their own, by giving them access
to books which they could not otherwise:have, and
to a news-room plentifully supplied with papers,
were obvious to all. And thereby a treasure of
knowledge was opened to them, such as could be
only had from the authors of books similar to
these in the libraries. They also had recently
added to the Institute a bagatelle table and a
bowling alley, and it was a pleasingthing that the
pleasures of those who visited the institute were
consulted as well as their instruction, and he
thought since the stan.lard of amusement had
been raised with the standard of instruction, it
would tend to elevate both, and cause a wider ap-
preciation of the advantages offered by that in-
stitute. The classes included Latin, French,
chemistry, and mathematics. It was important
they (thelworking:classes) should avail themselves
of the chances thus afforded them of retrieving
any previous defect in their education. He had
alluded especially to the working classes. He pre-
sumed they were all working classes—those who
worked in the counting houses, the neighbouring
shops, or the factories—in fact, all who earned
their living by the labour of their heads or their
hands. The increase in the number of members
had been 17 per cent. during the past year. The
last time he was at a meeting there—which was
some years ago—there were only 107 in a town
and neighbourhood like that, containing about
20,000 inhabitants, found to be members of such
an institute as that. He thought that as its ad-
vantages yr( re better known they would be more
and more appreciated. He was glad that they
were becoming more sensible of its advantages,
and if they would more largely use the many ex-
cellent books in the library, and attend still more
numerously and assiduously in the news-room,
they would show that they appreciated the kind-
ness of those who had contributed towards the
restoration fund, in the way in which they wished
to have it appreciated—(applause). He then
called upon Mr. Charles Evers to read the report
of the Mechanics' Institute.
The report showed that 48 annual and 82 quar-
terly members had paid subscriptions to the funds
of the institution during the past year, being an
increase of 18 on the .last report. The receipts,
including a balance of .29 15s 6d from last year,
amounted to .295 12s 11d, and the expenditure to
.t 92 is 7d; leaving a balance in hand of ..t3 us
4d. The Penny Bank had sustained its popularity
as was shown by the last annual report, which
stated that 900 depositors were using the bank;
that £367 15s 3d had been deposited, £370 5s id
repaid, and a balance of £l3B 10s8d was standing
to the credit of the depositors. The committee
again tendered their thanks to those gentlemen
who have supplied their papers gratuitously. The
committee tendered their thanks to Mr. Charles
Cochrane, of the Grange, Stourbridge, for 48 vols.
of books, Mr. J. C. Maginnis, of Stourbridge, for
8 vols., and Mr. Wm. Squires, of Brettell Lane,
for 2 vols. The committee had expended .4113 17s
ld, which, with the above books and bound vol-
umes of magazines added a total of 146 v9uraes
to the shelves of the library. A parcel of blue
books relating to Australia had also been received.
The issue of books for the year had been 2,231,
being an increase of 462 on the last report. The
committee also reported the completion and issue
of a new catalogue, the costs of which had been
defrayed by Mr. W. H. Foley, of Prestwood, and
for which they recorded their thanks. The classes
for the study of Latin, French, mathematics, and
chemistry had been carried out, and fairly at-
tended. Two musical entertainments had been
given during the year. A legacy of 19 guineas,
from the late Mrs. Scott, had been received. A
splendid bagatelle table had been presented to the
institute, and considerable alterations and im-
provements had been made in the gymnasium and
bowling alley. The following officers are elected
for the ensuing year :—President, the Right Hon,
Lord Lyttelton. Vice-presidents: W. 0. Foster,
Esq., H. 0. Foley, Esq., B. Brooks, Esq., G. K.
Harrison, Esq., H. Hughes, Esq., Rev. J. Richarde,
Rev. D. Maginnis F. Evers, Esq., E. B. Marten,
Esq., and C. Cochrane, Esq. Committee': Messrs.
J. Pagett, J. Barratt, J. Buckler, E. Blurton, W.
Stanley, W. Muckley, J. Shearman, F. H. Josce-
lyne, W. Thomson, H. Mills and H. Price. Trea-
surer, Mr. John Taylor. Secretaries: Messrs. C.
Evers and E. Brazier.

The Chairman called upon Mr. 'M. Palfrey to
read the report of the Working Men's Institute,
which was as follows

STOURBRIDGE WORKING MAN'S INSTITUTE

REPORT ron 1874.

•
Your committee have the pleasure to report that the
extensire alterations, repairs, and improvements, which
have been so long needed, has, through the liberality of
the neighbouring gentry and members, been carried out,
and has led to a great increase in the number of mem-
bers.