The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-01-20 00:00:00

wotousu MEN'S INSTI fUTION.

'Add, it softens the gums, allays ail pain. relieves .
regUbites the bowels, and is the hest So, wn remedy .
dysectery and disrrha• whether arising from I.
or Other causes. Mrs Wiusiow's Soothing Syrup in:.
by titousauds of Metteine Deters in at past, of
vibrid at 1.% lid per bottle, .d Millions I Mothers .
testify to its virtue.—Manufactory, 493, Oxford•stie
London.

REPORT loft 1871.

he number of nn mbet a on the looks a,
a+ 1,9,w+ : -Annual, 19 ; qutrtel:y,thont'lly and tt, ehly.
148 ; tuaking a total of 167; l gon in rellse of to,
Over laht 'var.

FINANCE --Tire ilicouie of the year, inelu.ling the b.. 1.
awe brought forward of £4 lOs OM, amounts to £96 lila
8, and the • xpenditure to £24 128 2.1.1 ; leaving o bal.
ance of £2 Os 5i tl in the bands of the treasurer.
READING Room.—The attendance of members dint]. g
the past year has been a great increime over the previous
year. 'the tables have been supplied with the followil.g
daily and wet kly papers and periodicals ;—Daily Tele-
graph, Daily News, Birmingham Daily Post and Birming-
ham Morning News. Weekly. Illustrated London New.,
Illustrated Midland News, Beehive, Reanoldis News-
paper, Birmioghatu Poet sad Journel, Midland Counties'
Herald, Brierley Hill Advertiser, County Express, Star'
bridge Observer, and the Alliance News, Perindicals
All the Year Round, blood Words, (Mod Words for the
Young, Chambers' Journal, English Mechanic, Cas.ell's
Magazine, London Journal, Family Herald, Punch. Bri-
tish Workman, Floral World, and the Herald of Peace.
The reading room contains two sets of Chess and Draught
Bosnia and men, arid also a valuable supply of large
maps. During the year a new tot of chessmen has been
provided. These have been well used by a large numb, r
of members. The Committee again otters its best thanks
to the proprietors of the Midland Counties' Herald. the
Brierley Hill Advertiser, the County Express, and the
Stombridge Observer, for the gratuitous presentation of
their papers ; to Mr. Iteaviegton, fir the Herald of Pe.. ;
and to Mr. Thebridge, for the Alliance News.
LIBRARY.—The number of books in the library is up-
wards of 900. During the year tlmre has bees a total
issue of 1723 volumes, the character of which are as fol-
lows ; History, 78; Memoirs, Biography, and Tram's,
192 ; Poetry and the Drama. 66 ; Science and Philosophic',
49; Miscellaneous Works, 126; Novels and Tales, 114; ;
Magazines, Essays, and Reviews, 121. Five guineas
have been spent in adding some valuable works to the
library. The library has been very well used, and the
class of books healed have been of a healthy, instructive,
and pleasing character. The Committee beg to state
that in connection with the Mechanics' Committee, and
under the auspices of the South Staffordshire Board of
Educational Institutes, that elitesen have been commenced
for the study of the following, viz. : Literature, Frer.ch,
Latin, and Mathematics.
GENERAL REMAILE3.—In placiug this report before the
public, your Committee are pleased to be able to state
that 47 new members have joined the Institute daring
the past year; but. on the other hand, they are see, y
that the number of those who have fallen into arrears
nearly counterbalances the addition. This Institution is
oue of the oldest ill the country, having been founded in
the year 1856. It also sue of the cheapest, as scarcely
any other srlf-aupporting institution is supported as lb di
is at the low price of one penny per week for each mem-
ber, especially when we take into consideration the f mt
that the members meet in a commodious building con-
taming a large reading room, which is, as the repo.l
shows, be well supplied with papers, maps, periodicals,
ttc., as many other more pretentious and expensive inati-
tutions. A dwelling-house is attached to the reading
roem for the curator of the Institution. At the back of
the Institution Is a yard used as a skittle alley and gym-
nettium. 'there are elm three good class rooms, a large
lecture room, a chess room, and an excellent libra y.
During the past year the Associated Institutes have bad
4tee entertainment, also one lecture (by Anthony Trot-
love) in the Corn Exehange, which realised the min ef
£7 vii 11.1. This hal mien handed over to the Beading
Committee's account. The library is open every Monty
night between the hours of 7 iind 8 30, and is also fr e
to members. The cash secretary also attends in the
library during the same hours to receive the membe
aubsgriptions, which ran 11.0 paid weekly, monthly, gu
holy, or yearly ; aim to ri eeive the Ilerrle.' of those de .i.
roue to become members. I•Alliee /ire ligible as me ..1.
bete of the library by paying one pinny per week. I
catalogue of the books may be bad from the libraiiin
1.11,t13 payment of 1.0 penny for SAM, The Committ .4;1
levelA on the lirbl Monday in every month, at sit; it
o'clock. This Institution is purely onsectariaii in l'a
character. being !Tea to all .etits theological or poliLe.d,
or even to those of no sect, being in this respect the or ly
institution of the chea in the town or neighbourho .
Coutmittee would pre,, neon the working classy • f
the t.,wn or m ighbonrhood to become members of t
0 ,1 and noble institution, as education is making si
progress throughout the country, they feel it their di y
to invite all their fellow-workmen to join Gotha' by tit tr

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by um.-
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AT to its virtue.--_