The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-02-13 00:00:00

ANNUAL SOIREE OF THE CHURCH OF
ENGLAND ASSOCIATION.

The above annual gathering was held in the Corn
Exchange, on Monday evening last. A largo number
;of persons sat down to an excellent tea, the trays for
;which had been gratuitously supplied by lady friends
of the Association. After tea, the chair was taken
by the Rev. D. Robertson, M. A., vicar of the Lye,
Who called upon the Rev. M. J. J. Welch to read the
following report: 3 _
RBPORT YOR TUB YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31st, 1874.
Tms Committee have to report, that the Association
has been more than usually pecuniarily successful during
the past year, but there has been an amount of indiffer-
ence displayed on the part of its Members; both in form-
ing Classes and attending Lectures, which, if not reme-
died, will undoubtedly f.s everrly weaken its beneficial in-
fluence.

The Committee would strenuously trite the Brethbers
to greater exertions in this direction, reminding them,
that it is for their benefit alone that the Classes are
formed, and the Lectures given; in all cases gratui-
tously by Gentlemen, whose time is valuable, and to
whom the scanty attendance is most discouraging.
Such neglect, if continued, must pndonbt,edly end,
sooner or later, in the discontinuance of both Lecturers
and Classes; an event which each of its Members shotad
feel, in honour bound to do his utmost to prevent.
The Balance-Sheet shows that the Income of the As.
sociation has been £B9 153. 81d., whilst the Expenditure
has been £76 13s. 11d., leaving a balance in hand o,
£l3 Is. gid.
The number of Quarterly Members now on the books
is 158, against 188 last year.
The Quarterly subscription of Members has been
increased, from 1/. to 1/6 a Quarter; a sufficiently small
sum for the advantages derived.
The Annual Soiree was held at the Corn Exchange on
February 12th, Win. Roberts, Esq.. in the chair, and re-
sulted in a profit of £22 19s. 5d , being the most success.
ful Soiree ever held by the A ssociation, upwards of 270
persons sittir.g down to the Tea ; and dtring the evening
the hall was crowded, notwithstanding the Parliamentary
General Election having taken place on that day, and
considerable excitement having prevailed in the town.
The best thanks of the Committee are hereby cordially
tendered to those_ Friends of the Association who so,
kindly contributed, by donations and trays, towards the
expenses of the Entertainment; and also to those Ladies
and Gentlemen who took part in the Programme of the.
evening.
- A Literary and Musical Entertainment was given in
;the Autumn, in the.lJO.ion gall,: by- attend Friends of
the Association; and the best thanks of the committee
Are hereby tendered to them for their services.
. The following Lectures were given daring the year, on
".India," by Mr. Beverley; on "Water," by the Rev. W.
J. 3. Welch; on "Coal and Coal Mining," by Mr. W. B.
Collie ; on" Belgium and the Netherlands," by the Rev.
Dr, Cosens. .
_

There was an excursion to Leamington, organised by
the Committee, which took place on June the 11th, but
only very few Members joined in the trip.
Daring the year, Two Chess Matches have been
played with the Kidderminster Mutual Improvement
Society, both of which were gained by this Association,
A. sum of £9 16s. has been spent in the purchase of
books for the Library, which now contains over 758
volumes.

Librarian" Report of the issues during the year is
as follows : Religious Works, 31 ; biographies, 44;
literary and scientific, 43; poetry, 38; voyages and
travels, 33; history. 44; miscellaneous, 199; works of
fiction, 745; languages, 1; total, 1178.
The Reading.room is supplied with the following
Newspapers and Periodicals :
Times. Standard, Daily Gazette, Daily Post Worcester
Chronicle, Midland Counties' Herald, Wolverhampton
Chronicle, Brierley-Hill Advertiser, County Express,
Illustrated London News, 'The Graphic, Alliance News,
Church Bells, All the Year Round, Punch, Cernhill
Magazine, Leisure Hour, Good Words, Church of Eng-
land Sunday School Magazine, Peoples' Magazine, Brit-
ish Workman, Penny Poet, The True Catholic, Birming-
ham Daily Mail, London Society, Judy, Daily Telegraph,
Phonetic Journal, Civilian.
President, the Rev. D. Robertson. Vice-presidents :
Rev. J. S. Boldero, MA,, Rev. D. Robertson, M.A..,
Rev. G. Gilbanks, M.A., Rev. W. J. J. Welch, M.A.,
Rev. H. fahezrard. M.A. E. W. Bernard, Elq , W. Cor-
bett, Esq 1,. Freer, Esq Freer. Esq., H. Graze-
. brook, Esq., G. Harward, Egg, A. Jones, Esq., J. J.
Bing, Esq., E. B Marten, Esq., W. Robertson, Esq., A.
Roberts, Esq., T. Smith, Esq., Major Walker, W. Webb,
Esq., C. Webb, Esq., J. E. Barton, Esq., W B. Collis,
Esq. Committee: Messrs. Jos. Bird, T. F. Bland, A.
Clarke E. Hackwood, J. Eidson-, G. Moody, J: F. Otter,
H. Ridley, J. Shearman, J. W. Woodward. Treasurer:
Mr. George, Bodin. How secretary: Mr. aE. Daven-
port. Hon. aasiataat secretary: Mr. J. E. Wraight.
Cash secretary: Mr. F. G. Holloway. Librarians: M.
F. G. Holloway and Mr. W. Mark.
;The folkwing Classes were held last Session in connec-
tion with the Association.—Singing Class, on Hullah's
System,- 14 Idetises.lW. G. Goddard and J. Eletck. ;
Short•hind, 'Masts. Q. Boden and Mears ; French. by
Mr. A.Ured Freer; Boak-keeping, by Mr. F. G. Hollo-
way.
The most, cordial thanks at Um Committee are hereby
tendered to these Gentleman tic their Allidneas in
undertaking these Classes. " . '

The report having been adopted, vote' af< thanks
was unanimously passed to Mr. W. B.' Collie „the late
president of the association; after which the musical
;portion ,if the programme was icommenced. The
principal Instrumentalists were Mr. Mathews and
Miss Ibbotson, whilst the vocal portion of the enter-
tainment develveduPonl4invl3ourne, Miss Blakeway,
Miss Ibbotsen, Miss Freer, the Misses, Collis, and
the Rev. A. Wright. Some excellent readings were
alao given by Mr. A. Freer and Mr.jl. Spencer, The
fin•mer selected* that portiem:::tif • Sh'eriden% once
.famous play, "John gull." in ivhichloe Thqrnbury
is about to be made bankrupt, but ia rescued by the
timely .assistance of. Peregrine. . The reading was
very effectively given by Mr.. Freer and the pathetic
manner:in which Thornbury deplores the fate of his
'daughter, and the burst of indignationlwith which he np
braided Peregrine for having once run away from his
parents was very ably rendered. Mr. Spencer chose
for his reading that portion of " Oliver Twist" iii
which Mr. Bumble makes love to Mrs. Corney. P Ile
introdneed his 'reading by what we may term a
huitorous impromptu prolegue,ind he caused immense
•Unghterby the exceedingly clever way in which he
delineated the proceedings of the:amorous beadle and
the bashful widow. The whole affair was a deeided
WOOS, and we have no doubt there willibe a:good
, surplus for the funds of the association.'

I THE LYE. •
LETINIC AND Disounsam—At the Police Court at
Stourbridge, yesterday, before Colonel Fletcher, Alfred
Wooldridge, horsenail maker, was charged with being
drunk at the Lye...on the 6th instant, Police-constable
Harrison -proved the case. Fined ls and costs.—Em.
manuel Hart, Joseph Taylor, and Benjamin Taylor. were
charged with being drunk and disorderly on the night of
the 6th instant. Police-constables Harrison and Ward
proved the ease. Joieph Taylor was dismissed, and the
other two were fined 10s each ahl'eosts.
RIMOSINO TO QllXT.—Daniel Cooler, -Jatob Hill, and
Edward Bradley were charged with being:drunk'and re-
fusing to quit the Cock Inn, on the 9th mat, when re-
quested. Samuel Southall laid the three defendants were
at Samuel Siddaway's, drunk.. They refused to leave the
house, andin trying to put them out. Jacob Hill struck,
him on the nose with a opal can. Police-constables Ward
and Needle' give corroborative evidence. • Hill denied
being drunk, and said he only went to fetch his coat.
Police-sergeant Boa said that Hill came to the station,
about his coat. be-waa quite drunk, and-witness told him
to come when he was sober. Fined 2s 6d each and costs.

• - 'OItAI)LEY: ••• •

DRUNK AND Publie °face, at.
Stourbridge, yesterday. before Col, Fletcher,,..,and C. P.
Noel. Bsq4 :Phillip • Bate, Yoseph nab; int -"William
Harris. were charged with beinvirmh And' dittordedy:
on the 9th inst. Polies-constibles Heath and Roe,'
proved the case. Fined 15. each tind"cotta....-Joseph
Pearson, was charged with • similar offence. Fined 5s
and costs.

A/WILT C•llll.—Ann Bate and Joseph Bate were
charged with assaniting Maria Bate on the 6th inst. Mr.
Petry defended, Complainslint who had a pair of black.
eye., slid that on the night in question she met the fa-
inale.dafindasit, who said, " Maria " I owe you 3s 6d.
I told her it was 51 6d, She then caught hold of witness
by the hair of the head and began to punch her. Wit-
ness called for help and a woman came to her assistance
when Joseph came up to her and struck her. Three
witnesses gave corroborative evidence. The defence was
that both the women fought, and it was denied that
Joseph struck complainant. The Bench considered
the assault proved, and fined each of the defendants Sc
and ordered them to find one surety in .f 5 and themselves
in £lO to keep the peace tor oh mouths.