The Sun.
London, England, 1844-09-03 00:00:00

Oral'
„ 4

LONDON, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1844.

A new society, entitled the "Athenic Institution:,
has, it appears, been lately started at Birmingham.
As the origin of this institution is not a little interest-
ing, we subjoin a brief account of it. It seems ti at
about two or three years--ago, four young men of the
working classes being desirous of cu'tivating tl.eir
minds, d..!ciderl on the establishment of a society by
which they might be enabled, in their leisure hours,
to engage in intellectual pursuits and rational sportA
and amusements. They accordingly—though not
without difficulty—got together some twenty or thirty
young men of their own grade in society, submitted
. to them their project, obtained their promise of co-ope-
ration, and then formed themselves in'o a sort of club
to which they gave the name of the " Athenic Institu-
tion." In this institution they divided themselves irto
reading, writing, arithmetical, drawing,and other useful
classes, to which, says the Birmingham journal, they
added arrangements for .the enjoyment of the good old
manly, out-door and in-door English sports and
recreations. Fur some time, as might hare been
expected, their society continued on a small scale,
but gradually their numbers increased, the moral
influence of their example began to make itself felt in
the town, and they were-at length enabled to take
large rooms, which they fitted up in a most tasteful
manner, and then issued a imblic address in explana-
tion of the objects of their institution. The next step
of this juvenile association.was to choose a patron,
and after some discussion on the subject, they
selected Lord Joilei MANNERS, who replied in
the most flattering ternas to their communication,
and accepted an invitation to dine with them on
Monday last, at their new rooms in Birming-
ham. At this dinner his Lordship, who was in the
chair, after expressing his cordial approval of the
objects of the " Athenic Institution," went on to ob-
serve
ervethat it was, in his opinion, necessary for the hard-
working men of Birmingham to enter their protest
against the modern dogma which would seem to
assume that no recreation was necessary for the work
jag people of England, and which appeared to have
adopted for its motto what would, he i imagined,
have been held in universal reprobation—namely,ititl d All
work and no play. " called it dogma,
added the Noble Chairman, ‘‘
nation
rtoasft:reacynttpigrouviet.‘d.
to demonstration, that every
deemed it a matter of the highest importance to
pro-
vide for the relaxation and amusement of the
classes." Not only the legislators and rulers ogt
antiquity had this considerate regard for the health-
ful recreations of the humbler and more industrkus
orders, but those of our own country were equally
provident end politic in their views on this important
subject. Both before, and many years subsequent to,
the age of ELIZABETII, the amusements of the work-
ing classes were protected by Government with a soil-
citude truly paternal. Each season of the year was
allowed its characteriStic holiday, when the highest
mingled with the lowest in unaffected good fellow-

ship ; amusements, suited to the period, were provided

both fur the summer and the winter evenings; great
ihistclical events were commemorated with general re-
joicings; and nothing was neglected that could give
0-.