The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-01-24 00:00:00

THE ACCOUNTS

The accounts for the past year were then read by the Trea-
surer, Mr. R. Houghton, and passed, and the several resolu-
tions adopted, for which see the advertisement in another
column. We are, however, sorry to observe that they exhi-
bited a considerable falling off in the receipts, as compared
with former years; but, we hope, the returning commercial
prosperity will bring increase to the funds of a charity which
deserves so well of the public.
On the items of salaries being read,
Mr. J. 11. TURNER said, in his opinion, it was much
better to do away with gratuities, and give the masters and
mistresses salaries commensurate with the duties they had
to perform.

A conversation ensued, the majority differing from the
view which Mr. Turner took of the subject of gratuities. Ulti-
mately, that gentleman withdrew a resolution he had moved
respecting them ; the chairman observing, that it might, per-
haps, be advisable to let well alone.

CHAPEL ACCOUNTS

Mr. BARON then read over the accounts of the receipts
and disbursements of the chapel fund.
Mr. WARNER asked what was the amount of falling off in
the pew-rents between the first and second half-year which
had j ust passed. _

_
Mr. BARON said it was very trifling ; but the falling off in
the collection at the doors amounted to £lOO.
The Rev. E. HULL then rose, and spoke to the following
effect :—Sir, I rise to propose a resolution, with the nature of
which, I believe, all here present are acquainted ; and as I
have put forth in the public papers a statement of the facts on
which I ground its excellency, it will not be necessary for me
to say much on the present occasion. However we may differ
in our sentiments as to the best mode of accomplishing it, I
have no doubt that we all have the same object in view—the
welfare of this institution. I have been connected with it more
intimately than any other gentleman here for a period of
nearly a quarter of a century, and, in all probability, I shall
continue to be connected with it till the day of my death ;
and it is only natural that I should feel a particular interest
in its welfare. When I speak of the welfare of the institu-
tion, I must, of course, be understood as meaning the benefit
of the indigent blind intrusted to our care. A large number
of these afflicted persons are sent to us from all parts of the
kingdom, for the express purpose of being instructed in some
manual exercise or trade, in order that on their return to
their friends they may be enabled to obtain a livelihood, and
I am happy to say that many of them succeed in this object.
Independently of the trade, however, a considerable number
of them are engaged in learning an art which, however de-
lightful in its exercise, has unfortunately proved to be of
little benefit to the pupils, I mean the art of music. No less
a number than forty-two of the pupils are now occupied
nearly one-half of their time in learning music, twenty-four
of whom are taught to play on the organ. This is done at a
very great cost to the charity. In the year 1822 the cost of
teaching music, together with the salaries given to the pupils,
amounted to £2lO ; and it has gone on gradually increasing
until its amount has now reached £350, whilst the cost of
teaching all the trades amounts to only £2BO. Now, sir,
what benefit has accrued to the pupils from this great ex-
penditure of time and money? Why, sir, during the period
of twenty-two years the committee have been able to obtain
situations as organists for only twenty-two pupils, just one
per annum ; and during the last eleven years they have not
been able to accomplish even this, nor the half of it. They
have been able to procure only five organists' situations; and,
surely, no reflecting person can call this an adequate return for
the time and funds expended. But, sir, we shall be told that
other great advantages arise to the institution ; that the con-
certs given in the music-room attract crowds of persons to
the school, and that the sale of your goods are thus greatly
facilitated. 'Even granting this to be the case, I should con-
sider it a very poor argument for carrying the cultivation of
music to its present extent. The great object in sending
pupils to this institution is, that they may learn something
which may be of benefit to them in afterlife; and I am sure
it cannot be right to employ so large a number in acquiring
an art which has been proved to be of little or no benefit to
them in after life, merely
for the purpose of attracting per-
sons to the school, and facilitating the sale of your manu-
factures. But, sir, lam not willing to grant that the sale
of your goods is much promoted by these concerts. The
persons who attend them pass through the building into the
music-room, and, as soon as the concert is over, pass through
it again in a stream into the street without going into the
shop at all ; and I have little doubt that, if they were
accurately observed, it would turn out, that the same per-
sons being fond of music attend the rooms, day after day,
without purchasing any of your goods. This is not my
opinion only, but, if you will ask Mr. Lucy, your superin-
tendent, he will tell you that it is his opinion also. That the
funds of your chapel are greatly augmented through the instru-
mentality of the choir I am quite ready to admit, and I should
be sorry to see its efficiency injured. But I feel that an ef-
ficient choir may be kept up at a much less expense. It can-
not be necessary that twenty-four pupils should be taught to
play upon the !organ in order to keep up the choir of our
small chapel. In King's College in Cambridge, one of the
most magnificent buildings in Europe,
the choir consists of
only twenty-two, that of Trinity, of only sixteen, and that
of St. John's, of only fourteen. That your funds are not in
a condition to admit of any unnecessary expenditure is
evident from the statement which I have already published,
from which it appears that your subscriptions during the
last twenty years have decreased from £867 to 379, the
donations in poor boxes from £l2O to £37, and the gross
receipts of the chapel from £lBOO to £1430. So that, whilst
the cost of the music has gradually increased from £2lO to
£350, your ordinary soureesof revenue have gradually de-
creased from £2788 to £1836, a decrease of £952. For
these reasons, sir, feeling a lively interest in the charity, I
have thought it my duty to propose to you the resolution,
which I shall now proceed to read. I have not requested
any gentleman to second it, nor have I asked a single person
to attend this meeting.
But, Sir, I cannot for a moment
suppose that a resolution, on the adoption or rejection of
which, in my opinion, the future welfare of this institution
so much depends, will be suffered to fall to the ground from
want of a gentleman to second it. There is one gentleman,
however, whose absence on this occasion I exceedingly regret.
He has been a member of the committees of this institution
for a period, I believe, of more than thirty ;years, and has
always manifested great interest in its prosperity. Had he
not been prevented from being present, owing to his being
engaged in the performance of an important public duty else-
where, I know that he
would have great pleasure in
seconding this resolution. Knowing the respect which
would most likely be paid to his opinion, when I found that
lie could not be present, I addressed a note to him, asking
him if he would permit me to state to the meeting that his
sentiments on this subject coincided with my own. In reply
to my note I received the following answer :
DEAR H viz,—l regret that I cannot attend your annual
meeting. You are at perfect liberty to state, should you
think it worth while, that I should have supported your reso-
lution, could I have been with you. Indeed, you know that
I have advocated it in the musical department whenever the
question has been before the committee.
"Yours, very truly, "JONATHAN BROOKS."
Mr. Hull then read the following resolution, and laid it upon
the table, stating that he left it to the meeting to deal with it
as they might think fit :
" Whereas it appears, from experience, that beneficial re-
sults, commensurate with the great expenditure of time and
money in teaching music in the school, have never accrued
to the pupils; and this meeting is of opinion, that a decrease
of the number of music pupils, and a considerable diminution
of expense in the musical department, may be effected, to the
great benefit of the charity ; Resolved, that the committee
be directed to give their earnest attention to this subject,with
a view to effecting the greatest economy in all matters rela-
tingthe number of music pupils as may be consistent with the
choir of the chapel.
he had great pleasure in seconding
to the musical department, and as great a diminution of
The Rev. T. BOLD said
the motion.
propriety of the resolution ; the only
could exist as to the .
it could be carried out, and whe-
question was, as to how
to secure an efficient chir.
ther it could be adopted so a
Mr. DEANE did not think that any difference of opinion
Ito, one tenor, and two bass
one treble singer, one central
fortune, was to become
voices ; and what, in the name of
of the choir, if there was to be a reduction in the number?
Although the choir consistedsa_of forty-two, they_ had only
annum He thought that the music-master was most outrageously
paid. His salary
of" per num ought to be reduced.
TURNERMr. thought thatMr.Hull had made out a very
clear case. But could they have an efficient choir without
to be the point.
having a very large numberhoefinpuaipnilps
point,
Mr. Mr. S. TURNER.--My That appeared to him
The Rev. E. HULL.—The
own
opinion
s, and when it is found
is, that it will be ne-
cessary to try a large number of
p
that they do not possess an
ear_ for music, it would be use-
less for them to go on. Out of the present large choir, there
were only, as Mr. Deane had stated, three or four efficient
voices. But it was desirablei that the pupils who showed
musical talent should be taught.
Mr. J. B. YATES said there could only be one opinion as
to the propriety of exercising the strictest economy ; but he
never would consent that the preamble of that resolution
should be passed in the. way which it had been proposed
and seconded, because impliedit an improper expendi-
ture of time and money had be
that
en sanctioned by the com-
mittee for many years.
The Rev. E. HULL.--No, no ; the beneficial results have
not been commensurate with the expenditure of the money.
Mr. YATES proceeded to argue against the preamble.
The Rev. E. HULL said he cared nothing about the
words, provided the saving was effected, and lie might leave
out the preamble altogether if he liked.
After some further discussion, the resolution, as altered,
was adopted ; and, thanks having been voted to the chair-
man, the meeting separated.