The Sub-Committee appointed at a Public Meeting of the Inhabitants of the Borough of Dudley, convened by the Mayor, (pursuant to a Requisition), and held at the Old Town Hall, on Monday Evening, the 7th instant, for the purpose of taking into consideration the best means to be adopted for the permanent establishment of the Dudley Mechanics’ Institution, beg to call your attention to
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS WHICH WERE PROPOSED AND UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED:—
1.—That this Meeting, acknowledging the desirability of the permanent establishment of the Mechanics’ Institution in the Borough of Dudley, pledges itself to promote the same by every means in its power.
2.—That for the promotion of such an object a Sub-Committee be appointed, for the purpose of soliciting subscriptions and donations to establish a fund to carry out the purposes of such an Institution to the fullest extent possible.
3.—That a Sub-Committee of the following Gentlemen be appointed for the purposes referred to in the preceding resolution:—The Rev. Dr. Browne, Vicar; Mr. Elliott Hollier, Mr. S. H. Blackwell, Mr. William Bourne, Mr. John Bateman, the Rev. John Raven, the Rev. George Lewis, and Mr. Henry Johnson.
4.—That in order to afford all classes an opportunity of attending, and deriving the greatest benefit from the establishment of this Institution, it be recommended that two classes of Subscribers be adopted, consisting of Honorary Members at One Guinea, and Ordinary Members at not less than Ten Shillings each per annum, which may be received fortnightly, in advance.
5.—That the Sub-Committee be requested to solicit the patronage of the Right Honourable Lord Ward to this Institution, and that of the Members for the Borough, the Eastern Division of Worcestershire, and the Southern Division of the County of Stafford, and also the support of all parties who, though not residing in, may have property or an interest in Dudley and its neighbourhood.
The want of an Institution of this character in Dudley, has been so long acknowledged, that the Sub-Committee cannot but hope that such general support will be given to it as will render it effective for the objects it proposes to carry out, and ensure its being established upon a permanent basis.
These objects are, the establishment of a READING ROOM AND LIBRARY;—the diffusion of general information on the various Branches of Science and Literature by LECTURES;—and especially the providing its Members with opportunities of acquiring good and useful instruction by means of CLASSES in WRITING, ARITHMETIC, DRAWING, MUSIC, &c., &c.
The Sub-Committee regard the establishment of these Institutions as most important, and as having a direct and immediate bearing upon the great question of National Education. They are calculated indeed to furnish almost the only means by which the ends proposed to be effected by our various schools can be fully carried out, for, unless facilities are afforded to those whose education has been commenced in these schools, of continuing and perfecting that education, the advantages already obtained must be, to a certain extent, lost.