The Express.
London, England, 1861-06-27 00:00:00

ELEITISH AND PORSION SCHOOL SOCIETY.

Yesterday a meeting to inaugurate the new
Training College for Mistresses, recently opened at Stock-
well, was held at the College. Lord Jou' ROMMit_pre:
sided, and there were also present, Earl Greenville, Lord
Ebary, Fart Duck and Lady Lucie, J. I. Briseee&Fielqe;
LP., Fa J. Boileau and Lady_lkileau, Rev. S. R.
Rev. P. la Trots, Bev. J. Tftoombe, Rev. J. Hill, Rev.
J. J. Evans, Rev. Willis, Rev. J. Russell, Rev. Dr. He
Owen, Dr. Crowthwr, Miens. J. S. Reynolds, nos. Mortara,
R. Pont.,, H. E. Gurney, J. Corderoy, T. Benham, and
Deputy Pewtrem.
Mr. Wass, the secretary, read a statement, which, after
giving an historical summary of the establishment and pro.
grimed the Math and Foreign School Society, proceeded to
draft the arrangements and objects of the new college as
follows :—The room in which we lore assembled is the lecture
hall. In one wing of the building will be found theclaesroome
for the students. Also a day and a minced lesson room ;
in the other wing the dining and retiring rooms with
cu linery department, wash-house, and laundry. In front
of the bedding are the committee room and the apartments
of the resident superintendents. On the upper stories are
the dormitories for the students, 102 in number, with
ample accommodation fur the officers of the establishment,
and arrangements fur the practice of household work for
the students. The practising schools for the girls and
infants are connected with the main building by a cor-
ridor, bat with entirely distinct approaches fur scholars.
These schools opened concurrent) y with the occupation of
the college aod are gradually film. There are at pre-
sent 75 student. at under training, and for admimion
at Christmas next there are 110 • 'die:ante The committee
add that much of the soeeeesfal arranpneeeta are due to
Hr. W. Beck, the aschiteat, -sad from present appearance*
Mr. Myerse. the mataictor, lass executed his part
eatishietorily. The specific object of the institution
is the preparation of young persons to take
(theme of elementary schools for the education
of the nom. The general flows* of the young people ad-
mitted has, in most instances, been tested and confirmed by
a previous apprenticeship of five years in the local schools.
The committee took this opportunity to state that whatever
other sad higher attainments are desirable, thoroughness,
and, as nearly as possible, a good acquaintance with ele-
mentary subjects--with needlework, cutting out, and
domestic economy in its several branches, are acquirements
absolutely necessary, combined, as a matter of course, with
earnest religious character and skill in the impartation of
knowledge. And not only are appliances provided for prac-
tical instruction in domestic subjects, but they are daily ern-
braced in the system of training pursued. The general con-
tract for the main building and forthe school-rooms amounts
to 16,972/. Towards this sum the Committee of Council on
Education grant 5,7421. 125., and the sum actually ressivail
in form of oontributiose for this object is rather more then
7,0001. To this outlay of 16,9721. must be added the oast ci
fittings and furniture, of the laud on the south aide forming
the e'en* ground, and of various incidental expenses
which can hardly at present be accurately stated • but
prompt and liberal sad of the friends of molar education
upon *captivat inciples is urgently seeded aid earnestly
to solicited supply the deficiency of mesas.
The Rev. . Timorous having read a portion of Scrip-
hue, sad the Rev. J. Thomas having invoked the Divine
blaming on the college,
Earl GLsvtt.t.r rose to move the following resolution :
" That this gaieties, impressed with the importance of the
suitable training of teachers for elementary schools, rejoices
in the completion of this edifice, to be henceforward appro-
priated to the preparation of young women for conducting
such schools In connexion with the British and Foreign
School Society."
Earl Dome seconded the resolutios.
The resolution was put and carried.
Lord &UST moved the next resolution—" That this
meeting approving of the comprehensive basis of the British
and Foreign School Society, and sympathising with
the success and extension of its efforts, would com-
mend its claims to the Morel support of all
friends to the scriptural *doodle° of the poorer classes."
Mr. Bassoon, M.P., seconded the motion, which was also
summated by Sir J No. Bouisoc, sod carried.
The liev. S. R. CATLZT moved, and Mr. H. E. Guam
mesmisil, • vote of thanks to Lord John Russell for pre.
Meg g which having been passed by acclamation,
The eamsaus replied as follows :—Ladies and gentle-
men, I have to acknowledge gratefully the resolution which
yea have been kind enough to mai in my favour. It has
always lase fey greet pleasure to attend to the meetings of
this society. f believe the principles upon which this
society was minimally established by its founders are, the
but and truest principles for a country like this. I believe
that scriptural education, accompanied with all the secular
kaewiedge that can be imparted to young persons of the
poorer ohm, is the hest foundation for a system of national
adueatlon, and I here always considered it • misfortune
that In 1808, to which allusion has been made in the
Matesseat reed by the secretary, that principle was
sot adopted as the notional principle upon which
all the wheels in the comas, should be founded.
It loss always Deemed to me to be particularly simple and
seek• es thagsseameterity el the people of this eseatry
acknowledge the authority of the Scriptures, that that
knowledge should be imparted to the young, and that the
particular doctrines of the established church, or the par-
ticular dairies* of the other religious denominations to
which the children might belong, should be imparted after-
wards at a later age by separate teachers. It was not with-
out regret that I saw a different system introduced, the
consequence of which has been to prevent the adoption of
this principle for the whole country; but, making the
best ci what has happened, it must be acknowledged that
sines 1906, when it was a matter of vast controversy end
dispute whether it was right that the children of the poor
should receive education at all, down to the present
time, when all the various denominations and perilous
of every leak and condition are vying with each other as to
who shall spread the most and carry the farthest education
among the poor, there has been a great and most rapid pro.
gress. (Hoar, hear.) The last report of the Commiseieuen
of Edueetiou shows the great advance which has been made
even within the last few years, and that so large had bees
the number added to those who are under instruction, that
it can be no longer said, se it formerly was, that the pro-
portion of the population for whom education in some
shape or other as provided is a matter to be lamented. I
believe that proportion will go on improving until in a few
years hence we may be enabled to say the children of this
country generally are receiving education. I need not say
at this day how much it expands the mind to have some
knowledge of history, sonic knowledge of geography—how
much a man's interest and ppreoosspects in the pursuit, and
employmeote of life are furthered by a knowledge of arith-
metic and the sciences connected with it—and which know-
ledge is imparted in the Borough-road School and the other
schools in connexion with this society. There is also com-
prised in the education contemplated to this institution the
industrial training of young women in those household
duties and domestic employments--as dressmaking, culinary
improvements and family management., a knowledge of
which contributes perhaps more than anything else to the
comfort end happiness of the poorer deism. I remember
on one occasion laving the honour of accompanying her
Majesty on a visit to a school supported by her Majesty's
liberality, in Windsor-park. We visited the boys' school,
and afterwards the girls' school, and while we were in the
girls' school au examination was going on into
the mode of preparing a rice-pudding. I had no
idea before that the making of a nee-pudding was
such a complicated affair—(a laughl—but I could well on.
derstond how the knowledge properly and economically to
prepare it and other matters belonging to the culinary art
might contribute to the comfort and enjoyment of a poor
family, and could fully appreciate the importance of
making such knowledge a part of the education of future
wives and mothers. These things, however, are but the
accompaciroeuta of the education here given. I have always
thought that that would be a neat imperfect system ci
education which taught the sciences to the utmost without
elevating the mural faculties and attending to the religious
wants of the people, ant I rejoice to say that these are
points which have never been neglected by the society. On
the contrary, they have been made the basis and foundation
of all the instruction imparted. (Cheers) I trust they
will long matinee so, and that a society established upon
such principles will increase in prosperity and usefulness.
When I recollect the great men with whom I have been
associated, some of them almost in my youth, in eupporting
the so.iety—as Wilberforce, some of the most eminent of
the bishops of the church °, England, with Brougluim, the
late William Allan, and the late Samuel Gurney, I feel
proud that it should be allowed to me still to participate in
promoting such a work. (Hear, hear.)
The company then proceeded to inspect the internal
arrengeineata of the building, is which every possible con-
venience for the objects for which it has been designed is to
be found. The venous classes being at the time engaged in
their daily studies, an opportunity was afforded of testing
the character of the instruction imparted, which to the more
advanced pupils appeared to be of an order far beyond the
ordinary standard of female education. In one room many
of the visitors were instructed as well as amused by a very
lucid and lswyerlike explanation which a young lady teacher
was giving to her pupils of the statute of rnortmak, Its
history, objects, and the policy of meistaining it.

EAST SCNTOLK RAILWAY.—An extraordinary
meeting of the shareholders was held yesterday at the com-
pizainolloes, ?6, Parlismentetreet. Mr. E. Laithee, vin-
oof the board, in the chair, to *Derider, in coo-
formitp with the standing orders of the Roan of Lords, the
following bill :—" A bill to grant further powers to the
Red Suffolk Railway Company, to authorise certain
nista with respect to then share capital, and to amend the
ads relating to the company. The Chairman said the bill did
net affect the working of the East Suffolk Railway, which
would roatinue for 21 years, while it gave the shareholders
the option of exchanging their shares for preference stock, or
being paid off at par. The beads of the bill having bean
read, a resolution of approval was agreed to, after which
the meeting separated.