The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-01-10 00:00:00

THE CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY
LECTURES IN YORKSHIRE.

A public meeting to inaugurate the commencement
uf the Cambridge University lectures In Yorkshire
was held in the Leeds Town-hall on Monday night,
under the presidency of Mr. Baines, M.P. The
Right Hon. W. E. Forster, M.P., was announced to be
present; but the right hon. gentleman did not attend,
owing to pressing engagements in London. In a letter
announcing his non-attendance he said he heartily
wishe I success to the eetabiishment of the lectures.
Lord F. Cavendish, M.P., was also absent, having to
attend a political meeting at Todmorden.
The Right lion. J. Stansfeld, NP., WM the princi-
pal speaker. Ile expreseed deep regret at the absence
of his friend and colleague, Mr. Forster, because he
would have addressed them upon the subject with an
authority which he (the speaker) could not be expected
to do. The object of this movement was very simple
and very great. It was nothing less than to bring close
to the homes and within the modest means of the large
populations throughout the country the advantages
of a University education. The system of local ex-
aminations, which had been established with so much
au :ores under the superintendence of moat eminent
University teachers, would be further developed
by the establishment of lectures and classes whose aim
would 65 to teach the very highest branches of educa-
tion, The present extension had been brought about
by the action of tbe Northern Council for the Educa-
tion of Women, lie would not stay to argue the
question whether the same educ itional facilities shoal 1
be extended to women as to men, as he took it for
granted that in a Leeds audience no such arguments
were required. (Applause.) These was no education,
except what WAS frivolous, which was likely to unlit
either men or women for she purposes of life. He made
bold to say that the only education which ever unfitte i
women for their duties in life was snperfi education.
He would go farther and Bay, that early education of
boys and girls depended more upon the mother than
the father, and in the interests of society at large it
was not leas important to secure an education which
would give strength and elevation to the mind, and
stability to the mothers of the generations yet unborn.
(A oplauee.) He therefore claimed for women equal
advantages based upon equal rights, and it gave mm
-eat pleasure to think that such a movement as the
-embridge University extension had been established
in their great centres of commercial industry, which
would henceforth have the advantages of reaping the
same privileges as had been bestowed in those towns
where rests of learning existed. The movement bad
gradually been growing since Ifis9, which was the corn.
mencement by the Universities of Oxford and
Cambridge of local examinations for boys under
eighteen, followed by an extension of tne same
privileges to girls, with what success they were
all familiar. The present scheme, which corn.
blued the eetablishment of lectures and classes, had
been conceived with a desire to secure for it the success
which it so richly deserved. It was a scheme which
would reflect lasting honour upon its promoters, and
the University which had the courage to establish it
deserved their warmest approbation. By the scheme,
if it proved a success—and he was sure it would take
hold of the masses of the people for whom it wag in-
tended—any intelligent working man or woman would
have an opportunity, by a combination of leptures and
classes, of pursuing all the higher branches of learning is
privilege which in past years would only have been en-
joyed by the aristocratic and the higher classes. With
the exception of the Reform Bill of 1532, history would
not have a brighter page than the inauguration of the
Cambridge University extension, which would place
within their reach the higher branches of education
with as much facility as they now enjoy the cheap
press and literature of the day. In the industrial life
of busy towns there was not necessarily anything to
unfit men or women from pursuing the higher studies;
on the contrary, the practical knowledge they gained
in every day life was calculated to fit them for some-
thing higher, and make them better and more intelli-
gent workpeople. This scheme proposed to popularise
the very highest education, and to do it in the very
beet way. It warn therefore a scheme worthy of their
highest approbation and support. To him it was a
matter of special delight to find an ancient University
equal to the occasion and reedy to begin work. At the
risk of being termed a Conservative—(laughter)—he
must confess that he had profound feelings for the
noble traditions of the University clans, bat he had
stronger feelings for the continuity of human progress,
and therefore he hoped that old traditions, instead of
opposing, would spread and encourage the higher
branches of instruction. (Applause.) As with the
lives of men, so with the lives of the institutions of
their country, which were likely soon to undergo a
change; and he would like them to learn the lesson of
the University of Cambridge, and progress with the
times. (Loud applause.) That man must be dead to
all sentiments of patriotism who did not feel ready sod
able to greet with a willing heart and a welcome hand
the changes which were about to be made by an ancient
University to promote and popularise ouch a schense of
instruction. (Loud applause).
Other speakers followed, and resolutions in accord.
ance with the object of the meeting were unanimously
carried.

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