The Sun.
London, England, 1858-10-20 00:00:00

MANCHESTER -MECHANICS!

INSTITUTE.

The Council of the Society of Arts' having at the
recent examination awarded certificates of merit to
10 of Cie students in the Manehester Mechanics'
Institution, these honours were distributed by the
Earl of Carlisle, K.G., on'Monday evening, in the
lecture-hall of the Institute, Mr. Oliver Heywood,
president of the institution, occupied the chair, and
there were present—.-Mr. Mackie, the mayor of
Manchester; Mr. Harliey, mayor of SalfOrd ; Sir
E. Armitage, Sir J. Watts, Mr. Fairbairn, C.E.,
F.R.S. ; Mr. Bazley, Profeisor Greenwood, Prin-
cipal of Owen's College ; Mr. L. Horner, the Rev.
W. Gaskell, Mr. J. Heron, the Rev. Canon Richson,
and many of the members and friends of the insti-
tution.

The CHAIRMAN said it was proper to enhance—
if the presence of such an assemblage as this could
enhance—the gratification and distinction of the
victors in the recent competition for testimonials of
proficiency. At the same time those who had been
unsuccessful were not to be overlooked. Many of
them were men of considerable talent and ability ;
they were present as generous witnesses of their
competitors' distinction, and they were also dili-
gently preparing themselves for the renewed con•
test of next year. They needed not to be told that
disappointment was the way through which most
men had attainedsuccess. (Applause.) What would
have been the position of this institution itself had
its conductors been unmindful of that encourage-
ment to perseverance ? (Cheers.) Referring next
to the merits of the educational experiments which
are in process all over the country, and to the ob-
jection that superficial knowledge of a variety of
subjects was likely to be encouraged, leading young
students to pride themselves upon having a mass of
general information while their solid acquirement
was really nothing to boast of, he said his own
experience led to the conclusion that it was rather
the emptiest than the fullest brain which was also
the vainest. (Hear.) The late examination, the
third under the auspices of the Society of Arts,
was the first in which members of this insti-
tution had competed. There were about
1,000 candidates for examination, of whom this
institution sent 36. Of that number eight failed to
pass.the prnliminary examination, and 10 out of the
remainder gained 19 certificates. The total number
of papers sent in by the 28 was 47, many of the suc-
cessful candidates having entered themselves for
examination in several subjects. The simpler and
more useful subjects were not passed by for the
higher branches of study; for the preliminary ex-
aminations were passedby the 28 with great credit.
There might, however, have been some aiming too
high ; for, while there was but one paper. in
chemistry, one in practical mechanics, and one in
book-keeping, there were seven in geometry and
eight in algebra. It was reassuring, however to
perceive, on a:;alysing the results, that those who
competed in a plurality of subjects had been suc-
cessful in a fair proportion. (Applause.) In con-
clusion, he expressed his gratification at the circum-
stance that there was no longer the appearance of
secession from the institution on the part of young
members as they became older, and the directors
were seriously considering how to provide a more
social and enduring intercourse among their intel-
ligent constituency. (Hear. hear.)
Alf. It. RUMNET, the chairman of the class com-
mittee, stated that the educational department of
the institution consisted of three divisions. First,
were the female day classes, which were commenced
many years ago, for the purpose of giving a sound
practical education to the daughters of adult mem-
bers of the artisan class. These classes were very
successful, and they now contained as many as could
be accommodated. There were at present 200 girls
and young women receiving daily instruction from
13 teachers, 10 of whom had received almost their
entire education in the institution. (Hear,. hear.)
OccasiOnally the directors had been disappointed in
the -strangers whom-they had engaged as teachers,
but they had in no case been disappointed in those
whom they had . taken from the classes as teachers
of the younger members. The boys' department had
only been established since the opening of the new
building. A person who sent his sons to the institu-
tion had declared that for_ a subscription of 17s. a
quarter, includinr, membership, they were receiving
quite as good, if not better education, than they
had got at a school for which he had paid £l2 per
annum. The directors had no intention of compe-
ting with other schools, but aimed simply to supply
the want of a school in a middle position between
those charging 6d. or ls. a-week, and those whose
terms ranged from one to three guineas a-quarter.
There were 220 boys in attendance, and their
classes were conducted very efficieniy. In the
evening classes an alteration had been made. The
plan of conducting them formerly was to teach the
members individually. Now the collective system
was adopted, and by a proper subdivision of the
members of those classes, and a frequent use of the
black board, several advantages were gained. The
directors had great faith in the use of the chalk and
black board ; they believed there could be no effi-
cient teaching of large classes without very gene-
ra/ use of them, and in their selection of teachers
they had had special regard to ability in handling
these two instruments effectively. In Mr. Angell,
the principal 'of these classes, they had secured a
man who could use both chalk and black board with
remarkable results, and such as he (Mr. Rumney)
had never witnessed before. (Loud cheers from
the junior portion of the members.)
The Earl of CARLISLE was received with loud
cheers. He expressed much pleasure in having this
opportunity of paying his respects and homage to
old acquaintance. (Hear.) It was now—he feared
it must be confessed—above a quarter of a century
since he paid his last visit to the members of the
Mechanics' Institute of Manchester. He was de-
lighted to find how much more handsomely and
commodiously the members were now accommo-
dated, and he did not see why they should not all
enter into an engagement with each other to meet
again at the end of another quarter of a century.
(Applause and laughter.) At the end of that time,
no doubt, it would be impossible for any room to
contain their greatly augmented numbers short of
the great Free Trade-hall. (Cheers.) He heard
the' most favourable 'reports of the progresi
of the institution and of the benefits it had
been privileged to confer upon the impor-
tant and populous district in the heart of which it
was established. A most pleasing thing it certainly
was to find that in a town like Manchester, the
foremost town in all the world for mechanical in-
vention and ingenuity—which invention and inge-
nuity could not be better represented than by the
eminent gentleman near him, Mr. W. Fairbairn—
(hear)—that in such a town, absorbed necessarily
to a great extent in material pursuits, there was
suitable proviSion made for the ' intellectnal and
mental, and higher qualities of our nature. Among
the many institutions in the city having this
elevating mission in view, there was every reason
to believe that the Mechanics' Institute most cre-
ditably-and laudably performed its part. He learnt
that, besides the general arrangements of a me-
chanics'-institute—its reading and news-room and
its library of books—they had female day classes,
which, at the period of their last report, contained
219 pupils, besides whichthere were persons giving
their attention to special branches of instruction—
such as music, dancing, drawing, modelling, French,
and even Millinery—no doubt an important pursuit
in its way—(laughter)—a number of persons which,
with the day classes, raised the whole number to
441 ; that the evening male classes were attended
by no less than 813 students ; and that there were
classes for boys, which comprehended 166 pupils.
He believed these last classes had only been nine
months in operation ; they were now increasing,
and wither longer period of time before them they
would show how well they could earn their honours.
When ke heard the statement of Mr. Rumney he
he really felt that he had been labouring under
great disadvantages in his own education, never
having had the advantage of being taught by means
of the chalk and black board (laughter and cheers)
which lie learned was such an efficient instrument.
and he doubted it not, for he saw its .many
recom-
mendations in the education of the
wasattached to
rising
e..genera-
tion of this day. He found there
the institution a Working Dian 's ce/ 1 which he
of t his
etfowii
the
averagetrusted wax destined to confer solid advantages on
the great working community
Refer-
ence had been made to the shortness
it
periods of membership. Ile apprehended that
was much more easy to regret than to remedy
this. Men would not be driven to the fountains of
knowledge and of entertainment. The example of
Liverpool—he did not know whether he might say
also of Manchester—must be followed ; fountains
must be so placed and arranged that by their cool-
ness, freshneSs, and sparkle they might allure
passers by to their purifying streams. (Applause.)
The directors and members must study how to make
their institution attractive and amusing—he almost
shrunk from using that word—but he meant "cosy"
—(laughter)—as well as dignified and instructive.
If it was thus furnished with all the attractions
which, consistently with its character and constitu-
tion, it was capable of, the directors would not then
compel but induce people to come to and maintain
their connection with it. This bore upon the ques-
tion of the propriety and advantage of keeping up
as much social intercourse as possible, and the
friends and members of all such institutions would
show great wisdom in promoting sueh a spirit of
good fellowship and maintaining as much esprit de
corps as possible. He rejoiced that the institution
still continued to be managed by directors elected
by the members 'from their own body, for that was
the way,, he was confident, of giving satisfaction
and inspiring interest. They had been told that of