The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-01 00:00:00

DECEMBER 1, 1857.

OPENING OF THE NEW SellOOL AT

GAMSTON.

The school-room at Gamston being very Incon-
venient, and quite inadequate to allow of the num-
bers of children who attend it being taught with
comfort or efficiency, a new school has recently been
erected by the Duke of Newcastle, to whom (with
, the exception of the rector's land) the whole parish
belongs. The school, which is for both boys and
girls, will accommodate 80 with comfort, and is a
handsome, well ventilated, and well lighted build-
ing. It stands facing the old church, which has
recently been so well 'restored by Mr. Scott, has a
southern aspect, and is in every respect an orna-
ment to the village. An excellent house is pro-
vided for the teacher of the school.
The day of the opening, Nov. 11, was one of
those bright sunny days which have this year
beamed on us so cheerfully on our way to winter,
and the church bells pealed merrily announcing
the village festival.
At three o'clock in the afternoon service was per-
formed in the church by the Rev. J. Twells, the
rector, assisted by the Rev. H. C. Mitchinson ; after
which the company assembled in the new school-
room, which was decorated with evergreens and
mottoes for the occasion. Amongst those present
were :—The Duke of Newcastle and Lady Susan
Pelham Clinton ; the Ladies G2orgiana, Henrietta,
and Charlotte Clinttn, Ranby ; Mrs. H. Bridge-
man Simpson, Babworth ; the Hon. Mrs. J. Ashley,
Miss Brooke, Miss H. Brooke(daughters of the late
rector), the Miss Hurts, W. F. Baring, Esq., \V.
J. Pickin, Esq., Rev. J. Twells, Rev. E. Twells,
Rev. C. Postlethwaite, Rev. C. D. Butterfield,
Rev. H. C. and Mrs. Mitchinson, Rev. W. A. and
Miss Plumptre and Mrs. Rogers, H. Homing, Esq.,
Mr. R. Baker, Mr. North, Mr. H. Hall, Mr. W.
Baker, Mrs. and Miss Robarts, Mr. and Mei, R.
J. Rogers, Mr. and Mrs. W. Rogers, M. Redgate,
&c., &c.

The meeting was first addressed by the Rev.
JOHN TWELLS, who said—l feel it is a subject of
great congratulation to you all, and to myself, that
we are enabled to meet together in this building,
which has been so liberally provided by his Grace

the Duke of Newcastle for the education of the
children of this parish. I believe ato greater bene-
fits can be conferred on the inhabitants of a parish
than a sound Christian education, and I think that
we have now the means provided. Our venerable
old "church has been restored and beautified, so that
the poor as well as the rich may find comfortable
accommodation for bearing the gospel, and we are
met together in a building provided for the younger
merekers of the community. Although we have
accomplished this, still we ought not to glory in it,
for the Bibleftells us that when we have done all,
we are but unprofitable servants, and that we have
only done our duty. At the samo time, however,
it tells us to let our lights shine before men, and
we are consequently permitted to make mention of I
the good things which have been done. It also
says that we are to seek after, not only whatsoever
things are true, and just, and honest, but also
after whatsoever things are of good report. It is
my misfortune to differ on some, political and social
questions with the no .le Duke, and I may, conse-
quently, venture to express more warmly than I
should, perhaps, otherwise do, what I feel on this
occasion. Therefore, without the least adulation
or flattery, for there is no adulation in the Bible,
I speak very fully that gratitude which I feel
to the noble founder of this school. lam sure that
we are all under great obligation to him for what he
has done in this village. I may mention three
things, the first of which is also very important,
that is, the improvement of the dwellings of the
labouring classes ; then we had his liberal support
in the restoration of our handsome and venerable
church; and now he has provided this school, having
for its object the ecluc :tier' of the children. There
are two great things which prevent the onward pro-
gress of the masses—ignorance and vice. To remove
from the minds of the people that ignorance, which
we believe to be altoge her opposed to the spirit of
the B ble, which is a spirit of light and knowledge,
is our aim. But it is not sufficient to teach them
the right way unless we give them a motive to walk
in it, and that motive is to be found in the pure
principle of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We must
remember, however, that whore much is given much
will be required, and that what we have done and
are doing entails a considerable responsibility upon
us. We must not rest satisfied with merely havirt
a school provided, but we must make good use of ir.
Let us all, masters, and parents, and clergyman join
in the endeavour to improve the education of the
children. I think the means which his Grace has
taken to promote the interests of this parish are
those of a man who anti upon principles of true
patriotism and enlightened liberality. In conclu-
sion, I pray that the blessing of God may rest upon
this school, and tha', when we are pne, it may be
the means of providing a really sound religious
education for future generati ins. (Applause.)
Mr. NORTH (Churchwarden), then rose and pro-
posed a vote of thanks to his Grace the Duke of
Newcastle for his great liberality.
Mr. R. BAKER had great pleasure in seconding
the proposition of Lis brother churchwarden, be-
cause he knew that the inhabitants of the parish
must feel deeply sensible of the benefits conferred
upon them.
In reply, the DuKu said—My good friends, I
accept with gratitude the thanks that have been
tendered to mc, because I feel that my purpose is
met. Ido not assume auje special credit to myself
for what I have done, bnt I recognise that it is a
benefit conferred upon you all, and I hope that it
may prove a great and lasting good, not only to
the lower, but also the higher classes, both to those
who labour and to those who employ the labour.
Mr. Twells has alluded to what I have endea-
voured to do for the bsnefit of this village.
I see before me many who were present when
I first assembled my tenants together lip order
to address them when I came to the property, and
I recollect that I noticed those very three things
of which he spoke ; namely, the restoration of our
parish churches, the ' foundation of schools for
the education of children, and the improvement of
the dwellings of the working classes. I rejoice that
in this pari-1, at least, two of these works have been
accompashed ' • we have just been assembled in the
church, which has been restored to, I think I may
say, more than its original beauty, and now we are
assembled in this school-room which has been
fume:led for the education of the poor children of
the parish. .As rt garde the third matter which goes
hand inhand with the other two, unfortuna'ely a
great deal remains to be done. I regret that lam
not in a position to do so much in this way as I de-
sire, but I assure you that those regrets are not of a
selfish nature. I EC3 around me many gentlemen
fro n other parishes, which, I am sorry to say, are
not so well off as this, but I trust that in time much
may be done, and I hope that before long every
parish may have a church r stored, and a school for
the education of its children. Much work is still be-
fore us. Here we have a school, it is true, but that
is only the first step. My exertions are pretty nearly
ended, for you all know that I can give very little
personal attention to the matter ; I have no doubt
that your worthy rector will faithfully and zealously
do his share ; but the main part of the work winnow
remain with the parishioners. It is your duty to
fill the school, and to maintain' it full. There are
none who may not contrib tte greatly to its success.
The;parents must send their children to school, and
the masters must endeavour to help on the educa-
tion at leant of the children of those whom they
may employ. I am not going to urge upon you such
an utopian idea as the non-employment of children
in farming operations. With the demand that
there is at the pie sent time in the market for labour,
such a thing is impossible, but still there is a
medium, and I would desire you to give them the
benefit of education during some portion of the
year. Unfortunately it is the tendency of the
labouring classes to send out their children at a
very early age to work, for the sake of enabling
them to increase the means of providing for their
wants, and it is alto the tendency of farmers to avail
themselves of such labour ; but if parents and
masters could mutually consent to allow the chil
dren to remain a little longer at school, all would
derive permanent advantage. When they are little,
and ate, I was going to say, a nuisance, and hin-
drance at home, they are sent to school, but then
ycu can only sow in them the seeds of education ; so
1 would urge that they be allowed to remain at
school from the age of 11. or 12, or perhaps a little
younger, till they are 14 or 15, and I am
confident that by the improved state of morality
which would be the consequence, every one
would gain a great benefit. I would more par-
ticularly speak on behalf of the female poriion of
the cbildreu of the parishioners. Consider what a
thing it is to take them away from echo el at such
an early age ' • recollect what duties they will havo
to perform hereafter. At present they may havo
very little to do in the management of the home-
hold, but they are the future wives and mothers of
the parish, and ou them will depend the respecta-
bility of the cottages, and the bringing up of a
future generation, and they should be well in-
structed, so that they day be enabled to impart to
their husbands and children some of the benefits
which they have received from education. I would
wish for something of au industrial education.
There is a deal said about education in common

things, and it is something of this kind that I
should like. They go out to service before they
know how to perform the commonest household
duties, and that on account of this lack of indus-
trial education. I may here mention a scheme
which I have had for a long time. Many of you
know tb,at .1 have a school in the park at °lumber,
where girls aro- trained for filling up situations as
ervento. For four yeiis they are giAtuitoudy

clothed, fed, and lodged, and what I propose is the
enlargement of this school. I should not wish it
to be a mere charity, for when things are purely
done out of charity, they are not so well appre-
ciated, but as an object of reward for those little
gills who conduct themselves in the best manner
in this and other schools. This would only be one
way among many for the attainment of an extended
period of education, and I merely mention it as an
illustration of what I mean. I will not detain you
longer, but would urge upon you mutual sympathy
with regard t') this education, and I shall feel most
amply rewarded for what I have done if you make
good use of it.

At the conclusion of his speech the noble Duke
was most heartily cheered.

In the evening, tea, cake, &c., were provided in
the school for about 80 children by the rector, and
for upwards of 100 women, with the ringers and
singers of the parish church, by the farmers.
After tea was removed the inhabitants of the
parish assembled in the school-room, when ad-
dresses were delivered by the Rev. H. C. Mitchin-
son, the Rev. A. Brook, the Rev. Edward Twells,
and the Rector. These' addresses were all given
in a kindly spirit of encouragement to the parish-
ioners to assist as parents, neighbours, and Chris-
tians to promote the social and moral comfort and
happiness of each other, and were received with
genuine and general approval. The speeches were
enlivened by songA, glees, and madrigals by the
Retford choral society, and the party separated be-
fore the evening had become tedious,_much gratified
with their entertainment.