The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-03-16 00:00:00

THE LYE CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY.

A tea meeting of the members of the Lye Provident
Cooperative and Industrial Society was held in_the Na-
tional School-room, Lye, on Monday evening, on the
occasion of • presentation to Mr. J. Pearson, manager of
the stores. There was a very large attendance. After
tea the chair was occupied by Mr. Frearson, of Birming-
ham, who addressed the meeting at some length on she
advantages of co-operation. Messrs. Rowlands, T. Sid-
daway, E. Crompton, Taylor, Young, and Foxhall else
delivered excellent speeches on co-operation and the bene-
fits to be derived therefrom, and exhorted those who
were not members to join at once.
Mr. J. Hill, Secretary of the Presentation Committee,
next addressed the meeting. He said some of the mem-
bers of the society did not consider that Mr. J. Pearson,
the manager and secretary of the Lye Cooperative So.
May was adequately paid, and it was thought deoir able
to make him • presentation. A :special meeting was
called, and those present were of opinion that they
should show the esteem in which they held him. A few
members of that meeting threw down some money on
the table, to give Mr. Pearson as a sign of their gratitude
fir the manner in which he had attended to the business
of the society, but it was decided to make him a presen-
tation. A presentation committee was formed with Mr.
T. Young, as treasurer, ad he (the speaker) as secretary.
Mr. Siddaway kindly lent his house for the use of the
committee, and they thought of having a tea meeting on
Shrove Tuesday, but they could not get all the money in
which was promised, as the people who were contributing
had not always got money by them. He went round him-
self and collected money, some giving to, others more
or less, and many of the tradesmen in the district had
also contributed towards the testimonial, and they had
collected h 9 Ifs 6d from the tradesmen; the members of
the society contributing £l2 Se, making a total of £22
,6s 6d. Several suggestions had been made as to what the
presentation should consist of, bat it was ultimately de.
. Aided to give Mr. Pearson a gold watch and chain, a sew-
ing machine for the domestic use of Mrs. Pearson, and
'sn address, which was to be framed. A deputation
I waited upon Mr. Hill, of the Lye, and he agreed to get
up the address. The speaker then laid before them the
effect of co-operation in the Lye and Lye Waste, end
concluded by wishing success to co-operation.
The Chairman said they all knew Mr. Pearson better
than he did. He had known him some time, and he was
wary much pleased that they had presented him with such
• handsome testimonial. It was • handsome present, and
he heartily wished Mr. Pearson may live many years to
use it. Ile hoped Mr. Pearson would live to see the
feundation stone of new Co.operative Stores laid at the
Lye, and if he himself lived he should be very glad to
some and open them. He sincerely hoped co-operation
would long prosper and increase in that district. He then
made the presentation of the gold watch and chain, the
sewing machine (one of Thomas's), and the address,
which was as follows: " A presentation to Mr. John
Pearson by the members of the Lye Provident Co-opera-
tive and Industrial Society (Limited) as • mark of our
esteem, and in appreciation of the valuable services ren-
dered by you in connection with this society, in satisfac-
torily discharging the duties of secretary and manager
for a period of eleven years, now present you with a gold
watch and chain; also one of Thomas's sewing machines
for the domestic use of Mrs. Pearson, together with the
photograph of yourself, and those members who have
. badly sated as the testimonial committee. This pre-
sentation was made Marsh 11, 1872, at • tea meeting
. held in the Lye National School-room, by John Freer-
son, of Birmingham, who kindly acted as chairman on
the occasion. The names of the Committee: Richard
Taylor, Elijah Robinson, Thomas Siddaway,Joseph Fox-
hall, Joseph Taylor, Benjamin Hill, John Parker, Tho-
mas Ferrer., Joseph Jones, Henry Wooldridge, John
Rill, secretary. Thomas Young, treasurer."
Mr. Pearson, who was received with tremendous cheer-
ing, said he was extremely grateful to them for the kind-
ness they had displayed towards him by the handsome
present they had been pleased to make him. He would
enure them it made him feel rather nervous, but he
accepted the testimonial with thankfulness and gratitude,
and he accepted it as a mark of their esteem and appre-
ciation of his humble services. It had been proposed
that he should accept a sum of money, but he was not
poor. He had not many pounds to boast of, but to know
that he lived in possession of the gratitude and esteem
of Ins fellow-men, in that he felt rich. In reference to
co-operation, he said what they had dens in the past
promised well for the future. He was thankful to know
that they had been able to hold together. Be considered
tea co-operation had been a great blessing to the Lye
Waste. Had it not been for co-operation they would not
have been able to be present there on that occasion. The
women of the district had been the means of doing much
good, and they had been earnest supporters of co-opera-
tion, and that had been the means of stopping many of
the men from visiting the public-houses. Some of the
men would not let their wives become members, and he
related an instance which showed how earnest women
were to do good for their family. One woman was very
anxious to uecome a member, but her husband said she
should not have anything to do with it. The woman haci
to display her determination secretly. She paid the Is
44 that was requisite to become a member, and she re-
mained a member of the society for two or three years
before her husband really knew anything about it. It
Was found that the children wanted some new clothes
One day the wonan wont to the ate -es and gave instruc,
liens for the money she had in to be drawn out. She
drew some pounds and went and spent it at the draper's
M the beigbourhood, took the things to her houie, and
had Wein made up and put them on the children. Whtu
the husband came home he looked round with surprise
and asked her where site got the money from to buy the
aludles for the chitilren, the wife told him the whole
story, and she nail been perindted to remain a member
of t.c twmety ever since. They had token clout
£ll.OOO last, year. It was a different thing when they
began first. They then cleared about £72 per year. 'lli--
profit lost year amounted to between £7OO and £BOO. Hr
Dad leren manager en.l secretary for 11 years. and be
sincerely trusted that toe society would prosper as it bad
doire hisiier,o for the heat it )ears. In eOnatithoo, he
e.trnestly souci:ed mi those p esent who were hat, mem-
bers to join at once. Ana thus reap the benetitt that were
holden oat for them.
A vote of thanks to the C tiairmon and the Testiino.,isi
Committee, Closed toe proceedings.
The Cradley Beate Braes Baud and Glee Party enliv-
ened the entertainment at intervals.