The Sun.
London, England, 1865-11-11 00:00:00

deserves. Lord LYTTELTON adverted to the opinions
recently expressed in some quarters respecting the
desirability of those of high rank abstaining from
all interference with these projects, and added that
he never took any part in them except by the de-
sire of the parties concerned. A very general wish
has been manifested for the counsel and assistance
of the higher classes, and Mr. SOLLY, the
Secretary of the Central Association, has
stated that out of the 160 or 170 of
the working men's clubs in England, only two had
reserved the management in their own hands, and
the others had either solicited the help of the upper
classes or had accepted the offer of it. It stands to
reason that many advantages accrue from the aid
thus imparted, and that is also the great bene-
fit which arises from the mingling of classes. Such
intercourse is always to be encouraged, and all that
tends to refine and elevate the working classes must
conduce to the interest of society and their own
benefit. Lord LrrrELToN explained very clearly
the reasons why those in an influential position in
society might be of service to the classes
who are forming or have formed these clubs.
They possess two decided advantages in
their larger acquaintance with the ways of the
world and the fashion in which clubs are conducted,
and also they have by education " better habits of
method, and order, and of business, and manage-
ment, without which these clubs could not get on,
than did those lower in the social scale."
It will be a great pity if from a love of captious
criticism, and a desire to interfere in an arbitrary
fashion, any clique or set of individuals make ill-
advised remarks, and suggest difficulties where none
exist in the way of the formation and progress of
these Institutes. The Chancellor of the Exchequer
declared the other day, in his speech at Glasgow,
that the nineteenth century was the century of the
working man, and this is strictly true, while it is
an assurance full of promise ; but then the working
classes cannot know by intuition how they are to
proceed. Some help must be given to them in
climbing the steep ascent, and there can be no more
encouraging sight than to witness those possessed
of superior advantages of birth and education en-
deavouring to benefit their fellow-men on whom
the same blessings have not been bestowed. By
the order of PROVIDENCE, some must always be
placed in a higher position than others, and enjoy
the good things which such a condition include,
such as education, and culture, and refinement, in
fact ; but much may be done to enliven the dull
routine of those engaged in mechanical pursuits and
monotonous occupations. All must have some time
which is not engrossed by the demands of their daily
toil, and it is to induce the working classes to think
of something better and higher for their leisure hours
than mere sensual pleasures that these undertakings
are set on foot. They will be more inclined to en-
ter fully into the spirit which prompts the endea-
vour if some assistance is afforded by men quite
independent of the affair, who cannot be supposed
to have any selfish motive or individual project in
making their proposals. The chances of dispute are
greatly diminished by such a course being adopted,
and the affair assumes greater dignity and impor-
tance in the eyes of all by the united influences and
interests brought to bear upon it by the combina-
tion of forces. Lord LYTTELTON referred to the
remark recently made by Lord BROUGHAM as to the
true meaning of these clubs, that they were not to
be considered as places of "direct mental improve-
ment and educational purposes ;" but the noble lord
hardly considered this clause had been reported
correctly. In pursuance of the theme, he adduced
a very interesting and instructive comparison
between the clubs of the upper and the wox king-
classes. The members of London clubs went
there for recreation, and found their clubs a home
in every respect except that they could not go to
bed there. The question then arose, What was re-
creation ? The upper classes did not find it irksome
to read newspapers or to peruse works of instruc-
tion and amusement. The working man, in many
cases, found it unpleasant to do so, and the noble
lord said he would not urge upon them the necessity
for so doing, but he dwelt upon the chances that
existed of the next generation being more inclined
to engage in such employments. That politics nowa-
days is more a pleasure to " the majority of the
upper, some of the middle, and a few of the lower
classes," is correctly stated here, and no doubt, as
general education progresses, the children of the
working classes of to-day will, when they are
grown up, take far more interest in those great
questions which concern the welfare and happiness
of the nations of the world, and are intimately
associated with their own prospects and fortunes.

As for the restrictions which have been put upon
the clubs of the working classes, Lord LYTTELTON
agreed that they might be necessary for the pre-
sent, and remarked that although nowadays such
limitations were not desirable for the upper classes,
yet if the London clubs had been established in
the days of FIELDING it would have been most
essential to have interposed great checks to
the freedom which now distinguishes their course.
" The higher classes had to be educated up to the
point at which clubs were accepted." This the
noble lord wisely considers to be a source of
great encouragement to those of a humbler
rank, who are following their wake, and should
make them to tread the same ground, so that each
in his separate vocation and peculiar calling may be
a useful member of society, and an example
to those of their brethren not so circumspect
as themselves. Even as the higher classes of
English society have improved and benefited
greatly by the spread of education, so we may hope
that an analogous improvement will take place
among the lower.

The concluding portion of this excellent
discourse was directed to the real danger
that exists in all clubs, namely, the likelihood
of their drawing the members too much away from
their homes. Lord LYTTELTON observed that it would
be a lamentable thing if the working man ever
looked to his club for the best influences of his
life, or sought them in " any other direc-
tion apart from religion, home and family."
It may be remarked, in considering this subject,
that in most cases those who did not go to these
clubs would resort to the public-house, or to the
society of those who would lead him into mischief.
The more a man's mind is trained and cultivated,
the more he is likely to appreciate the influences of
the domestic circle, and to realise the importance of
preserving peace in his home, and seeking to pro-
mote the education of his family. In every
way that is possible, it is to be trusted
that the clubs among the working classes will be
promoted and encouraged. They possess innumer-
able objects of importance and interest to recom-
mend them to notice and win approval. All that
can be done to impart some other ideas to the mind
than those connected with daily toil must be of
! service to those so tied down to hard or engrossing
pursuits. It is not too much to say that these
efforts now so strenuously made to elevate the
working classes are more than the guides to educa-
tion and social improvements, for they are in some
sort the ministers to virtue and the aids to religion.
They are successful so far as they have progressed
at present, and are rich in the promise of a glorious
ttarreA in the future.