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 CHAIRMAN, 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. He 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 &nail were the anti-
cipations of success which bad 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 Exhibition had
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 15 years wonderful pro-
gress bad 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
be no doubt that the exhibition of the products of
the arta and sciences had a most important effect in
promoting the elevation of the people. The hum-
blest artisan felt a pride in having his worlananship
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 w

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 'make 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 tho benc-