The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-01-18 00:00:00

PUBLIC MEETING RESPECTING THE POOR IN
TIIIS PLACE.

As ststml in our issue of Imt week, a public meeting
was held in the Bedded Hill Schools, to consider how the
p a'c tit this parish could be assisted. Among those
present were the Revs. F. J. Clarke (incumbent), G.
Lalo•man (curate), G. Cosine (Baptist M iiiistet), Messrs.
B. Manley, Malins, Peon, Jones, Heys, Dritlitlis, Ken-
drick, Green, Granger, 'taker, Nock. Doubt, Par,ons,
Keen, Darby, Tremens, Suenth, Coley, Hower, Hata-
mersley, Woodhouse, Ae.

The lice. F. J. Clarke presided.
In opening the meeting, the Chairman said the credit
of originating the movement was due to Mr. Thomas
Jones, win) had promised to give £lO if required. Ile
(the chairman) thought the offer ought not to be rejected,
and he hail accordingly called the meeting. The trade
of the neighbourhood was in a very fluctuating condition
and it w.is, very rarely that all could be found employed,
and noire especially was work scarce during the present
Season 44 the year ; consequently snore were obliged to
iffer privations and want. It was true that provision
was made by the Poor Laws; but those laws were very
defective. Many persons who were in gre.it distress
were not searched for, and many suffered the greatest
evils of poverty and were willing to endure these evils
rather than wake application to receive provision from
the Poor Laws. It was their duty to remedy this to some
extent. They were subjects of the same sovereign, mein- ,
hers of the basin human family, and they professed the '
Christian faith. In doing no they should be united—
union Was strength—and he would ask them to forget
their difference, and strive together for the purpooe of
rcumving OM great evil of the distress at a distance--
the Lariesishire distress, &e..—and surely if it was their
duly to do so in these cases, it was doubly their slaty to
make some provision for the distress at honie—(cheers).
Ponti moved the following resolution: "That this
meeting considers it ads isable that a fund should be
raised for the purpose of relieving the distress among
the poor of all denominations, in this parish." In doing
so he said he liked the proposition because it WHO quite
enseetarian in its charactsir—(hear, hear). Ile was curry
trade was so very fluctuating, and, consequently, distress
so rampsnt. He attaibuted much of the misery and
persrly of the working Ouseu to their want of economy.
At times they got good wages, but the money was spent
as soon as it had passed into thi.ir hands; and at other
times they pit no wages, and then had to starve. Much
misery sissy be avoided if due economy wise exercised is
household matters—Omar, hear). Ile felt extremely for
the poor, and only wished his pocket woo as big as his
heart— (cheers).
. . . . .

Dr. Maims seconded the resolution, and in doing so
remarked that there 'odd be no question as to the exist.
once of great distress in that parish, for it CRIIIO home to
them all in Only daily walk nod conversation. lie bad
himislf Le,•ll eases where families were really starving,
not even having so mudi as • bit of bread in their
homes. In bit opinion the dietrem mold be augmented
by the operation of the Factory Aet, as ninny children
under the opecilled age would be thrown eat of employ-
Went, and so become chargeatile to the Perish. He
thought Government should have groeitled some means
for educating theui before taking tine 'tap they had—
(near, hear). He hoped that co•operatiou together with
unanimity and harmony would characterise aU their
all iris—(eheers).
Tba Rev. J. Cosine supported the resolution, and as.
pressed the pleasure he had in being present, and in see.
isg the absence of all party feeling. Re hoped that all
would work with all their power to further such a laud-
able object, and entirely forget all their isms and differ-
-0110es-o:beers).
The Rev. 0. Lakeman moved that the following pa.
tlemeu be requested to act as a oommittee for the par.
polo of oblaislas sobscriptioat, sad protkUtuf lot Lilo