The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-12-31 00:00:00

BRIERLEY HILL.

CATHOLIC SOIREE AT DRIERLEY HILL.—The
annual Christmas soiree, in connection with the
Brierley Hill Catholic Church end Schools, was
held on Tuesday, in the Town Hall, Brierley Hill,
which was decorated in a manner appropriate to
the festive season. As in former years, a large
number of persons sat down at the well-supplied
tea tables, and afterwards a concert and entertain-
ment were given at which Mr. T. Reynolds pre-
sided, being supported by, the Revs. G. Duckett
(Wolverhampton), T. Whelan (Brierley Hill), M.
Power (Bilston) J. Terry (Oldbury), S. Johnson
(Wednesbury), J. Phis (Dudley), J, Price (Stour-
bridge), and 'r, Dickenson (Cannock). The Chair-
man, who is a member, of the Dudley School
Board, delivered an address on educwion, and in
compAng the education given in 80,,rd Scho, ls
with that given in denominational schools strongly
condemned that given in the former. The pupil
teachers in the Board Schools were, he said, taught
chemistry, animal physiology, and botany, but if
one of them were asked something about the ger-
mination of plants, it would be found that they
knew nothing whatever about the creation of the
smalleat bud that issued tot th from a plant. As
to the tuition in animal physiology, the result
would be that there would be sufficient quack doc-
tors in the next generation for the whole world—
(laughter). It would be nothing less than a crime
for Catholic parents to send their children to such
schools—(Applause) —The Rev. T. Whelan pro.
pused a vote of thanks to the chairman. The Rev.
G. Duckett (Wolverhampton) seconded the com-
pliment, cud referring to the schools, said he
believed the Catholic schools in this diocese, and
particulaily those of Wolverhampton, with which
NN as more intimately acquainted, would com-
pare vet y favourably with any elementary schoels
for their instruction in religious and secular know-
ledge. Th: Catholics grafted secular and r, ligious
knowledge on the minds of the children, and as
teachers and priests they considered it to be their
duty to ta.keicare that in tile first place the children
were taught their duty to God, aed secondly their
duty to mau—(applause) A vote , f thanks having
also been accorded to the ladies, a programme of
vooal and insttumental music was proceeded with
The c.intributors to it were St. Mary a choir, Miss
Bates, Miss Malley and Miss Clancy, Miss Baker,
Miss Barney, Mi,s Bates, Mes,rs. J. T. Randle,
Cusack, Newton, Gibney, Yates, T. Keogh, and
Bache.
IN POSSEsSION OF A DANGEROUS WEAPON.—At
t e ioUee Court on Thursday, lafcee W. F. F.
i3mlghey, Esq. (stipendiary nin-i,ttate), William
Rowley (27), roller, l'ei,rson Street, was charged
with being drunk did disorderly.—According to
the evidence of l'oliee-st.rgeant Smith and Police.
constable Buckl.y, on Tuesday night the prisoner
was drunk and creating a disturbance outside his
father's house, and had just previously been
threatening to kid his father with a carving knife.
As the I'ol7ee-sergeant approached him some people
in the crowd warn, d the officer "to take care of
the knife." A.t that moment prisoner pulled out of
a pocket in the back of his trousers a long carving
knife, and s.ii, "It would be a cold job if tha
officers approached him." Police-constable Buck-
ley thereupon knocked him down, and wrested the
knife from nim.— Defendant's excuse was that he
had been drinking all through the Christmas, and
was excited because his b:others were not friendly
to him. The Stipendiary commented upon the
serious results which might accrue .from carrying
such a knife, and fined the prisoner 20s .and costs.
or in default 14 days' hero labour. There weec
only two other eases of drunkenness arising out of
the Christmas festivities.
ON THE HIGHWAY TO A REFORMATORY.—Edward
Jones (17), ironworker, Pensnett, who was the pre-
vious night arrested under a waerant, was charged
with stealing a quantity of coal, of the value of
7d, the property of the Earl of Dudley.—The of-
feuce was proved by a watchman . named Gray.—
The Stipendiary, addressing the prisoner, told him
that in four years he had teen six times convicted
of stealiug, and punished by whipping and impri-
sonment. He had a great mind to send him for
' trial to the Session, and there was, nu doubt he
was on tlee highway to a reformatory,, if he did not
get sent to penal servitude. Ile would, however,
have another chance. Prisoner was then sentenced
to six weeks' hard labour,