The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-23 00:00:00

T.HE OLDHAM LYCEUM.

The opening of the Oldham Lyceum took place yester-
day. It was to be celebrated by a procession and lunch
in the morning, and by a tea-party and Soiree in the
evening. Among the guests invited, and who honeisred
the ceremony, were Lord Stanley. M.P.. Sir Sell.
Shuttleworth, Wm. Brown, Esq., M.P., James Iley.
wood, Esq., M.P., J. M. Cobbett, Esq., M.P;, Colonel
and Lieutenant Colonel Burns (sons of the Scottish
bard), the Rev. Dr. Vaughan, and the Mayors of Man-
chester and Ashton-under-Lyne. The procession, which
included the authorities of, the: borough, the guests, and
most of the leading inhabitants, formed at the Town
Hall soon after 12 o'clockl'abd headed by a band of music
proceeded through-tar 17E:pal:streets to the new build-
ing, which is situate.in Unions-street. The building is an
exceedingly handsome erection of stone, in the Italian
style of architecture, in two storeys, with underground
rooms for schools, and attics fur class-rooms, above
which is an observatory c enmanding an extensive range
of country. The two principal storeys contain an:ex
ceedingly fine newsroom and lec'urs-hall, besides 'CIO,
board, and other rooms. Tno cost of the buildifig has
been upwards of 5,0001.
The procession arrived at the front door of the new
building a little before one o'clock at noon, when ,•
JAMES PLATT, Esq., the president of the institution,
addressed an immense assemblage crowded before it,
from the steps. He said —My lord and gentlemen,--elt
is now little more than twelve months since I -had the
honour to lay the first stone of this splendid budding,
and it is now my pleasing duty to formally open the Ly-
ceum. The directors wish that I should say a few words
on this occasion, and it will not be inappropriate:that I
should refer to the origin of this great and good work
—a work that has enlisted the sympathy and co-opera-
tion of all classes, and I am happy to say of all parties.
(Hear.) About three years ago we began to consider
how best we might promote the interests of the institu-
tion. It had then attained a very respectable positide,
but we thought it was possible very greatly to promote
the interests of the Lyceum if we could raise funds for
the new building. The difficulty was, however, es
usual, how to raise the funds. We ultimately decided
to do it by means of an Industrial Exhibition, and we
hoped, by the manner in which it was got up, and by
the completeness of its several department, to show the
public that we were deserving of their support. •But I
shall never forget the zeal and anxiety displayeddeatfthe
officials and members of the institution, and the efforts
that were made to obtain contributions. Such self-saari-
fice must always attain success, and 'could riot fail to
inspire all those who took an interest in 'the well-
being of such an institution. I will rot say more Wan
that the result was that one hundred thousand people
passed through the walls of ,the exhibition ; -and
at the close the following passage occurs in the report
issued 'by the directors :—" That notwithstanding the
immense crowds that often thronged the room, almost
to suffocation, not a single' article of value was either
destroyed, injured, or taken away. The result finan-
cially was equally gratifying, a surplus of more than
2,0001. remaining after paying all expenses." We. then
thought we might make a direct appeal to the pockets 'of
our fellow townsmen ; and here I must express my
acknowledgments for the great kindness with which we
were received at that time. We raised about 1,8001. in
this way, making 4,0001. altogether; and se far, there-
fore, we had succeeded very well. 'We have obtained a
building which, I hesitate not to say, is eminently
adapted for the purpose for which it has been erected.
But the question has been already asked me—"
working classes avail themselves of the advantages which
it afords, to the extent which we anticipate I" The, re-
ply I made to that question, at the moment, was, •" I
shall leave the working men to answer that question for
themselves. Their honour is now in their own keeping."
(Hear.) Gentlemen, I did not expect in so short a time
to be able to say that the question has already been' sa-
tisfactorily answered. Within the last thyee days I have
had sent in to me the names of no less than 200 indivi-
duals as additional subscribers. (Applause.) At the
same time we must not conceal from ourselves the fact
that our work is only half accomplished. In the words
of Lord Ashburton, in addressing the Society of Arts in
London, on a recent occasion—" A man goes forth into
the world as a soldier goes into a campaign ; his wants
are boundless, his means of carriage are small ; can any
service he greater than that of planning out and assort-
ing his pack, of rejecting all that may encumber his
movements, and of selecting all that shall afford mate-
slats for the work he has to do ?" In other words, that
the knowledge sought to be conveyed shall be of a
thoroughly practical character, especially adapted to
the circumstances of those whom it is our object to
benefit. Now, in order to give consistency to the efforts
which are being made by the directors of this institu-
tion in re-arranging the classes, I propose that we have
a general annual examination, a public examination ; and
in order to set the matter going at once, I beg to say
that I shall lave very great pleasure in contributing a
silver medal annually, and a sum of five guineas, to the
hest mathematician. (Applause.) I have no doubt other
prizes will be given, and I I aye no doubt also that those
prizes will be greatly valued by the young men who ob-
tain them, not so much on account of their intrinsic
worth as for the mark of distinction which they undoubt-
edly confer. Gentlemen, every county has some pecu-
liarity of which it can boast, and I fear that most of
them can boast of a more favourable climate than we
einj -e—(this allusion to a smart shower which had just
commenced was received with much laughter)—and cer-
tainly of greater richness about the scenery ; but when I
consider the enormous increase in population, and in
material wealth which is here taking place, day by day,
and the activity of mind and body which it necessarily
induces, I feel that we, too, have something of which we
may be proud ; and I cannot shut my eyes to the fact
that the northern manufacturing districts of England are
destined to exercise a most important influence on the
future policy of our country. If this be so, surely it is a
noble ambition to endeavour to raise the moral and in-
tellectual standard of the people. Such has been our am-
bition in erecting this building ; and in full confidence
that the result will more than answer our fullest expec-
tations, I have now the pleasure and the great honour of
formally declaring it opened. (Loud cheers.)
The doors of the Lyceum were then opened, and the
principal company went through the building to inspect
the various rooms.
The lunch took place at two o'clock, but our report
had to be despatched before the principal toasts had been
given. Lord Stanley was to preside at the soiree in the
evening, and the principal other speakers were to be Sir
J. ICay Shuttleworth, Mr. W. J. Fox, M.P. for the
borough, Mr. Cobbett, M.P. fur the borough ; the two
members for South Lancashire, and Dr. Vaughan.