The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-12-04
MECHANICS INSTITUTES.

MECdAN1CS 1NoIIIUIES-
From "Progress Of the Working Glass" by J. NJ Lud
low and Lloyd Jones'"
But among the agencies which have been
most influential in spreading education gen
orally through the working class, and in
raising its character generally, we must not
overlook the Mechanics Institute, and
other institutions having sim;,.ar objects,
though various in name. Although a
considerable number Of these institutes are
to be found in most parts Of England, they
prevail most in Lancashire and Yorkshire
In these counties, scarcely town or vii
lage exists which cannot boast of its Me-
chanics' Institution, and in the villages
they are often supported with more energy
and success than in the larger places, ow-
ing probably to the absence Of rival attrac-
tions. In 1861, according to tie calcula-
tions Of Or. j. w. Hudson, as quoted by
Mr.. f. Baines, there were supposed to be,
in all, above 1,200 of such institutions,
with 100000 members-in 1881 there
were but 50, with 1000.
The Mechanics Institute has no doubt in
many places become deserted by the work
ing classes. But this is by no means true
as a general rule. In Yorkshire, says Mr.
Barnett Blake in paper on the Mechan-
les Institutes Of Yorkshire, the majority
Of the Mechanics Institutions mot only
supply the educational wants Of working
men, but are mainly supported, and in
many instances managed by them 4
new life seems to have been breathed into
these institutions, first by the system of
evening classes, secondly by the formation
of the Unions Of Mechanics Institutes
One very remarkable feature in the history
Of Mechanics Institutes, says DR.. Park
hurst, lis the strong and universal ten
dency to subordinate all their agencies and
machinery to the promotion of class in
struction. Viewed in relation TO the pro-
gress of sound education, it is impossible to
overrate the Importance of this feature"
The "Unions" Of institutes again, Of which
the first was the ~ orkshire Union,"
founded i'll 1857, have borne excellent
fruits, springing up almost Of necessity
wherever the spirit of association is strongly
manifested. In districts where this ten
dency is still felt, Mechanics Institutions
as a rule lack the vitality necessary to give
full effect to their operations. But in
almost all our great fields Of productive Ia
Dor the "Union" Of Institutes comes to
their aid, and by means of its tabulated ex-
perience, of the visits of its travelling agent,
and of the lecturers which il sends out,
enables them to accomplish a work which,
as isolated bodies, the separate institutes
find mostly beyond their power, especially
at their first commencement.
At the date Of Mr.. Blakes paper above
referred to there were in the Yorkshire
Union" 1872 institutes, 90 Of which had
evening classes, attended by over 1000 stu
dents, Of whom 1924 we're taught reading,
writing and arithmetic, while the next most
largely taught study, geography, was only
taught in 40 institutes out Of the 80, to 895
"a fact conclusively proving Mr.. Blake's
position, that in Yorkshire it is really the
working class whose educational wants
these institutes supply. But the institutes
in union, besides reading rooms supplied
with newspapers and periodicals, had above
100000 volumes, and issued them at the
rate of nearly 100000 year, or about Is
per member.
The latest report Of the Yorkshire Union
shows, indeed, some falling off of the num-
Der of institutes in union, which is stated at
122.78 Of which had 13O, ,214 volumes, and
which had together upwards Of 10000
members whilst out Of 1890 members in
AZ institutes, $3.50 were members Of even
ing classes. But as "the actual number of
institutes in Yorkshire not in union may be
estimated d''-so we are informed by Mr..
James Hole, the most competent authority
on the subject--at half as many more" the
decrease in the amount Of educatio i'm
parted is probably only apparent. The
Lancashire and Cheshire Union, again,
contains 131 institutions, 81 of which sent
in returns, upon which the council reports
that they number in the aggregate p, 780
members. Seventy-one Of these institutions
have together an annual income of t24, lS6,
30, S53 volumes in their libraries, and an
attendance at their evening classes Of Z ,342.
There are special prizes for essays having
reference to important local branches of In
dustry, and to the relations generally of in
dustrlal life, some Of the subjects being as
appropriate as they are important, though
to the students Of such institutions, it is tc
be feared, rat er puzzling.
Most Of the Unions Of Mechanics Insti
tutes, it may be observed, offer prizes to
their members and although much may be
said against educational competition, it can
not be denied that these have proved a pow
erful stimulus, 10 the workiugman more
particularly. The working classes ii
Lancashire" says DR.. Hudson 1--WE quote
from Mr.. Paines' great speech of 1861,
"offer from their ranks competitors who in
variably excl the middle classes. In
mathematics, in chemistry, in French, nay
even in British history and geography, the
} clerks and bookkeepers Of Manchester are
far inferior to the weavers of Oldham and