The Sun.
London, England, 1858-06-24 00:00:00

SOCIETY OF ARTS.—(This Day.)

ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

The annual conference between the representatives of
this institution and the council was held at the Society's
house, John-street, Adelphi.
The chair was taken by Wentworth Dilke, Esq.
Mr. P. La Nova FOSTER read the report of the
council for the past year, from which it appeared that
the four candidates who distinguished themselves at
the society's examinations last year, Frank Marshall,
Henry Cullum, Edward Highton, and Edward Philip
Plowman, have been appointed to clerkships in the Privy
Council-office. The report then alluded to the question
of whether the examinations should be in London or
the provinces, and then went on to say that the Council,
after an anxious consideration of the question, determined
to adopt the scheme originally put forth, namely,
to hold an examination wherever an institution,
or a group of institutions, would make satisfac-
tory arrangements for the due and honest working
of the examination papers by the candidates. To
carry out the system, the council invited the forma-
tion of local boards, and imposed upon them the further
duty of holding a preliminary examination to test the
handwriting and spelling of the candidates, their know
ledge of English grammar and the common rules of
arithmetic, as well as their knowledge of those special
subjects in which they proposed to be examined by the
society's examiners. The council, as early as circum-
stances permitted, issued the programme of the examina-
tions to be conducted on this system. It was, f Treasons
to which it is unnecessary for me to allude, delayed in
its publication, and was not issued till December, giving
a shorter notice both to the institutions and the candi-
dates than was desirable. However, notwithstanding
this delay, the matter was taken up heartily by the insti-
tutions, and the result has been the formation of 58 local
boards, a much larger number, taking all the circumstances
into consideration, than could have been anticipated.
The examination papers were sent down to each board
in sealed packets, with strict iejunetions for their being
opened in the presence of the candidates, at the special
hours and on the special days appropriated for the sub-
j-,cts. The papers, when worked by the candidates, were
returned by the decal boards, accompanied with a decla-
ration, signed by a given number of the Board, to the
effect that the papers forwarded therewith were worked,
in the presence of a certain number of the board, by the
candidates whoa) numbers they respectively bore,
without any assistance whatever, from books, notes,
memoranda, from each other, or from any other per-
,on, and that not more than three hours were
occupied in working the pap-rs, and that no
candidate was allowed to resume, or complete, his paper
after having left the examination room in the course of
the time aesigeed to that paper, and further, that the
paper of questions given to each candidate was taken
from the envelope in which it was transmitted front the
Society of Arts, the Peal being br -len in their presence
and in that of the assembled candidates, at the com-
mencement of the time appointed for the paper in the
time-table issued by the Society ; and, finally, that
not fewer than a certain number of the Local
Board were present during the whole time that
the candidates were engaged with the papers. Tee
Local Beards, in every instaecs but one, have
mo t carefully attended to all the regulations ;
and it is a most gratifying Ureumetance to report.
The number of candidates who attended the previous
examinations was 1,107. Of this Lumber 501 were de-
clared by the local boards as eligib'e for the final exami-
nation ; of them 288 were subsequently examined in
Whitsun week, 300 certificates were awarded to 199
candidates, and 89 candidates were unsuccessful. 23 in-
stautions have joined the Union during the year, whilst
derieg the earns period thirty-four have bean removed
from the Society's books. The condition of the Insti-
tteions is far better than when the Union was first
established ; there is more attention paid to the really
useful obj tcts for which their foundere intended them; there
are more classes ; and on the part of the public, there
is a more general appreciation of their capabilities for
good. These fact, coupled with evidence of their in-
creasing numbers is all dieu ions, contradict the oft
repeated statement that mechanics' institutions are
failures. Taey are graduelly, slowly it may be, but
sorely, taking a permanent poslti n in the country, and
when we see their results in the xArniLations which
have lately taken place, whether we look at the Society's
final kx.unicatio2i, or those which Lava been held in
connection with the provinc'al unions, we cannot but
see that they aro rassrcising a powerful it fltueeee for
good, and assiatiog very materially to bring about a vast
improvement in ihe education of the country.
The CHAIBILIN made a few observations on the report,
and al'uded to the failure of one of the local boards in
carrying out the rules laid down for public examinations;
but the council had the satisfaction of stating that the
candidates who would come up fur f xAmination from the
local boards would nut suffer Ly the omission, but that
the council had to award two prizes of Si. and 31. each.
With respect to the future it was the intention
of the retiring council to recommend to their successors
to withdraw certain subjects for examination, because
owing to the arrangements made by the Government for;
the test of proficiency, they had become superfluous so
far as the objects of the society was concerned. The
first question which they would have to settle was, what
was the most convenient season of the year in which the
annual examination should be held for the future.

Mr. HOLES, of the York and Leeds Institution, said
the resolution he intended to move embodied nearly the
whole of the subjects to which he wished the council to
direct its attention. Ile-w nil therefore move it with-
out further observation. It. was as follows, " That this
meetmg is of opinion that the present system of exami-
nation of the Society of Arts, conducted through local
centres, would be improved by introducing the f. Bowing
changes :-Ist, That to the local boards should be at-
tached examiner?. Secondly, that for this purpose it is
essential that, the centres of examinations should be re-
duced (not to exceed five). Thirdly, That the examina-
tions be oral as well as by written -.Japers." He moved
the resolution on the part of Yorkshire and Leeds,
which contained a very large number of pupils, amount-
ing to about '20,000.

Mr. ROMNEY, of the Manchester Institution, and one
of the local board of examiners, seconded the resolution.
He had heard with regret that it was intended to abo-
lish drawing, and to substitute vocal music. He con-
sidered the drawing class one of the most important.
A discussion then ensued, in which the limiting the
centres of examination was opposed by the Rev. Canon
Girdlestone, of Bristol, Mr. Ryland, cf Bradford, and
several other gentlemen.
The CHAIRMA.N said the system recommended by the
resolution had been tried, and found unsuccessful. The
22,000 members alluded to by Mr. Hole only contri-
buted two guineas a-year to the otjects of the society.
(Laughter.)
Mr. COLE was of opinion that instead of limiting the
centres of examination they ought to be extended in
every direction. He moved the fallowing amendment
to the resolution cf Mr. Holes :—" That the Con-
.rence is of opinion that for the benefit of those
for whom the Society of Arts' examiners are
intended, the system of local boards should be extended
throughout the society's union, wherever the localities
can make satisfactory arrangements for the working of
such boards."

Mr. JOHNSTON, of Barnet, secmded the amendment.
Mr. HOLES replied that if success was wished for, a
great reduction of the centres of Examination must be
made. It was ridiculous to pursue the systemat present in
existence, of having two or three boards in a very small
district. If the wishes of Yorkshire were attended to,
201. would readi'y be contributed towards the expense
of the examination.

The amendment was then put to the meeting, when it
was carried by a major;ty of 24.
The CHAIRMAN said the next business to settle was
the period of tae year at which the final examination of
candidates was to take place.
After a short discussion, it was arranged that the
final ex iminations of candidates should take place in the
evening, on certain days between Easter and Whitsun-
tide, to be fixed by the council of the Society of Arts.
It was also decided that the present minimum age of
candidates for examination should remain as at present
(16).
With respect to the question in what manner the
local bcards could beneficially co-operate 'with the insti-
tution in for warding the preparation of their candidates
for oxamination,

Mr. M'lvou moved the following resolution :—" That
it be recnmmended by the conference to all the local
boards that they put themelves into communication
with the directors of the institutions with which they
may be severally connected, in order to assist out the
formation or the continued action of classes for the pre-
paration of candidates for the society's examination."
The resolution, having been seconded by Mr. SPOONER,
was unanimously adopted.

The CHAIRMAN said the next subject for the consi-
deration of the cinfercnce was—Can the local boards
advantageously act as administrators of prizt echeLnes
for children between 12 and 16 years of age, so as to
induce them to continue their instruction bet veep the
time at which they leave the elementary schools and the
time at which they become admissible to the examina-
tions of the S )ciety of Arts.
Mr. CHESTER moved a resolution to the effect that it
would greatly promote the interest of the public edu-
cation and the success of the scherno of examinations
adopted by the Society of Arts if the local board should
act as administrators of prize schemes for children

betwt en 13 and 16 years of age, so as to induce them to
continue their instruction between the time at which
th y usua'ly leave the e!ernei?tary school and the time
at which they become admissible to the examinations
of the Society of Arts.
The resolution wag adopted unanimously.
The next suljuct for deliberation was whether the
central museums and galleries in the metropolis, which
are the property cf the public, or subsidised from
the public funds, could be rendered useful to;the institu-
tions in the different parts.of the country by systemati-
cally lending to them specimens for exhibition, or by
granting to them unr, quired duplicates.
Mr. COLE said no:danger need be anticipated by send-
irg specimens of art into the provinces. Upwards of
1,000 specimens were sent to Manchester during the late
rxhibitinn and not a single fracture occurred. He be-
lieved that there were a grew: many duplicates in the
British Museum which were not wanted, and could with
advantage be given to mechanics' institutions. Speci-
mens might also be sent from the National Gallery and
the Turner colb c ions. _

Mr. BLAKE said the people of Yorkshire did not want
a lump of old stone from the British Museum. They
did not care about looking at eueh a thing as that.
(Laughter.) They were perfec.ly con teutto let the British
Museum statid in all its glory v. here it did, but portions
of the pictures of the National Gallery and the Turner
collection would be very attractive, and would be gazed
upon with delight, but be should like to know what
amount of gratification could be exrrienced from gazing
on an old spbyrix. (Laugh•er.) The great mistake made
kt the Crystal Palace as that the great amount of