Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-07-30

NIL VlaustoHe SOcldl marvel, were
the most convincing proof TO him of
that extraordinary intelligence and
self acting power" he said they dis
played i'll their efforts to omancipate
themselves from their degraded condi-
tion. The testimony of the committee
of management ut the close of 1864, in
view of the results achieved, is worthy
of study.
| Twenty years have now passed away
since few workingmen i'll Rochdale,
despairing of success i'll II strike against
giant capital for an advance of wages,
resolved to form u cooperative society
the objects of which We're the improve
ment of thier social and domestic con-
dition. That cooperation is superior to
strikes for accomplishing their objects
few will dispute. That it is more con-
ducive to the happiness of the greatest
number than competition there is no
question. That it will ultimately prove
the salvation of the laboring class there
is little doubt. If we take Il rotrospec-
tive glance ut the success of the past 90
years. it is indeed gratifying and cheer
ing When we consider that the aggre-
gate profits of the society alone amount
to SG33, 900, we must be satisfied that
the social and domestic condition of its
members are improved. But, much as
has been done, there still remains much
to do. The original programme is not
| finished. The next 20 years may see CO.
operation developed in higher forms
and the laboring class elevated to po-
| sition of independence and happiness
never before enjoyed"
AT the close of its jubilee year, De-
cember 1894, the society had an en-
rolled membership of 12,344, with Il
share capital of 81, ,7j5, $50, sales for
the year 81, ,425, 715 and profits amount
ing to $243, 585. During these 90 years
the business done amounted to SAC, 043,-
$50 and had returned in dividends to
members So, $50, 600. In addition to
these financial benefits, the society had
found steady employment for hundreds
of its members, and its annual payment
in wages was about $75, 600. For many
years the society had made annual
grants to the charitable institutions of
it's own and other towns of hundreds of
dollars.
EDUCATION, THE GROWING GLORY OF
THE PIONEERS.
1t was the intense interest in cduca-
tion that constituted the distinguishing
feature of the Rochdale system of CO.
operation. Nor did they wait until they
were ''wcll off, to put this part of their
scheme into effect As the law did not
at the time permit the appropriation Of
Il, IN, %. .,.I.
| purpose than the payment of dividends
| thereon, the pioneers commenced their
educational work by voluntary contri-
| buttons.
At the close of 1894 the circulating
| library contained Is, ia volumes and
the reference libraries 1855 volumes,
making total of 1869 volumes. The
| society has 20 newsrooms attached to
as many branch stores for the conven-
| ience of its members. During the win
ter months lectures on exploration and
scientific subjects are given. In 1878
the society introduced its art and science
classes for the sons and daughters of its
members, and able teachers were en-
| ployed as instructors Hundreds of youths
of both sexes who worked i'll mills,
workshops and other occupations were
thus enabled to acquire the advantages
of education not otherwise so easily OBJ
tanned and were better fitted and equip
ped for the discharge of life's duties 1t
was to the importance of the education-
al work done by the pioneers that the
Rev. DIR. Maclure, dean of Manchester,
bore the strong testimony expressed in
the following extract from an address
delivered by him at the celebration of
the thirty-fourth anniversary of the
Manchester and Stafford Equitable So
ciety, January, 1894. In the course of
his remarks the dean said: Long be-
fore muddling or meddling department
of the stato-the science and art depart
ment-commenced to paddle its own
canoe along the stream of educational
progress the science and art classes of
the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Co
operative societies were i'll full course
and were doing a remarkable work, a