Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-01-20 00:00:00

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LIV.ERifiZgOL INSTITUTE.
ttie Winual meeting.of the members and
Inlre ut this 'institution was held in the lecture-rcom,
-IxOunt-street; Mr. James Molleneux, president, in the
chair, There Were a number of children and their friends
Present; and among the gentlemen on the platform, we
noticed 'Messrs. Wm. Brown, M.P., bat, J. T. Danson,
R• Johnson, P. Geo. Heyworth, Haylock, Shimmin,
Ir
julll'PhY) Mason, 11`ilveen, E. Sbiels, and Mr. Cariss, the
secretary.

•
The Ch •
Farman, in opening the proceeeings, said—
Ladieshe and gentlemen, twenty years have elapsed since I
d u the hononr of occupying this chair, as the first presi-
dent, in this building. On that occasion I had the
zji-vuegF of addressing:a meeting on the prosperous state
the institution, and anticipating with them the great
results which might be expected. On the present occasion
._e
can rejoice that that prosperity has not only been
maintained but increased, and that those anticipations
have been fully realised. And now, in retiring from the
honourable position to which by your favour I have
of three times chosen, I would express my deep sense
the confidence which has been reposed in me, and my
egret that I have not, during the past year, been able to
e!cm that attention to the affairs of the institution
which I
Was wont to give when it was more in need of
Plc fostering tare of its friends and supporters. It is,
;noweveser, a source of satisfaction to know that there is
S. attention required, and_ that the high standing
'ling character of the establishment is so increased
to reflect credit on all who are •connected with
its ode' read course of usefulness. The time was
When this was far' otherwise, when prejudice and
euniary difficulties had almost overwhelmed its
Infant efforts, and rendered its maintenance a source
of
_ care lind- Solicitude ; and I feel that I should ill
titcharge
s
my duty did I fail to offer my meed of
praise to those earnest men who bore the heat and
tar- 13f the day, and by whose devoted—zeal and
rtrseverance the foundations of this noble super-
erture were laid. Nor should we forget that those
Its were made at a time when education' for the
humble classes was looked upon as a doubtful good,
rud-..? advocates regarded as visionary
_enthusiasts,
Trid,' en worse. First in our records stands the name of
" who some 35 years ago, almost single-handed,
'established and sustained the infant institution ; and with
an ability and zeal beyond all paise fought the battle
'of education for the humbler classes. The satisfaction
__lvbiell that true philantrhopist must now feel on winess-
mg the success of his efforts in this and similar institu-
tSons must indeed be gr eat. His removal from Liverpool
gave a temporary check to our prodess ; but he had not
failed to impress others with a deep sense of the
advantages of education, and to imbue them with his
Own high principles ; and his example was well and
perseveringly followed. It may not be out of place
to point to the efforts— pecuniary and otherwise of
the many' earnest men who during the progress of
the institute , have exerted themselves to promote
the good cause. Amongst these are two names, and
those of humble individuals, which stand out in

such broad relief, and to whose services we are so

much indebted, that I cannot refrain from naming
them. John S. Ratcliffe and the late John Leyland,

who were for many years our unpaid, bit not