The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-01-11 00:00:00

WORKING MEN'S COLLEGE IN
LONDON.

The inaugural meeting of the session of the Work.
tag Men's College, Great Ormond-street, was held on
Monday evening; Mr. T. Hughes, M. P., in the chair.
Mr. Rawlins, the hon. sec, read the report, which
stated that the College was founded in 1854. The stu-
dents were, for the moot part, working men; and the
teachers were, in general, membera of the Universities
and of different professions, or those who had them-
selves been members of the College. Its purpose was
to unite-these classes together by associating them in
the common work of teaching and learning. It pro-
vided instruction at the smallest possible cost (the
teaching ond management being almost wholly un-
paid), in the subjects which it m .st concerned English
vitioens to be acquainted, and thus tried to place a
liberal education within the reach of working men.
6,144 members have joined the College to this date—
and at least double that number have peened through
the adult echooL In the College 573 member, attended

—classes during the put year. There was an increase
In the average number of men attending the higher
sections in all divisions, with a decrease in the number
of men attending the elementary sections—especially
so in English and French. There was still a sum of
about £220 due for repairs and on account of the new
&c., and at the close of the year there was a '
balance against the College of £4O.
The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, feelingly
referred to the death of Prefaisor Maurice, the foun-
der of the College. and its principal since the last
annual meeting. His loss could never be replaced,
happening as it did at a critical time in the life of
the institution. It was not often • nation could pro-
duoe a man like Mr. Maurice; and next to him no one
was more in his place in delivering the inaugural ad.
dress on the Working Men's College than Dean
Stanley. (Cheers.)
Dean Stanley, who was moat warmly received by
thoutudents, delivered the inaugural address. He also
referred to the death of Professor Maurice. He then
said that at the present time there was very widely
spread a complaint or murmur that the age for any
individual influence bad passed away, and that the
world was henceforth t s be guided by general move-
ments, or laws, or masses, or forces, or parties.
Against this the connection of the Working Metes
C liege with its firet founder was a perpetual protest,
and he (the Dean) wished to impress upon his bearers
the great importance which individuals might still ex-
ercise over the fortunes of the world. There was
in the room a bust of Marcus Aurelius, who was not
only Emperor of the world but one of the best and
noblest characters that God had produced in the world,
and the bust reminded him of what that great man
wrote:- "From my grandfather I learned to govern
my temper ; from the remembrance of my father I
learned modesty and a manly character. From my
mother I learned abstinence, not only from evil deeds,
but evil thoughts, and simplicity in my way of life ;
from Appolonins I learned freedom of will, and unde-
viating steadiness of purpose; from Alexander,
the Grammarian, I learned to abstain from fault-
finding ; from another I learned not to be
always sayf g I had no leisure," and so be went
on, conclu tog thus : "To the gods I am in-
debted for I ay as good parents, good grandfathers, a
good sister, good teachers, good kinsmen, and good
friends.' He wished the students to learn how to dis-
tinguish between those men who were really
and those who were transitory and fugitive. Although
parties and movements bed no doubt greater force than
formerly, individuals still exercised a great and com-
manding influence. It was often thought that the de-
fence ot a whole city by a single man, as recorded of
Home in Macaulay 's Lays, could never occur again,
but it wasps possible now as ever for a inan to hold
his own against the world.