The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-10-27 00:00:00

DINNER.

The members and friends of the institntion afterwards
dined together at the Talbot Hotel, 111111 a very excellent
dinner was provided by Mr. Brooks, whose abilities as a
caterer are so well known.

After jwatice had been done to the good things pro-
vided,
The President proposed "the health of the Queen,"
without saying anything new in count client with that
toast. He then proposed the health—as of a man in
ecoatnisounmall'Atisosno—ci oof thn
" HBoeuths aid St6ll eill'rd.h
aesoeie Adultirationwu
guishing from a few cauaea which were easily comprehen-
sible. It had endeavoured for a number of year ate pro-
mote the eatablisliment and efficiency of mechanic.' in-
stitutes, night schools, working men's clubs. and Usauli-
nations by the Society of Arts and by the association
illicit. It had attempted sometimes, perhaps, to do more
than it could do. But for sidne years it unit with fair
auroras. Soule time ago there occurred • very unhappy
event—one of the moat unhappy events that ever took
place in this country. Ha meant the strike in the iron
and coal trades. In its duration awl effects it was mora
disastroua than ahything lie remembered in the district
during the forty years of lain acquaintance with it. It
alienated many from edneatiaiu, and produced that stag-
nation which they all no much lamented in the opera-
, tions of that association. Just as the association was
: recovering from the effects of that misfortune, and not
: many truces at the calamity remained, the operations of
the ateniciation met with an abstraction in the rehigna.
tion of the very aide anal efficient officer who had acted
as orgaiii,hig agent for innate years. Ile referred to Mr.
John Jones. Ile lisped members of the association
would never lose an opportunity of speaking with grati•
tude of Mr. Jones's work. But Mr. Jones, though a per-
son of great energy, great resources, anal great intend
grace, was also aif so much sensitiveness that his work
was probably often very liara“ing and aliiffressful to him,
anal it would not have been at all surprising if he bad
Willi.' it ffing agia for Sonic other occupation. As it was,
having become acquainted with the iroa trade by acting
fair sonic years efficiently and faithfully trio Mr. Foster
could testify) in the capacity of secretary to the ironmas.
arra, Mr. Jones was offfred a more lucrative, and at the
same time probably • more congenial and more import-
ant office, and he resigned the office be held with the
association, and took an appointment in the Iliddleabo-
rough district. Ills resignation was a serious impedi,
went to the operations of the association, Ile the
preadent) was not able to say what form the association
might ahlainie for Bass future, but he felt sanguine that
they would be able not only tat reinstate it, but tat give it
a fresh and more favourable start, and he hoped it would
go on ill a satisfactory manner for many years. Still he
spoke with some doubt of the future, but aas unable and
unwilling to go more fully into the subject at that
moment. In looking back, there was on the whole reason
to speak with satiafaction. Night school. bad made con-
siderable advance during the past year. and the report
of the committee showed that • good deal of progre.s
had been made. Whatever happened, the association
would continue to support that great indttution, the
Society of Arts, which went on wills iti, work whatever
occurred, ithowing no embarasament. Ile hoped al. the
&saw...intim, would lie able to go on with its own examina-
tions, subsidiary to tha or of the Society of Arta. In
conclusion, Ilia lairdship proposed " Batter health to the
South Staffordshire Adalt Educational Association,"
The toast having been drunk,
Mr. Foster, M. l'., proposed the health of Lord Lyt-
teltaili, which was driink with great dimming.
Mr. Hollier aaid lie wished to say a few words on behalf
et than eatusisasthee of the Dudley Exhibition. He was
• po4c, d by the romniittee to preseut a medal to his
toluship, if he would kindly accept it, ass token of the
eatainatioa in alma ills lunl,/iip WAN held ill Dudley.
The noble chairman accepted the medal and returned
thanks.

T. Wood, Esq , proposed the health of W. 0. Foster,
Esq., M.P.. whiell was duly acknowledged.
lhe health of the Her. H. Sully wai alio proposed and
duly responded to.
TEA YEETINO.

At six o'clock a tea meeting was hula in the Corn Ex-
change. Upwards of 200 persoos sat down. The room
was tastefully decorated for the occasion with evergreens
and flower.. At the top of the room was R motto, •. Sac-
,ess to the Stourbridge Mechanics and Working Men'.
Associated Institute." After tea was over, and the room
re-arranged, Lord Lyttelton again occupied the ch•ir,
and was supported by W. 0. Foster, Esq., and other
gentlemen.
After some introdnetory remarks his lordship said,
though the South Staffordshire Union had been going
through a time of some difficulty, yet as far as re,,T.irded
LiloSe who submitte I themselves to the examiniittoos, he
believed there was room for nothing but satisfaction.
Whatever fortune might attend the I fforts of the associ-
atm to stimulate education, and adult education parti-
cularly, in this district, be believed they might say for
certain that a very imporhoit part of their modern
systsui—the conduct of examinationa on the part of very
highly-accredited bodiea like the Society of Arts—he
believed that, having once taken root in a district like
that, it would never come to an end, but flourish more
and more. His lordship expressed his hope that they
should be able to keep up the office of organising agent,
vacant by Mr. JOIICA'S resignation.
The prizes and certificates gained at the last examina-
tions were then disti ibuted either to the students them-
selves, or to some representative from the institute or
night school they were connected with.
Mr. W. (J. Foster, M.P., said he hail been requested to
say a few words on VA, subject of evening schools, mid
move a resolution thereon. Identified asthe association
WAS with the aubject of eveniug schools—lu foot it
seemed to be one if the noun objets for the support of
whirl. the association MU star/isl inta evidence -he did
not know there was great need for him to enlarge at great
length on the subject. The fact of tin institution being
a night school efirried its own recommetidetion. Those
who attended these Selkoolv showed by their doing so
' that they appreciated their advantages, and he hoped
' they would endeavour by permission amongst their fel-
lows, and those youngor rim theniselves especially, to
induce them to follow the st,ps they had taken for their
' own individual improvement. lie had taken very much
pleasure in moving, " That the work of eveuing selimils,
though beset with difficulties, is producing great good in
the district, and is deserving of encouragement from all
friends of eiltication"—(applause).
The Bev. If. IL Sandford, one of her Majesty's Inapec-
tors of Schools, said there were great obstacles in the
way of education in South Staffordshire and North Wor-
riistershire—the district in which the operations of the
association were carried on. The late hour. in the nail
shops, for instance, made it almost hoist-lens to get young
people—eepecially girls—to do much to improve their
minds, and consequently, all who wished to promote
education ought to be in favour of measnres to shorten
the hours of labour for girls, that these might have inane
energy left for educating themselves. Much could never
be done in the nailing districta around the Lye until the
hours of lat.ur were shortened. So with regard to lads
in glues .d iron works—they are exhausted by prolonged
labour, and until the hours of work wero shortened they
could never make any considerable progress in education.
In the district of South Stalliirdshire and North Worces-
tershire he had to inspect forty night schools—of which
seven were for gide. Ile was sorry they were not all in
onion with the South Staffordshire Adult Educational
Association. Ile hoped they would are the advantage of
joining it, and that a greet united effort would be made
to raise the standard throughout the district.
The motion was agreed to.
Mr. Langley, of Wolverhampton, moved the next reso-
lution—" That this meeting cordially recognises the
valuable services of the Sot iety of Arts in the efficient
carrying oat of their examinations, and earnestly urges
upon the district the advantages arising from taking still
further advantage of these examinations." Ile pointed
out that now the humbled young man roily required the
will to labour petiently in order to become a B.A. of the
London University.
Mr. Akroyd seconded the reaolution proposed by Mr.
Langley, and spoke at sonic length on the importance of
having a secular Sabbath or day of rest set apart for
working men. It would also be a day of rest for the
clergy. and that time might he well employed in teaching
and till might receive some little relaxation. Ile did not
think a until on an average worked more than five days a
week, and if a secular Sabbath was appointed by the
legislature it would be a very good thing. He hoped to
live to see the time when it would take place—(ap-
phrse)._

•
1 he Rev. J. IL Iles moved the next resolution : "That
the other operations of this association, such as the
special examinations, the proposed evening scholars ex-
hibition, and the athletic sports, Cr,: well worthy of the
support of the friends of education throughout the dis-
trict."

Mr. W. H. Ring seconded the resolution.
The Rev. H. Solly supported it, and it was passed.
Ur. Sampson Lloyd (Hagley) proposed, " That the
beat thanks of the association are due, and are hereby
given, to the Right Hon. Lord Lytteltson for his continual
services in the cause of the aasociation, and for his un•
tiring devotion to the ramie of education."
Rev. A. Stone (West Stnethwick) seconded the resole.
tion, and it was passed with acclauiation.
The President returned thanks. He announced that
WAS intended to bold an educational conference at Old

bury on the 7th November. Clergymen and employers
were invited to attend. The question whether it was ad-
visable to allow the use of intoxicating di inks in working
men's clubs would be I liscus,ed.
Mr. W. Chance proposed a vote of thanks to the Earl
of Lichfield and the other vice-presidents for their asp.
port of the asoociation.
Mr. S. Lloyd, jun., seconded the resolution, and it was
passed.
The meeting then terminated.

The room wan then cleared for dancing, and a large
number of persons tripped it lightly round the room to
the strains of an eleellent quadrille band under the
direction of Mr. Griffin, until twelve o'clock, when a very
satisfactory meeting terminated.