The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-03 00:00:00

Sir J. Fergusson, M.P., at Kilmarnock

On Monday Sir James Fergusson, M.P. for Ayr-
shire, presided at the opening of a museum and
bazaar in the Corn Exchange Hall, Kilmarnock,
organised by the Abstainers' Union of the place, for
the recreation of working men at this holiday season,
and as a means of raising funds for a new Temper-
ance Hall. Among these on the platform were the
provost and magistrates and other influential gen-
tlemen belonging to the town and neighbourhood.
The CIIAIRMAN, in the course of his opening re-
marks, said this exhibition, in common with the
many others that had taken place— from those held
in the great capitals of the world, down to those
held in the seats of manufacturing industry—all
proved the great success that had attended the
efforts of those benevolent persons interested in the
diffusion of the arts and sciences among the people,
and the elevation of the popular taste. lie could
not but advert to the fact that the chief promoter
of such schemes had been the Prince Consort. Only
fifteen years had elapsed since that lamented Prince
had called together that great assembly of the
productions of the world—the Exhibition of 1851.
Many would recollect how small were the anti-
cipations of success which had at first been enter-
tained regarding that enterprise, and how little ad-
vantage had been expected to arise from it. Many
would recall the lamentable deficiencies shown
by the British exhibitors, proud as they had
been of their great reputation. A comparison of
the British productions with those of other coun-
tries, if it proved that our people were foremost in
those ruder arts which ministered to the progress of
a nation and foremost in the development of the re-
sources of their country—still that Exhibitionlad
manifested a great want of taste running through
every department of British manufacture, ugliness
being the predominant feature. All would allow
that the Exhibition of 1862 showed a most remark-
able improvement in the beautifying of our manu-
factures. He appealed to those best capable of
judging if within the last 13 years wonderful pro-
gress had not been made in beauty of production
and fertility of invention. This most gratifying
advancement had sprung in a great measure from
the exhibitions that had taken place. There could
Le no doubt that the exhibition of the products of
the art 3 and sciences had a most important effect in
promoting the elevation of the people. The hum-
blest artisan felt a pride in having his workmanship
recognised and admired by those best capable of
judging, and was stimulated to raise himself in the
social scale by theappreciation of the works in which
he was engaged. The speaker then proceeded to
refer to the objects of the exhibition, and the aus-
pices under which it was held. He was not con-
nected with any such society as that which had pre-
pared this museum, and he felt bound to say that
he was not one of those who approved of legislative
enactments to makb the people sober. He believed
that the efforts of the societies towards the promo-
tion of self-denial would be attended with far better
results. Still, he was bound to recognise the belie-

ficial services of those who had done so much to
limit and reduce what had been rightly called a
great national evil. In his own short experience he
could not not fail to remark how great had been the
reduction of intemperance among the masses. There
had been progress in the decency and respectability
of the working classes of the country. This was
mainly owing to the reduction of intemperance,
which had been greatly promoted by the
numerous voluntary engagements entered into
qy working men. The object of the ex-
hibition—to raise money for a new hall
and working man's institute—was worthy of cor-
dial support. It was common to preach and delaim
against the intemperance of the working classes, and
implore them to seek more healthful scenes of recrea-
tion than the publichouse. But how could they ex-
pect men engaged in engrossing and labour occupa-
tions to betake themselves to healthful enjoyments
unless they provided the means ? It would do no
good to tell working men to spend their leisure time
more profitably unless opportunities were at the same
time held out for them to spend it better. He con-
cluded by expressing a hearty wish for the success
of an enterprise so eminently calculated to promote
the welfare of the people.