The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-03-20 00:00:00

ANNUAL MEETING AND CONCERT AT THE
LYE INSTITUTE.

The annual meeting and concert was held at the
above institute, oa Monday evening last. The room
was crowded. Mr. N. Ringley took the chair, and
there were also present the Rev. D. Robertson, vicar
of the Lye, and Mr. H. Billingham, Of stourbridge.
The Chairman opened the proceedings by. saying
that he was very glad to meet them there that even-
ing. He was also glad to see from the rules that
there was_nothing objectionable connected with the
institute. The object of those connected with it Wit"§
to improve their moral status, and to acquire know- '
ledge, which were both of them very laudable pur-
suits. He was so unacquainted. with the business
at present, that he would call upon the secretary to
read the report for the past year.
Mr. T. Hill, secretary, then read the following
report :
REPORT OF THE LYE INSTITUTION FOR THE
YEAR, 1875.
It is with pleasure that the Committee present their
report for the past year. The finances of the Institution
are in a much better condition than at any tin. e tiuring
the last few yeara. Part of this is due to the sub.,crip-
t ens haying been raised from is to Is 61 per quarter, the
lower sum having been found inadequate to Meet the
increasing expenseS. Part has been dsrived hum addi-
tional honorary subsciptiens, tie necessity for eeaich
class of sub,cription has become more apparent since the
discontinuance of the A' anal Picnic.
The number of members on toe books is 105, being an
increase of three on the previoes
.year.
The total income of the Institute was £67 17s, aria the
expenditure 4.56 2. 3d. leaving a balance of Ell 14s Si
to be carried to next year's account. C insiderably !uwe
than this amount is, however, required for neces,—ay re-
pairs and improvements which have been long tel ,jed on
account of the low state of the finances.
The Commi.tee regret that no classes have been held
during the year, a great cl.fficulty being in getting cum-
pstent teachers. This, however, could be ovarc..me if
the members would show more earnestness in jolning
the classes, and when formed, attend more rege.arly.
The Rev. D. Robertson offered to conduct an Englisti
Composition alas., but sufficient support was not goe2e
to the proposal to justify a class being held.
Several entertainments have been given during the
winter semen, and have been well attended. Slink, the
additions made to the library in the previous year, the
number of books taken cut has largely increased, the
number being nzariy 1,200. A large
_number of the old
books require replacing, having become much WO;,, so
that considerable outlay is necessary in this direetio
The Committee are pleased to report as a favourable
feature in the increased work of the Institution, the suc-
cess of the library, and the cce.siderable amount col ec-
ted from members and others for its enlargement.
An arrangement had been made with J. C. I. Scott,
Esq., for a course of lectures, but a domestic bee aye-
meat unfortunately preveuved it being carried out.
The reading no ,m ham been well attended during last
year. [A. list of the pipers supplied to the reading roern
is here given] The chess and conversation rooms II ve
been well attended, and great interest taken in the am-
usements provided.
The thanks of the Committee are due to the following
ladies and gentlemen, for their donations and services :
Mrs. Thos. Wood, El ; Mrs. Strewson, El Is • Rev D.
' Robertson El lOs ;U.K. Harrh.on, 1:1 Is, and a supply
of water; H. T. Hickman, La is; L. H. Walker, M P ,
El Is; Hon. O. G. Lyttelton, ;F. Evers, El Is ;
Thos. Peirins, El Is ; Hai per and Moore, El ;
Pal geter, is ; R.v. Wright, 108 6.1; W. Perry. 10s;
3. A. tirroks, I.os ; James Mathews, los ; Hey
[Di; Rev. F. Haines, 7s 61, and ladies and gentleinso
who have assisted at oar musical performances.
The Chairman said that after hearing tho last list
read, he could easily understand why they wished him
to be present on that occasion. His name was not
down in that book, and it ought to be. They must
put down his name for two guineas a year. He
was very glad to be a subscriber to such it valuable
institution, and he sincerely hoped it would prosper
and do well—(applause). He then called upon the
Rev. D. Robertson to move tho adoption of the re-
port.
The latter gentleman said ho had been called upon
to move the:adoption of the report, but before doing
so he wished to say a few words to them with regard
to the work of the institute. He could not help de-
ploring the state of things with reference to the ab-
sence of classes, because the institute could not be
said to be doing its proper work unless it wakprovid-
lug intellectual iood for its members, and he did:not
think any working man would be doing what it was
desirable he should do, until they formed classes for
their improvement. He hoped the Lye youug:men
would go forth with courage, and make a good appear-
ance before the world, but they could not do that
without they attended classes regularly for the pur-
pose of enlarging their intelligence, and fortifying
themselves with sufficient knowledge to enable them
to fight the battle of life successfully. There were
many men who had raised themselves to positions of
eminence, solely by their own industry and talents.
Let them look at Josiah Mason, and see how by per-
severance and industry he had brought himself to the
great position he held. In the early part of Dr.
Livingstone's life he was only a needle-loom weaver,
but he studied unremittingly, and had, consequently,
attained a world-wide renown, and his body mat;
brought over from Africa, and was laid in what might
be termed our great national mausoleum—Westmin-
ster Abbey. And it was the case with all men who
had made a name in the world, and it must be by self.
education and self-improvement that they must en-
deavour to fight their way through the difficulties
thatlwere before them. To those who wished to
avail themselves of them, there were ells/ices in their
neighbourhood of improving themselves in every dir-
ection, such as were seldom to be found in places of
similar sisie and population. There was the Science
and Art Department which helped classes where they
were formed, by giving prizes and certificates to suc-
cessful students, and there was the South Stafford-
. 'shire Association which had nearly died out because
there were no night schools to encourage. Tile] e
were beautiful prizes given by that Associstion, and
at their last meeting he should have liked to have
seen souse of the member of the Lye Instilute the: e
to get them. A few students who came forwsu d
walked away with a load of beautiful prizes, because
there were so few competitors. Another adra itage
enjoyed by those at thi Lye was that they were in the
centre of a populous district. They lived in a place