Anonymous

“ The incessant discoveries and inventions of modern years have quickened with the throes of mental energy the masses of the nation. Its strong sense is alive to the power of knowledge, and circulates from the head to the extremities of the social body. The magnetic experiments, to which the whole philosophical world is looking with the most intense curiosity, are conducted by one who entered life a shop-boy. ”

“ Alike disinterested in character, alike confident in the victory of knowledge over ignorance, alike the firm and generous promoters of infant institutions founded to ensure this end, they shone as twin stars in our local firmament, bright examples to the possessors of similar endowments to consecrate their use with the same unostentatious perseverance to the cause of goodness, civilization and truth, bright examples to all as fosterers by personal exertion as well as by pecuniary sacrifice of parochial societies appealing to every moral and patriotic feeling for extension and support. ”

“ The popular use of reading-rooms, libraries, and lectures, is not connected with questions of merely individual or local importance; it is of imperial bearing: for while their multiplication and prosperity afford criteria for determining how far the desire of knowledge animates the people, indifference to learning and incapacity for self-instruction are attested by their failure or neglect. ”

“ In contrasting their generous dedication of time, convenience, and ability to the task of popular enlightenment, with the selfish spirit that repudiates whatever is not subservient to personal benefit or gratification, it is impossible to overlook the elevating influence of mental culture. Of all the pleas for indifference to, or withdrawal from an association for diffusing useful and scientific information, none is so unworthy, so sordid, or so mean as that commonest of excuses, “It does me no good.” ”

“ In the one, practical art laments its clearest elucidator; in the other, science mourns her most attractive commentator; in both, the Parochial Institute has sustained a grievous loss. Yet amongst its pleasantest associations must ever rank the recollections of their lectures. ”

“ The more the philosopher investigates the unseen causes of visible things, the more he is compelled to have recourse to a division of labour. p. 8Human life and human memory are alike unable to grasp an universal knowledge. Hence the acutest intellects devote their powers to master definite departments of science. They do not aim at an impossible omniscience. Relying on the truth and ability of their collaborators, they receive their conclusions as their own. Nor are these communicated commonly in special treatises, but through the more familiar media of lectures. ”

“ A staff of Lecturers might be provided by the Society of Arts, competent to give interesting and instructive information in a popular form; such staff to be selected by a Council, who, from their position and attainments, would be entitled to general confidence. Each Provincial Institute might be allowed to choose its own Lecturers from this staff, without being necessarily restricted to it. ”

“ Since the publication of the last report, we have been familiarized with the wonders of creation in all the kingdoms of nature. With Mantell, we have read the records of primeval worlds, traced by the finger of omnipotence in those fossilized remains, which mock the palaces of Nineveh with their recent age. With Morris, gathered up the laws that regulate the distribution of the springs and waters of the earth, and learnt how man can call its spirit from the chalky deeps for purposes of use or ornament. ”

“ For whatever necessity exists for affording to the industrial and operative bodies opportunities of consulting periodicals of approved ability, morality, and loyalty, it can only be subordinate to the study of more substantial literature. Experience demonstrates that the habit of reading once acquired, is seldom lost. ”

“ Few private establishments enjoy this privilege—most persons confine themselves to a single journal, entertaining ideas precisely identical with their own. They have consequently nothing but a reflection of themselves. ”

“ It is clear that to those engaged in following their craft, their trade, or their profession, time is a main object. But if they cannot unravel processes, they fain would know results. These are easily attainable by the method above mentioned. A good lecture will oftentimes simplify abstruse problems, and make intelligible the most complicated machine, when books and diagrams convey no comprehensible meaning. Perhaps no literary association in the metropolis can bear witness to this fact with a more vivid realization of its accuracy then our own. ”

“ Already the principle of an educational qualification has been mooted as the safest mode in which the extension of the franchise could be granted; and in considering the claims of various constituencies to a participation in the representation of the country, it is far from impossible that the government would accord a preference to localities, maintaining in efficiency and prominence well organized institutions of social and intellectual progress. ”

“ If these facilities for instruction are not accepted to the full extent that might, prior to experience, have been expected, it ought not to check the genial philanthropy by which they are provided. All that we can do is to offer privileges. It rests with others to turn their use to profit. ”

“ These are amongst the outward manifestations of those unconscious tendencies by which the philosophical observer estimates the bent and genius of the age. As in the multitudes who throng to gaze upon the line of armies manœuvring in the pomp of mimic war, he reads the love of military glory, if not the lust of conquest; as in an inordinate devotion to games, and theatres, and spectacles, he sees the traits of frivolity; so in the steady application of the faculties to the improvement p. 4of the mind he recognises the characteristics of a wise and understanding people. ”

“ The solution of deep metaphysical propositions is not without attraction to the hard-headed ratiocination of the operatives of Lancashire. There are those who have wrestled out; by abstract reasoning, the cardinal verity of the immortality of the soul. ”

“ The Council would bring this topic strongly before their fellow-parishioners, in the hope of inducing many to make presents in augmentation of the library that they now possess. Its after increase can be only a question of time. A free library is the corollary and supplement of national education. ”

“ To ensure a prolonged existence, it must be sustained by its own merits. It is not till interest comes to strengthen principle that the prosperous future is secured. But in a country constantly and triumphantly calling attention to the freedom and purity of its press, it can hardly be necessary to expatiate on the benefits accruing from its wide and impartial circulation. From the publication of Milton’s Areopagetica, these have been acknowledged. None can say how much the English habit of reading newspapers tends to enlarge the national views. Men cannot see, day after day, the p. ”

“ Several who could neither read nor write on their first entrance, have attained a tolerable proficiency in these subjects; and of those who have grown up to age for service, and taken situations, some have been wise enough to return during their intervals of employment, to pursue the studies with which the duties of their place had necessarily for the season interfered. ”

“ They enter largely into the deliberations of the practical statesman. By their influence, the distribution of political power is confessedly affected. Rights that could not be confided to an ignorant, are freely accorded to an educated population. ”

“ They were instituted for the sake of the young persons who are unable to attend the day schools, and include a due proportion of adults. The class for young men and boys meets upon Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday; that for young women and girls on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The attendances to the close of 1852 were very satisfactory; 120 girls and 40 boys having enrolled themselves upon the books. An interesting peculiarity connected with the female class is its use by servants whose education has been neglected. ”

“ No obstacle ought consequently to be suffered to interfere with its attainment. The incipient student should be free to range the entire field of knowledge. All that its ample page contains, should be p. ”