The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-10-25 00:00:00

THE PUBLIC MEETING.

In the evening a public meeting was held in the
Corn Exchange. Lord Ly ttelton presided ; and there
were also present on the platform the Veu. Arch-
deacou:Hone, the Revs. Sherrard, Girdlestoue, Rob-
ertson, Magiunis, the Hon. C. G. L 3 ttelton,
Major Walker, Messrs. H. 0. Firmstone, J.P., J. C.
A. Scott, J.P., G. K. Harrison, &c.
There was a fair attendance. The meeting was
convened for the purpose of distributing the prizes
and certificates to the successfal students in the even-
ing classes connected with the association.
Lord Lyttelton in openingthe meeting said he had
before him, as they saw, a very large number of hooka
and other articles to give as prizes on that occasion,
and he had a still larger amount of cm tificates to be
given which were indicative of a certain amount of
merit in those who would receive them. Though
this district was a large one, still the great amount
o success which had been achieved—of which those
prizes and certificates were proofs—must be looked
upan with satisfaction. lie trusted that all those
prizes were given for a certain amount of merit on
the part of those who received them. Though they
were often over-valued, still they must not under-
value them. He knew, however, that what he had
referred to as the danger ef over-valuing such re-
wards must not be lost sight of. They only showed
a certain amount of endowment, and, possibly, in the
case of young people, they showed little more than
that. They, however, showed progress in one part,
and that in the most impel taut part of human nature.
T ey showed more of what is really valuable on the
part of the less clever and less able, than on the part
of those distinguished in this respect. They must
remember at what an early age such prizes were ob-
tained, and how great a mistake it would be if they
looked upon any of the rewards gained at that time
as anything more than a means to future advance-
ment. They should only regard them as landmarks
or stepping.stoues iu a career which had just began.
He knew a great many years ago a young man who
had gained a " first-class " at a University. After
he bad done so, he said' I have got this first-rises
to please my father, and now I shall fidt'le and think
to please myseli." He did take to drinking and fid-
dling, and now, after having spent his foi tone in
think he was obliged to fidt"e for a thing i as he was
at the present time a professional violinist. He
thought a more singular example of the abuse of re-
wards of that kind could not be mentioned. He,
theeefore, trusted that those who looked at them
would be aware of the comparative rake of these re-
wards. He should not take up much of their time,
but proceed to distribute the prizes given by the as-
sociation to the young people in the order set down.
That the association should be able to give so many
prizes must be a source of satisfaction, but they had
veiy little in the way of substantial progeess to re-
pm L. There were some respects in which!the educe-
tioa given by the association had gone back, and
t ere were some appliances which appeared to be al-
most extinguished after basing been successful in
former years. That was a source of regret. The
association was in the hands of the district, and if
they thought it was worth while to keep up such as-
sociations as that, he hoped they would encourage
them in every way they possibly could. He would
inform those present however, that they had still a
large sum to serve as a special fund waich they had
received from the Wolverhampton Exhibition. That
sum was as yet far from being exhausted, and he
trusted that they should be able to do good with it.
They had to thank the Rev. gentlemen—(Mr. Wil-
liams, of Wolveruampton), who had been the volun-
tary examiner for the association for some years, and
they hoped that he would still keep to it. The re-
port its had sent in was by far the best and most
satisf,.ctory of the evening scholars that he had
hitherto had to make to them. He was looking at
the p frformances of the scholars connected with the
classes, and he believed the report in this instance
was a most satisfactory one. It would take some
time to distribute the prif- g, and he aia not think he
need add soy further remarks to what he had said.
Lord Ly itelton then proceeded to distribute the prizes
which consisted of books, writing desks, workboxes.
Lc., to the successful candidate& The list appended
is that of those who were successful in onrimmediate
district.

Charles Bridgewater, Corngreaves, (6s),
John Fereday, remelted, (40s),
Alice Getbing, Wordsley, (10s),
Charles Gething, Wordsley, (10e),
Mary Hance; Holly Hall, (20$),
Sarah Hancox, Hollypiall, (ss),
Joseph Lowe, Wordsley, (10s),
Thomas Lowe, Wordsley, (408),
Frances McCarthy, Amblecote, (50,
John Orchard. Wordsley, 130 s g(l),
Hannah Pettord, Holly Hall, (10$),
Eunice Rour 3, Holly Hall, (108),
T. Richardson, Wordsley, (108),
Charles Taylor, Netherton, (&s).
He then, having first read and described one of the
certificates, as a sample of the rest, distributed a great
number of them to the successful students to whom
they had been awarded.
Lord Lyttelton then called upon the Ven. Arch-
deacon Hone to move the first resolution.

The Ven. Archdeacon Hone, upon rising, said he
came there to learn and not to speak or teach. He
had reason to come there to learn beeausc his ex-
perience in night schools had been that of eiu.rmlar
failure. It was next to impossible to find either
scholars or teachers in his neighbourhood. lint at
the same time he was perfectly satisfied that it was a
matter of very great importance to draw together
boys, girls, and adults to give them instruction in
such a manner as • night school afforded. There was

considerable danger in the allrrements afforded by so-
ciety to yonng persons at the present time, and to
make them:strong enough to resist these it was very
necessary to carry on and supplement the education
that had been given in national schools. The in-
struction given at the latter is necessarily very im-
perfect, as it is rarely carried on beyond 12 years of
age. One thing would have to be considered in con-
nection with the night school, which he hoped they
had in Stourbridge. He meant that they ought to do
something towards satisfying the thirst for know-
ledge, by means of reading rooms and libraries. It
seemed to him that by employing means of this des-
cription they were Oulu ing people upwards. He
thought it was veil necessary to have free libraries.
He did not know whether they had any in Stour-
bridge. He considered that the best school for adults
was to be found in the free libraries in Birmingham.
It had given him great pleasure to see the working
men sitting around the tables in:ihe free libraries in
that town,--some res 'tog nowspopers, and others,
books of various des3riptioso-80 thorougloy ab-
sorbed in what they were doing as to be apparently
unconscious of any one's entrance or erit. He hoped
these night schools would be the means of stimnlat-
ing the thirst for knowledge. He thcughtithe best
way of educating the masses was by teaching them
to educate themselves. He had great pleasure in
moving the following resolution That the educa-
tion of working boys and girls by means of evening
schools is deserving of increased attention on the
part of all interested in the general welfare of the
commank."

The Hon. C. G, LAWlton said he hail great plea-
sure in seconding the resolution submitted to the
meeting by the Ten. Archdeacon. It seemed to him
that they must be struck with two things—the import-
ance of the work they had undertaken and the diffi-
culty of the task. Ile thought he might say with-
ontithat the millions which were annually spent in
the cease of education would be wasted if they were
not supplemented by such things as these night
schools. They sometimes heard of the extraordinary
capacity for learning which children possessed; but
he would remind them that their capacity for forntit-
dug what they had learnt was quite equal to it. '-'He
was informed that the Eaish language was regal-
any taught in the schools of Wales, and that it was
also as regularly forgotten in the course of two years
after leaving school. The Government of the country
had incurred a very serious responsibility by taking
hi hand the education ef the people. They had dis-
charged a small portion of it by establishing elemen-
tary schools. The elementary knowledge imparted
at these schools would become siugalarly useful in
the age to come. When they had got this elementary
education into more regular work, they might rea-
sonably expect more assistance from Government in
the way of increased grants to night schools and
schools of design and art. They must not, however,
be too impatient, for they must remember the friction
with which the Education Acts had been passed.
There was au old saying that Rome was not built in
a day, and they most not expect too much. He felt
expectant that the Government would in the long
long run, give their best attention to the cause of
elementary education in the country. As to the dif-
ficulties of the work which the association had before
it, he need not say much. These arose from the
limited demand for the educational advantages which
the association afforded to them. One reason for this
backwardness in coming forward was that schools
and associations relied too much upon the aid of
manuals, text books, and other drudgery, instead of
striving to make the education offered more attrac-
tive. They could not expect a great number of
young people would go straight from their work and
betake themselves to their books for hours, and
therefore he thought they ought to do something in
the way of scientific education, such as lectures,
rambles in the country, and other popular methods.
There was no place better adapted for such rambles
as these than the immediate neighbourhood. There
was this immense advantage in scientific and artistic
instruction—the pursuit of one thing led to so many
others, which would be sure to be connected with it.
They take an interest in geology, and they find they
learn a lot of botany also. They study the human
frame, and they learn ehemistry and a little physics.
It was not so with the study of the classics. A man
learnt a little Latin and Greek, and he found that
when he acquired it it only led to more Latin and
Greek. It led to nothing fresh. Ile himself had
the advantages of a very liberal education. He had
the advantage of a training at a public school and
also at the University. But from what he knew a
great deal remained yet to be done for the education
of the middle classes of the country. He was taught
Latin and Greek; but, as he had said, the study of
Latin and Greek led to nothing „else. The result of
this was that when be came to travel in Italy, the
sight of the ancient monuments, paintings, and grand
ruins which that country afforded, aroused in him an
interest for those things far beyond what he he 'ever
before experienced. In fact, he found that a new
epoch had commenced in his life, and that art which
had before been to him as a sealed book had awak-
ened a deep interest within him. He did not take
an interest in architecture alone. He found that the
faint glimmering of art which his visit to Italy hal
inspired, made him look at every door and window
with an interest which he had never befere known,
uot only with respect to their architectural aspects,
but also to ascertain something of their history. Few
had the opportunity of enlarging their minds by
foreign travel, but they may supplement the imper-
fect and rudimentary education which had been given
to them on these subjects, a study of which would
give a mat an observant eye, and a habit of induc-
tion and comparing things with the works of God.
He did not think it was so necessary for those few
who had a taste for books to attend classes of the
description referred to, as they would find ,-out that
kind of knowledge fox themselves. He coacluded
by saying that if night schools succeeded in arousing
an interest in the subjects which he had referred to,
they would be the means of making the lives of wora,
Mg men happier, by opening up to them new sources
of pure and rational enjoyment.—(loud applause).
The Rev. A. Girdlestone supported the resolu-
tion, and in doing so said it was one which he
felt confident would meet with support from all
present. He should devote the few minutes which
were allotted to him to speak in, to what gocsl
should be derived from evening schools, and how
far it would do good to come and teach in those
evening schools. He considered that they wanted
both more schools of that class and more teachers.
At the present the teachers for the most part in
the night schools were those who had previously
been teaching in the day schools, and were dull
and wearied with that exertion, and, consequently,
were not able to impart such life and vitality to
their teaching to arouse the interest of the
scholars; who like themselves, were already fati-
gued with their day's work. They, therefore,
wanted teachers who could bring with them that
necessary vitality, to make the studies interesting,
to cause matters to go on smoothly and easily.
For this reason he was trying for voluntary help
in their night schools. He should be glad to see
some of their better educated working men come
forward to teach. The staff of teaching power
which they had at present was very inadequate,
and they found it very difficult to interest their
pupils. Whilct the teacher was giving some of
them a reading lesson, the ones who were imme-
diately engaged would manage—for the time be-
ing—to manifest a certain amount of interest, but
before it came to the turn qf those who v-2re et
the bottom of the class they got sleepy. and it was
a common thing to find some of them asleep.
There was another feature connected with night
schools, and that was although those who went to
them might not learn much, still they were pre-
served for the time being from the temptations
and allurements which were so plentiful for young
persons. One result of this love of pleasure was
apparent in all night schools. It was well known
that, as a rule, the latter went on very well until
Christmas, but after that time the attendance
grew very meagre, and one of their greatest dif-
ficulties lay in getting people to come after Christ-
mas. There was another thing which they had
to contend against, and that was the prevalent
belief that education did not pay. Working
people considered they could get as much wages
without it. They would recollect that a year or
two ago there was a great deal of talk about tech-
nical education, and meetings were held in 1/3110119
places to consider the desirability or otherwise of
having the working classes instructed in it. At
one of these a gentleman, who was a large iron.
master, said lie did not consider that at present a
workman who was acquainted with chemistry
would have any advantage over one who was not,
as the making was all done by what was known as
"rule of thumb ;" that was upon a certain estab-
. .

lished principle, gained by experience, and from
which there was no deviation. He (the speaker)
was struck with the remark of the father of that
gentleman, who had had more experience than his
son. It was to the effect that there was some-
thing which was more useful—that was, education
enlarges the mind, and the enlargement of ideas
was very serviceable in giving an extended sphere
of usefulness to those who possessed it. Persons
who were well educated were better adapted to
turn their hands to some other employment, in
case that at which they usually gained their live-
lihood should cease to afford them 7support. On
this account alone he thought they might recom-
mend all young men to come and learn. If they
could not earn higher wages, they would be more
able to turn their hands to something else when
there were strikes or some other vicissitudes of
trade which would otherwise render them help-
less. A person whose brains were in the habit of
moving a little, would be more likely to turn his
hand than one whose intellectual faculties were
dormant. He should like to explain what he
meant by teacbing in night schools. By that term
he did not mean cramming. He thought the aim
of teaching in night schools should be, not so
much to impart a great amount of learning as to
give young persona the means of acquiring ednea-

_
Messrs. Husselbee and Aston, two glawrinakers, of
Wordsley, addressed the sleeting on the cubist of
education, and earnestly urged upon all the ywing wass
present the absolute necessity there would be in the
future for thew to be well educated if they wished to
succeed in the battle of life.
_ _ .

Lord Lyttelton said he was confident the next resale
tion would be carried, as it would be proposed by an
Irishman, seconded by an Naglishman, and supported
by a Scotchman. Nothing could stand against stab
combination as that—(leagittea

- The Rev. H. Slierraja then rose mane the
jog resolution:—" That in the absenee of any adequate
provision for the higher educa'ion of adults in the dis-
trict, the scheme of the Association for the promotion
of evening classes in connection with the Institutions of
the neighbourhood is most deserve of support." He
sail that • part of the resolution referred is • manlier
to what had formed part of their deliberations that after-
noon, namely, the desirability of founding • college in
connection with the association, but it was deemed at
present impracticable, and as something of the kind well
mooted at Birmingham in the way of scientific college
in connection with the Midland Institute, they thought
it would be decidedly best to wait and see what result
would be arrived at there before they in Stsdrbridge
moved in the matter. It was to be hoped that they
should, however, grow to that in time; but if they did
it would be by the founding of evening schools. Until
such time as they had received and profited by this
education given by those evening classes, they could not
demand provision for a higher education, such as would
be given by. college of that kind. In the absence of
that provision they were doing something for higher/
education, and he would inform them what they had
been doing iii this respect for the last two years. The
crel.v..gesuwilhemicahnhathdenbegenavee. at.
bdisi
sabc description Ripe nt
hoef t
in vaioaa
rcon-
nection with that Association, and of the work that had_
been done by them. They had received • sum or'
money from the Wolverhampton Exhibition and had
devoted it to establishing classes in connection with that
movement. Be was sorry to say, however' that daring
their two or three years experience those classes had not
been so successful as the promoters wished them to be,
The French class had been successful, sad it had started
the present season with a goodly number of scholars;
but the attendance at the others were very meagre.
There was a class for chemistry started by Kr. Bleed;
but last winter there were only four students attending
it, and this season only two had joined it. His own
Latin class was fairly successful for two winters ; but
now they were commencing the third series he was sorry
to say there was a falling off. They had disappointed
his own expectations and the expectations of those who
had formed those anises. They had had come little
success, but not the amount ea success which they con-
sidered they had a right to expect in • place like
Stourbridge, and they came to the conslusion during
their deliberations that afternoon that there was ads.
plorable want of appreciation of their efforts amongst
the working classes. This was the great difficulty with
which they had to contend—the want of • desire for
those classes. He would warn the young men present
that if they let slip these opportunities they WWI not
likely to return. There was an old Latin saying that
opportunity had • brow or front covered with hair, bat
behind she was bald, so that if they missed the chases
of holding her when she was face to race, when she
turned away they could not grasp her. So ha would
urge upon them to take the opportunity of joining those
dailies whilst they had the power to do so. Be row
eluded by saying that the very name of the "Bleak
Country" in which they resided brought a vision to their
minds of • district that was nearly hidden from view by
the van clouds of smoke that were ;constantly hanging
over ; and this was in like manner typical of the maw
of ignorance beneath which the inhabitants were for the
greater part living. To dispel this bleak cloud of ignone
ance by such agencies as these was their object. It Wei
sufficient that they were animated by a good motive
even though they failed. But they mud not altogether
fail. They should be able to do something at least to.
wards dispelling that darkness.
The resolution was seconded by Mr. Shepherd. and
supported by the Rev. D. Robertson, and carried.
The Rev. I). Maginnis proposed a vote of thanks to
the noble chairmen for the efficient manner in which
he had conducted the business that evening, and in
doing so bore testimony to the services which his lords
ship was always ready to render in the cause of the
education connected with the Association.
Major Walker briefly seconded the vote of thanks,
and Lord Lyttelton having responded the meeting WU
brought to. close.