The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-02-29 00:00:00

STOURBRIDGE CHURCH OF ENGLAND
ASSOCIATION.

The annual tea party wss held on Monday evening,
met passed oil with greater 111.1eCeSII than any peerless
event of the kind in connection with Association. The
Corn Ex.:home, in which the gathering took place, was
wreathed with evergreens, and the native ugliness of the
mmm was relieved by the devices in the way of decara-
tiou which were introduced. There wore 220 or no, to
tea, trays and subscriptions in aid of which which wore
given by the following :—Mrs. Bernard, Mrs. Bolder°,
Mr. J. Blew, Mr. J. Blind, Mrs. lirmonliall, Mrs. Collie,
(Amblecote), Mr. W. Cooper, Mrs. W. 0. Foster, Mrs. A.
Freer. Mrs. 11. 0. Firmstone, Mrs. Fisher, Mrs. Grottos,
Mr. Hargraves, Mr. .1. Hunt, Mrs. J. Hammed, Miss
[leeward (the Beeches), Mr. Healy, Mrs. Joscelyne, Mrs.
E. B. Marten, Messrs. Nicholls and Perks, Mrs. Priddy,
Miss Robins, Mrs. W. Roberts, Mn. Sheppard, Mrs.
Slierrard, Mrs. Thomas, the Rev. R. P. Turner, Mrs.
James Walker, and Mrs. Joseph Webb.
After tea the choir was occupied by the Rev. H. Slier.
rent. There were also present Dr. Dixon, Revs. J. S.
Itoldero, Williams, it. Oilbanks, W. J. J. Welch, and
0, Roliertson, A. Freer. Esq. (President of the Associa.
), E. W. Bernard, Esq., F. Roberts, Esq., Tr.-pus,
Esq.. It. L. Freer, Esq., E. It. Marta, Esq., Oscar
Roberts, 14511., Spacer, Esq Oreen, Esq., J. It.
Shepherd. Esq., C. Webb. Esti , P. Price, Esq., A. Fisher,
Egg , G. W. omblard, Esq., Dr. Norris, :ie.
, The Chairman, on rising, said the 111,1 in was a much
I tar4er ens than usual, and the member:. may congratu-
late themselves to see so ninny presmit, especially as
I there was a very attractive entertainment elsewhere that
evening. Ile thought it very creditable to some, at least,
who hail given up that pleasure, because they nii“t have
done so at it sacrifice ; for many would have liked to have
been present at the I lagley Entertainment, hot had felt
it their duty to come here and s ort the entertainment
of this Association. An, however, long speeches were
not to be the order .if the day, it would ho very wrong
of the Chairman to set the example. Ile should only
to, hon a few points in the Repent of the Association
for the past year. The report for the year cosi ii, ,5 cer-
ein degree very encouraging. There had been an in-
crease is the number id members from 122, in 1800, to
110 in 1867. Ile thought they had reason to lie satisfied
with the grads-al progress they hod male, since its for-
mation. Ile tidier. d every year they hied increased ill
numbers, shiei showed tlmt the Association was making
its way. S addition Int.! been made to the library.
xri.l the issue if books hid been pretty large. It uppeareil
there 'mil been a diminution of works of Fiction, and
an ineres-e id hooks it a more solid character. This
lie thenght ass a very encouraging thing. He dhl not
entertain the unmitigated horror of works of fiction
which atone dia, yet lie was glad to see that the young
mon if the A ssoeiation were acqiiiring a taste for a more
.IJ:a Li la of reeding. Ile was sorry to be obliged to
litO old Story as to the eliwiees. Still Cla
their existence, and lie believed they ware doing
as touch is Rini way. in peoportion, as other armistice.
He balls rail the AalltidiAiioll wan exareiting a benefkisl
hillsemee on the young men of the tows. This Associa-
tion was founded by the labs Mr. Orin, and one or two
others, who formerly held their meetings in the Beauty
Bank Behool-room. The it.,. Chairman concluded by
nspressing a wish that the kssweiation would still cow.
tines to prosper.
Olee—" 0, who will o'er the anon."
Rending—the Rey, J. Boldero."
Violin solo—Mr. k. Fielote-“lsitatat.