Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-02-24 00:00:00

THE ORPHAN BOYS' ASYLUM

The annual meeting of this Institution was held at
Two o'clock yesterday, in the Asylum, Myrtle-street.
Mr. Harmood Banner presided, and the chaplain, the
Rev. T. Banner, opened the proceedings with prayer.
The report of the committee was then read. It called
attention to the fact that the ordinary sources of income
were far from sufficient to meet the necessary expenditure,
the annual subscriptions and such Church collections as
may be safely calculated upon from year to year falling
short of the disbursements to an extent of nearly £3OO.
The number of boys in the Institution has increased con-
siderably, being now 104, consequently, although the
greatest enonomy was practised, it would have proved
impossible to have avoided a heavy debt, had it not been
for the fortunate chance of legacies and donations
sufficient to cover the deficiency. The committee
urged strongly upon their friends to call the wants of
_
notice of others with whom
e to exert an influence.
The health of the boys, under the able superintendence
of Mr. Harris, had been excellent, though the season
had been a sickly one. Favourable accounts as to con-
duct and character had been received from the masters

byluni .to -the
may be a

of twenty-two apprentices, and of the remaining two,
making up the entire number of twenty-four, who had
left the Asylum since its establishment, no report could at
present bc'obtained, from the fact of their being now
serving their times as sailors in distant parts of the world.
The delight taken by the boys in music increases• under
the encouraging care of Palgrave Simpson, Esq. The
progress made by them was such as to warrant the bold
attempt of their giving a concert at St. George's Hall
for the benefit of the Infant Orphan Asylum. Some

members of the Philharmonic Society gave their assis-
tance, and the result was, that a sum of no less than
£133 was handed over to the treasurer of the new insti-

Mr. Brancker, treasurer, read the statement of ac-
counts, from which it appeared that the year's expenditure
was £1,131 4s 7d, and the receipts £1,554 5s 7d, leaving
a balance in favour of the Institution of £423 ls. The
surplus arose entirely from legacies and donations.

lue uaairmani in moving the adoption of the report
and statement of accounts, appealed to the meeting and
the public for some additional support to the Institution.
While the number of boys had increased from 80 to 'lOO.

donation

Tiptions had not increased, and but for the
and legacies which they had received during

the Rev. Thomas B. Banner, which was seconded by Mr.
Elliott, and carried by acclamation.
Mr. Grazebrook moved a resolution requesting Mr.
Brancker to continue in the office of treasurer, which was
unanimously.agreed to.
The Chairman then brought forward a motion to alter
one of the existing regulations of the institution. The
rule at present was that boys should be admitted between
the ages of eight and ten. It was thonght desirous to
extend the time, and make it from seven to ten. The
new institution which was being organised for
infants, would receive such inmates up to
the age of seven, and the proposed
alteration in the rule of the Orphan Boys' Institution,
would henceforward provide for .every orphan child of
legitimate parents of whatever age, up to the time when
they should be placed in some position to maintain them-
selves.
The proposed alteration was agreed to without objec-
tion.

The Chairman proposed that a new rule be added to
those already existing, to the effect that every clergyman
who preached on behalf of the institution, be appointed a
guardian for life.
The rule was approved and adopted.
Mr.. Hill moved the appointment of the committee for
the ensuin„,.. year, which was seconded by Mr. Elliott,
and carried.
The Chairman alluded to the death of Mr. Henry
Torrens Brown in reeling terms, and expressed his sense
of the deep loss the institution had suffered by the depri-
vation of so valued and earnest a supporter of it.
Before the meeting separated the boys of the institution
were afforded an opportunity of displaying their great
musical proficiency. The band performed a piece of
music with a skill which would have rendered high credit
to the most accomplished professional musicians.