The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-10-30 00:00:00

SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE ON
FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

Sir Stafford Northcoto paid a visit to Ilfracombe on
Monday. His original intention was to distribute prizes
to the successful students at the Schools of Art and
Science, but additional interest was imparted to the
day's proceedings by the presentation to the right bon.
baronet of an address from the local Foresters and Odd-
fellows. Sir Ste fford Northcote was met at the railway
station by a committee, and afterwards entertained
at a public luncheon held at the Ilfracombe Hotel.
Alter to luncheon, the members of the Friend!y So
cieties came to the hotel in procession, and Sir Stafford
Northcote accompanied them back to the Oxford
Music-hall, where the address was presented by Mr.
S. H. Culley, secretary of the Exeter district Ancient
Order of Foresters, who in a brief speech pointed out
some respects in which thosele represented would like
to see the Friendly Societies Bill amended. He sug-
gested that examination of accounts by public auditors
should be made compulsory instead of permissive; that
registration of all Friendly Societies should be insisted
on; that payment and benefits should be regulated by
an authorized scale; and that there should be compulsory
valuations by Government actuaries or other persons
of acknowledged skill.—The following are the main
points of Sir Stafford Northcote's reply to the ad-
dress :
.

After thanking them for the address, and dwelling upon
the superiority over a government conducted system of the
present system, by which friendly societies were allowed
to conduct their own affairs, he said he looked
upon the friendly society movement as the true anti-
dote to the evils of the system of the poor law.
He believed it was by encouraging that spirit of indepen-
dence which lies deep at the bottom of the nature of every
Englishman, that our best chance consisted in staving off
and counteracting the evils which belong to a legislation
replete with difficulties, and pregnant with dancers as
is the poor-law system. They could not meet these dangers
and difficulties except by the energies of the working
classes themselves. What was wanted was men determined
that they will spare no effort on their own part, by self-
denial, by combination, by the adoption of the best methods
open to them, to secure an independence in old age, in sick-
ness, and other casualties of life. That is the great work
which their societies had been doing. It was a work attended
with very great difficulty, because those who initiated it had.
to ?begin with exceedingly imperfect data. He then re-
ferred to the difficulties of getting at the facts necessary to
I ame anything like satiefactory tables, anili prolVeded
The last time I had an opportunity of meeting any con-
siderable number of the members of friendly societies was
at the annual movable conference of the Manchester
Unity this year at Newport, in Monmouth, and I was very
much struck with the manner in which they were con-
ducting their business, and the manner in which they were
grappling boldly with the difficulties which had been dis-
covered in many lodges of the Unity, and encouraging the
different lodges to take steps which would put an end in
time to these difficulties. I have no doubt the Foresters
and other great sccieties will follow this example, and that
by the persuasion, by the influence of one man upon
another and of one lodge upon another, by the influence of
the officers whom they elect and in whom they place con-
fidence. they will be spurred up to make the necessary sacri-
fices, and reform their tables of contributions and benefits so
as to bring them into harmony with facts. (Hear, hear.) But
I am satisfied that if Government were to attempt to proceed
in the way I have referred to, and were to attempt to dictate
to the lodges, we should fail in any attempt of the kind ; and
if it succeeded at all it would only be by the process at
which I have glanced of the Chancellor of the Exchequer
being called in to bring you out of the difficulty. That
would be doubly bad, because it would be doing the thing
in an improper way, and making the community pay for
what the community ought not to pay for, and I am sure
you would lose the great advantage of the stirring up
among the people themselves of the energy to fight through
their difficulties which they are now manifesting. (Hear,
hear). " Ah, then," you will say, " are Government
not going to do anything to help us?" Yes, I say, Govern-
ment are doing, as they are bound to do, everything that is
legitimate to assist your societies without compromising yeur
independence. There is much information that we can
place at your dispoSal. We can do a great deal to secure
Publicity, to secure the adoption of proper forms, and to
assist in the preparation of proper tables; and let me tell you
that it is a matter which is not at all escaping the attention
of the Government, but at this very moment we are at work
upon it. (Hear.) Let me remind you with regard to this act
of which you speak that it does not come into operation
until the Ist January next year; but between the present
time and that time, when the Act comes into operation, hone
we may be in a position to publish several things which will be
of use to the societies. In the first place, we are drawing
up as carefully as we can certain regulations with regard to
the working of the system of registration. and I hope we
shall be able so to frame those regulations as to meet some of
the difficulties which have been glanced at, and to take care
that proper information is in ail cases provided and laid
before the public. Besides that, with the assistance of a.
commission consisting of eminent actuaries, we are pre-
paring rules, and tables, and forms of accounts which will be
also published. It will be perfectly optional for anybody
to use them or lay them aside as they please, but they will
be published us the best information which the government
can give upon these matters; and I am happy to be able
to say, from what I hear of the work of that commission,
that they find the forms in use among the Foresters par-
ticulerly and also among the Manchester Unity are so good
that very small changes will be necessary for their adoption
as model fermis to recommend to the Friendly societies
throughout the country. (Applause). And, again, with re-
gard to the preparation of the tables, there is no doubt
that the experience of the Manchester Unity arel of other
societies has contributed very largely to the information re-
quired for the framing of good tables, and I hope we shall
be in a position to put out tables by authority which will be
of very considerable use to those who are interested in friendly
societies. Not that one would wish to interfere with the
great societies, who, knowing what they are about, having
adopted tables suitable to their own circumstances, find those
tables differ in some respects from the model tables of the
government. No doubt the circumstances—and that is a
thing which must always be borne in mind—of one society
differ so much from the circumstances of another that it is
impossible to put out tables which will suit all, To put out
model tables, founded upon information which you have
done so much to collect, will be of the most essential use to
the framers of tables for those societies in less favourable
positions; and moreover, I hope there will be suggestions
combined with the instructions which will be of very great use
for the purpose of bringing about a proper valuation. That is
a point which is the vveryhighest consequenee. Ais all very
well to say, "Here is a very good set of tables; ; we have
adopted. them; therefore we are all right" You cannot he
sure you are all right unless you periodically value the condi-
tion of your society, and test whether these tables are work-
ing right. If they are not, then you must be sure there is
something amiss, and it is for you to discover it You can-
not rely simply upon the tables; son must check the working
of the tables by the valuations. That is a point to which we
attach great importance, and it is one which we are now en-
deavouring to promote by the regu'ations and instructions
which we are preparing. So much fir these societies of the
highest and best class. There is another class which, theugh
with perfectly hoist at intentions, are either so small or are iu
the hands of persons of such very indifferent education, or
of persons with such limited opportunities of getting at
facts that they are really very badly worked and are a snare
and delusion to those who put their trust in them. With
z egard to these, it is a very difficult question to know what
,to do. To sweep them all away would have been a hardship;
to leave them as they are is unfair to the working classes
who put their trust in them. All we can do is to
endeavour to throw as much light as possible upon the work-
ingof these societies, and also by insisting upon periodical
returns in proper form, with the advice we may be able to
give from time to time to Persons interested, we hope to
enable the members of these smaller societies to raise them-
selves out of the condition in which they are placed. Perhaps
in many cases the best thing they can do will he to dissolve
themselves and amalgam.ate With larger bodies. Perhaps
there may be other methods by which they may proceed. I
would lay down no absolute rule for their guidance. but
this I would say, if this matter is of the national importance
which I believe it to be, it is well worth the while
of benevolent persons and persons in authority and having
sympathy for the working classes to devote some of their
time and attention to the study of the subject, and to
endeavour to give advice and assistance to the societies in
their own immediate neighbourhoods. Nothing is more
common than for the clergyman or squire of the parish to
send a small donation to the club, walk in procession once
a year, attend a service at church, or attend a dinner and
pr
gratificatioh at the mode and spirit in which they
eaxreceoeneducting their affairs. All that is very proper ; but if
the clergyman or squire, or whoever else it may he, will but
take the trouble and exercise his intelligence and look a
little into the condition of the society, and take care he
Join a society which in truth
de tt o
hem into an error, it would be
idso
rotten,e n o t canned° u
therebyi a people
loepal
still better. (Cheers.) There is a third claas of eocieties of
which I speak with pain. There are no doubt certain large
bodies calling themselves by the name of friendly societies
and professing the most benevolept and excellent principles,
but which were originally founded, or, at all events, have
the
thegrossestrthere
ar e
cases abuses
wphriecyha prevail.
haveW i h regard
perverted into societies really for the plunder of the
poor. There are no doubt cases—most painful cases—
in
gmarucich rje
totheel
themselves upon the attention of the public, and I suppose
societies
it is very much in reference to these cases that we see
very
newspaper writers and other persons continually finding
fault with the measure of the government, saying, Ills"
a milk-and-water affair ; it does not touch the root of the
evil, because it allows these societies to appoint their own
auditors and manage their own affairs." The Act passed
last session does in many material ways interfere to
correct the abuses of tkese societies. It does introduce
many checks upon the Tystem of societies in connection
with which these abuses principally prevail. More than
we have done it would have been impossible properly and
safely to do—at all events at present. We have awakened
attention to the subject we have placed information, and
we shall place information, at the disposal of those who are
Interested in the subject; we have imposed penalties which
are entirely new upon persons guilty of such misdemeanours
as those to which I have referred, and the light which has
been thrown upon the subject, and the interest which has
been awakened, and the provisions of the law will, I am
persuaded have a very considerable effect in checking and
Putting down the abuses of which I have shoken. you can-
not put these things down altogether; it is impossible to put
down fraud and rascality all over the world. We see in much
higher circles many cases in which persons are the innocent
losers by the frauds of others whom we feel ought to be
pitnished and kept in check Means have been provided for
bringing those who commit these frauds to piuusliment.
Beyond that I do not think
it possible or site to go; but I
feel confident it those persons interested in the welfare of
the working °lessee will exercise their vigilanse and will
assist their poor neighbours in this matter, tney will put down
this evil, as they may put don the other to which I referred.
(Cheers ) I will look with the greatest hope to the future of
these societies. I believe there is still a great work to be
done by them, and, depend upon it, the government and
parliament, who have never been careless or uninterested
in this mattes', though they may frequently have been misled
in the particular measures they have adopted, will mitintain
their interests and endeavour to foiward this good work.
What we seek for and hope for is that that energy which has
been displayed among the people themselves will be con-
tinued and advanced, and that that great cause for which
we all, and the Foresters and Oddfellows in particular, have
done so much will be carried still further for the benefit of
the people of the country. The future of the working classe3
of England rests very much with themselves and if they are
determined to meet iwisely, temperately, patiently, and con] a-
geously the difficulties with which they are surrounded, de-
pend upon it there is still a great and happy future before
them and. before the whole country. (Loud cheers.)
ia •

In the evening, after distributing the prizes to the suc-
cessful students of the science and art classes, Sir Stafford
Northcote again spoke at some length. Be argued that one
of the first lessons learnt from any step taken in education
was that of humility, and that the impression at one time pre-
veiling and Inducing
pro-
posals for the extension of education—namely, that it had
the effect of Puffing up those who received it was a fallacy.
many people to look coolly upon
The second lesson taught was that of confidence. When the
firsttstep had been taken successfully they gathered resolu-
tion; to go on. While it might be said that nothing was
impossible, it should be remembered that nothing was
very easy He recommended the study of science and art
because their influence was to make men's lives more agree-
able, and to render them in every respect more useful mem-
bers of society. He maintained that there was a great deal
of artificial power latent in the great mass of the people. It
was not the exceptional case that men or women had the
power of making advances in art. It was the exceptional
ease when they were unable to clo so.
If their capacities
were properly trained, there were in these days advantages
which our forefathers did not possess, but although the
present generation were able to go a great deal further they
must not imagine they were better than their ancestors.
The important point in education was the formation

Ik the-wrong -:.

•TV

and strengthening of individual character. It was
to be feared if this were not the effect of the increased ,
means of education, they would greatly lose in one way
what they gained in another. There were faults in the
English charactec to which they could not shut their eyes,
and which they must lament, and yet there was something
about them which made them dear to us. Ignorance of
being neaten, which was said to be a characteristic of I
Englishmen, was an ignorance which was perhaps worth a i .
great deal of education. One could hardly refer to such I
a feature as that on such a day—the anniversary of the 1,,_ A case-of importance to the iron trade of the North
celebrated charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava— rof England was determined by the Northumberland
on
moved feelings. That charge remained at County Magistrates at the Moot Hall, Newcastle, o
once a monummit of the fatal consequences of Saturday. A workman named .7-wiles Cushman wall
Insufficient care and insufficient science as applied to
military matters, and also of the indomitable courage employed as a puddler at the Walker Iron Works, of
and force of i haracter which distinguished Englishmen which Messrs. Bell, Ridley, and Bell are the proprietors.
and enable them to overcome the greatest MI- Ile went to the works on Monday 4iriorning, the 9th
culties. (Applause) It was a tempting subject to of August, to commence his employment for the
which to leer, and he must say that sometimes when he week, when he found a notice on the door that
read accounts of thoAe ebb(); a'e military manceuvres which
' the works would be closed till the Wednesday fol-
were no doubt doing so rnu,:h good, and in which oR 5.41.,
*lowing, anrom the lirednesiral h'e slur
.a Second notice
diers were taught that if at one point they saw such a force
at another they must consider themselves beaten, he fislt I intimating. that they would be-cloied tiil the following
suith a lesson was a-somewhat unhealthy one to the English Monday. 'lt was contended on his behalf that he was
ball dog. (Laughter and cheers.) He could not hell) entitled to his wagro er noting, ule,astating _filet
es for the week, on the gronna that
n g
thinking it was important in every way to keen nn the de-
he had ot received
termination among Englishmen that, although w.orkrial_, . w
_ng to
,the
the service of the
they must endeavour to get themselves right by their courage I 'll,. Y
and energy. He advised them to cultivate energy and filtig • firm snoma.gfve ntece 'on ,tne pay day forirteen'daya
viduality of character, and not to be beaten by a difficulty,' , previous to the ti)..te of leaving, or forfeit his wages,
i
Force of character would not overcome nature or the rules of _awl. that a wstarna onight deniatui an equalnotice ithe
mathematics, but at the same time it was earnestly to had not been guilty of misconduct. The defence was
1
hoped that the effect of the education which was now being that it was not the custom to give notice to puddlers
so widely spread would not produce superficiality and shal- 1 or pay the men if work was suspended for a few days
lowness, It was well to be thoroughly acquainted with I,_ . . .
matters with whom they were engaged, but rules should be 1 through breakage of machinery, want of iron, a cessa-
made subservient to the man, and not the man to the rules. 1 tion of work, or want of specifications. This case
'Cheers.) . would rule those of a number of other workmen who
i had been similarly placed. He asked £3 compensation.
' 4-, .iving i.- men Aecid th lain

adjured the ratepayers of the town to continue to
return representatives to the Board who would main-
tain the liberal scheme of education which had been
inaugurated. (Loud applause.)

The Bench, in gi;.ing judg nt, d led that
tiff was entitled to recover under the contract, and
they assessed the sum of £l. as compensation far the
breach and non-performance of the contract. The
Bench intimated at the same time that the evidence
as to custom was very slender, but had it been more
satisfactory, after careful consideration they were
firmly of opinion that it would not affect the case at
all, as the action had been taken on a written contract.
Costs were allowed to the plaintiff.

COOKERY FOR COMMON LIFE.
(From the Daily News.)
. ,
It has always been regarded as a conclusive proof o,
the precise justness of the view taken by Mrs. Glasse
of the difficulties surrounding the preparation of a
dinner, that she should have writen, " First catch
your hare, then cockit." But it may well be doubted
whether, taking the average of population, the
majority of English people would not find it easier to
catch a hare than to cook it. Whether cooking
is a natural gifts-whether the cooks like the poet,
is born, nct made, is an interesting question,
on either side of which mueh powerful argu-
ment and many striking illustrations might
be advanced. For the affirmative it might cer-
tainly be urged that by general consent cooking
is dealt with as if, like walking or speaking, it
might be involuntarily acquired. Cookery has not
hitherto formed a part of the eurriculum of schools,
public or private. Girls are taught to read, write, sing,
dance, play, embroider, and in some cases even to sew,
but to cook—never. This omission in the education of
girls has taken place for many reasons, not the least
formidable of which may have been that the average
teacher knows little or nothing herself of the practical
art of cookery. For young ladies in the position of '
Miss Amory, who number among their servitors per-
sonages like Monsieur Alcide Mirobolant, this is a
smal matter. But for the middle and lower classes
such practical knowledge of cookery as is involved in
the preparation of a family dinner is surely a matter
of some importance.
An effort to meet this need, which is felt rather than
acknowledged, was begun a little more than 18 months
ago in connection with the International Exhibition.
A committee was formed, which, as it at present
I exists is presided over by Mr. Leveson-Gower, and
numl;Prs amongst its members the Duke of Beaufort,
Earl Sydney, Lord Barrington, M.P., Sir Daniel
Cooper, Sir Henry Cole, and Colonel Du Cane. The
result of the labours of, the committee has been the
establishment of a "National Training School for
Cookery," which anyone may for himself see in opera-
tion on applying to the Lady Superintendent. Perhaps
the main object of the school may be described as
training teacherS with the intention of sending
them out to conduct schools in other parts of the
country. The, school in thp Exhibition-road is
prepared to train 200 teachers per annum, ad-
mitting ten every fortnight during 40 weeks of
the year. The applications for certificated teachers
are already far beyond the powers of production which
the school has attained, one of its most urgent needs
being a- eupply of intelligent young women who can
,not only cook well, but can explain the process in the
hearing of a class. But beyond the class of teachers,
the school is largely made up of pupils who desire to
learn cooking for home use who all go through a course
of teaching, first by watching how things are done' and
next by trying to do them. It would appear that six
weeks is the term thought necessary for a pupil
teacher to learn the practical art, an equal term
being devoted to practice in the art of teaching.
For an ordinary pupil twenty-five lessons is the rule,
the first five being devoted to scullery cleaning, ten
to attendance upon what are called " demonstra-
tions " and lectures, and ten to actual practice.
Teachers going through the full course af six weeks'
training are required to pay a fee of ten guineas ; other
pupils pay fees amounting to £5 15s. 6d. There is also
an artisan class, where cooking of the style suitable to
the requirements of the pupils is taught, the fees for
the full course of 25 lessons being £3 2s. 6d. The
middle-class courses are well attended, but in view of
the high fees charged it is not surprising to know that
the artisan pupils are not num--rous. Beginning at
the beginning, pupils on joining the classes are taught
the best way of lighting and managing a fire, cleaning
a fire-place, regulating a flue' and managing an
oven. They are next inducted into the mystery of
obtaining—" the fsttehest degree of cleanliness in
pots and pans." Proceeding next to the lecture.
room, they are taught in plain practical words how
cooking is done, various articles being prepared and
cooked in their presence. In the first week, Monday
is devoted to the art of roasting, Tuesday to the
concoction of soups and broths; Wednesday, to the
contrivance of entrees ; Thursday to the cooking of
vegetables; and Friday to the confection of jellies and
creams. In the second week higher flights are tried,
and the pupils are led to the observance of what
Monsieur Mirobolant calls the airier graces of the art.
Monday has its omelettes and its souffi6es ; Tuesday its
fish delicately fried, and not tee) boldly boiled; Wed-
nesday has its pastries; Thursday its puddings; and
Friday solemnly closes in the performance of what is
known in, the school as "sick-room cookery." Every-
thine is done thoroughly, economically, and artistically,
the lady superintendent, Miss Nicolls, evidently regard-
ing her work as alabour of love. The establishment of the
school is a practical step towards the attainment of a
much-desired end, and for its complete success requires
only to be better known.
The interest which her Majesty was wisely pleased
lo take in Mr. Buckmaster's Lectures on Cooking at
the South Kensington Museum has been productive of
good in many ways. Not only were omelettes in great
requisition at the South Kensington School after the
Queen had partaken of one of Mr. Buckmaster's skil-
ful preparations, but, what is better, attention has
been drawn to the subject of better cooking in various
parts of the country. Not only has a National Train-
ing School for Cookery been established in London,
but in Liverpool a number of ladies, generously
thoughtful for the improvement of workmen's wives in
the art of preparing food, have established a professor-
ship of cooking. Mrs. Thwaites, the lady selected
for this new and interesting appointment, attended
the South Kensington School, where she is under-
stood to have acquitted herself with distinction.
Classes are, or have been, opened in St. George's
Hall, Liverpool, where .the mistresses of house-
holds can, if they choose, obtain perfect instruction in
the much-neglected craft of the kitchen. Already
there has been a commencement in the way of giving
instruction to the wives of workmen, and young women
who may one day become so. One establishment
selected for the experiment has been the extensive
tobacco manufactory of Messrs. Cope in that town.
As many as 1,500 women, young girls and wives in-
cluded, are employed at these works, and great num-
hers of them come considerable distances from the
remotest districts of the town, so that it is impossible
for them to return to their homes at mid-day, and
the Messrs. Cope have very considerately fitted up
extensive cooking kitchens for their use for the pre-
paration of their own meals, The accommoda-
tion furnished was much more complete and per-
fect than the knowledge in the art of cook-
ing of those for' whose use the conveniences were
intended. Mrs. Thwaites has therefore commenced
a series of professional expositions of the latest
device* in the new art of the economical, wholesome,
pleasant, and speedy preparation of meals. Fifty
women assemble at a time in the kitchens and receive
instruction, and witness the simple and succulent
methods of preparing sea-pie, Australian meat pie,
treacle puddin , p.nd similar delicacies of humble
householders. 'hi satisfaction andeinterest manifested
by the class a ear to promise great advantages in the
homes of the pupils. Thirty classes, numbering 50
women each, will be held in succession, until the whole
of the 1,500 women employed in Messrs. Cope's manu-
factory have a good and ready knowledge of the
pleasant and profitable art. Mr. Fraser and other
heade of dt nartmente promoting these classes were
present at the introductory lecture. It will be of
great advantage to wives of the working class if ladies
in other great towns establish a similar professorship,
and other manufacturers avail themselves of such
opportunities for extending the acquisition of culinary
skill among the wives and daughters of their work-
people. At Akroydon, near Halifax, in the works of
Colonel Akroyd, large kitchens for the use of the
workpeople were provided some years ago, where Mrs.
Akroyd herself very kindly took part in instructing
the young women employed in her husband's works.
Similar conveniences are provided by numerous
great manufacturers on their premises P • what is
wanted is that greater skill should prevail in their
use. It was proposed some time since by a writer
who was in favour of extending the suffrage to
women, that no one should be eligible th have a
vote until she had given preof of being -able to cook
a mutton chop to the satisfaction of the clergyman
of the parish, for if that gentleman had been educated
at Oxford or Cambridge, there could not possibly be a
better judge. If this form of the suffrage had been
acted upon, it would at least have been productive of
obvious benefit in thousands of households, and would
have the effect- of practically raising the wages of
workmen much more rapidly than Trades -Unions
accomplish it, without at all interfering with their
procese However, there can be no doubt if the cook
gets abroad, the advantages will he almost as consider-
able as those that have resulted by the activity of the
schoolmaster.

The following communication, sent to the Standard for
publication, will interest many of our readers :

Sir,--I promised to give you an idea how the scheme
for supplying dinners to school children, at a proposed
cost of one penny per head succeeded. Were I only
anxious to make a balance sheet, and show succetql
attending Mr. Buckmaster's ideas, and my own, I
should not appear before public with a statement
drawn from 30 days' trial; but as my object is to state
facts, and show by explanation that increased experi-
ence will prove the truth of theory, I place both
before the public in the following form :—Number of