The Express.
London, England, 1863-07-13 00:00:00

WORKING MENS CLUB AND INSTITUTE
UNION.

On Saturday the first annual meeting of the
Working Men's Club end Institute Union was held at
Burlington-house ; Lord BIIOUGRAN In the chair. Arnoogst
those present ware Lord Lyttelton, Mr. Cowper, kL P., bir
B. lynx, Sir W. A'Beckett, Rev. F. D. Maurice, Rev.
Newman Hall, Mr. J. Heywood, Mr. T. Hughes, Mr. J.
Vaughan, Mr. W. E. Flanks, Hr. Hastings, hc. Letten of
apology for not being able to attend the meeting were
mowed from Lord Etary, Earl FOIt•OCUIP, Mr. W. E.
Fortier, M.P. Mr. Stanafekl, the Dean of Ely, Sir F.
Crossley, Dr. Irons, Ito.

Mr. SOLI.; the secretary, read a report, of which the
followiog is an abstract :
. . . _

The oiler' has been formed for the purpose of helping I
working men to establish clubs or institutes where they can
meet for conversation, bunnies, nod mantel improvement,
with the means of recreation and refreshment, free from the
temptations of the public-house ; these clubs, at the isms
time. constituting societies for mutual helpfulness ire vari-
ous ways. The objects of the union were to be carried out
in the following manner :—By correspondence by mama
visits ; at these visits cooterenon were to be held with the
working-classes, sod with others in the locality who may be
interested is the object ; by the dissemination of tracts, or
special papers • by grants or leans of books' for club
libraries, appiratus, diagrams, ftc., to societies la
membership with the union ; by grant.. of money in
special mem by way of loan or otherwise, towards
the building, enlarging, or altering club-houses, or pro-
curing recreation grounds, foci societies in the union.
The union has now been in existence about • year, and in
active operation for the last nine months. The following is
• statement of the work which ham hem accomplubed dunag
that period. Public and private meetings have been bald
to promote the formation or development of clubs ; and
about 26,0,1:10 prospectuses, various circulars, reprints of
newspaper correspondence, magazine articles, am., have
been printed and distributed. The following is a lid of
places where clubs have beer established by the agency of
the union, and which are enrolled Mit ea affiliated socie-
ties :—Wandsworth, Kentish-town, Camden-town sod
Booth Hampstead ; Bradford, West Bromwich. Viedoes-
bury, Scarborough, Soho (London), Fariogdon, Chichester,
Halifax, Alton. The follow/Jog clubs, which were previ-
ously in mistime, have been received into connexion with
the union :—St. lfatthiaa, Salford ; Colonnade, Clare-
market, L 0114011; Dudley, Kamer/ate, Bridport, South-
amptoo, Brighton, West OM (Brighton), South Shields,
Hounslow, Cheahunt, Kin ham, Sedgeley, Davenport.
Clubs have be mare being formed at Me following places,
Studer the impulse and advice of the tinkle, but are not
yet affiliated : Bethnal-green, Pimlico, Forest-bill, Somers-
town, St. Amass, Holloway, Birmingham, Bristol, Wol-
verhampton, Lincoln, Kingston, Wal worth. In addition
to these several clubs are now being organised in other lo-
calities. In all, twenty-three clubs have been established
by the union, and the somber .4 members on their books
may be minuted at about 4,7i10. Several clubs or ll:imi-
tates, which were already in operation, have received the
advice or assistance of the council. A conversazione was
held at the limovicequars Rooms on the 11th of May, under
the presidency of Lord Lytteiton, in the unavoidable absence
of Lord Brougham, and was attended by • large number of
friends of the 10100. The work still to be accomplished by the
union oerniste—l. In awaking local attention to the desisahla
noes of establishing clubs, is procuring the requisite local sup-
port for them, and in giving suitable guidance for their
foundation on sound principles. 2. la assisting, by per-
sonal voila, conespoinleeoe, and means, to
. , . .

strengthen or renovate clubs which already exist And 3.
In developing the full capacities of the clubs for usefulaces,
throughout the country, by 00-operation with one another
and with the union. The council would remind the mem-
bers rod the public that an :mere's is the f nude of the union
it aeoeaemy —not merely to develop its full usefulness, but
to maintain its present efficiency ; Lad they earnestly appeal
to all who are interested in the objects of the society for
donations sad sutscriptione fur the ensuing year. It
is particularly hoped that the number of in-
ane subscribers may he largely 'Deceased, so
as to insure the permanent success of the society.
The &commie for the year showed receipts amounting to
7301. 10a 3d.. end a balance, Mier deducting the expenditure
and liabilities, of 175/. 13e. 3d.

The meeting was subsequently addrested by Lord Lyttel.
ton, Mr. Ju. Heywood, Mr. Cowper, KY., the 1t.,. F.
D. Maurice, Sir B. Pine, Sir W. A'Beckett, Rev. Newman
Hall, and olden, and the proceedings closed with a Tote of
tbaake to the chairman.

In the evening a numerous Forty of ladles end gentlemen
(final All owned at dicer at the Whittington Club, the
'bait being occupied by Lord Lyttalton.