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MECHANICS' INSTITUTES AND THE BEST MEANS OF IMPROVING

THEM.*

I.

BY THOMAS DAVISON, TORONTO.

Morro.-"To make the Mechanic a better Man; the Man, a better Mechanic."

To the President and Executive Committee of nent paid Secretary and Librarian is too the Mechanics' Institute Association of Ontario.

I

PRESUME that the Executive Committee of your Association, in offering prizes for the best Essays on "Mechanics' Institutes, and How to make them more Attractive to Mechanics," had in view the interests of all working-men, whether engaged in mechanical pursuits or not; therefore, the few suggestions I make will be directed towards the general good, without distinction of class.

In order to bring the matter clearly before us, we will imagine a town or village without a Mechanics' Institute or other Literary Association, and proceed to discuss the best method of establishing one, floating it off on the tide of public favour; and, secondly, the objects it should aim to achieve.

Whilst the interests and peculiar wants of working-men should be jealously guarded in forming a constitution and by-laws, care should be taken not to alienate the mercantile or professional classes, from whom all Institutes in this country receive the greatest support. Without going into details for the present, it will, I think, be found best to have the Board of Direction composed of twelve (12) members, namely, President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and nine (9) ordinary Directors. In places where a perma

* [The Mechanics' Institute Association of Ontario some time ago offered two prizes, of $40 and $20 respectively, for the best and second-best Essays on "Mechanics' Institutes and the best means of Improving them." Fifteen compositions were sent in, and the majority of the judges awarded the first prize to this Essay, by Mr. Thomas Davison, and the second prize to the following one, by Mr. Richard Lewis.-ED. C. M.]

great a tax on the resources of the Institute, and the office is honorary, that officer should have a seat at the Board. The composition of the Board should be six employers and six employees, regardless of occupation. In cities where there are an unlimited number engaged in mechanical pursuits to draw upon, half the Board is sometimes restricted to that class. In country towns, however, no small share of the members are to be found amongst the agricultural class, and for that reason they should have the fullest opportunity of being represented. Having formed the Board, obtained a sufficient number of subscribers to ensure success, and having secured a suitable building, we now proceed to furnish the Institute with a

LIBRARY.

It is an unfortunate fact that the public taste inclines to "fiction"-a taste that must be met by a judicious selection, the greatest care being taken to exclude anything approaching to what is known as the " yellow The works of men like cover" style.

attention.

voyages.

Dickens, Scott, Thackeray, Lytton, and many others, are now admitted by the most eminent clergymen to have a tendency to do good. History is perhaps the next section of the library that will demand Next, books of travels and Scientific works should form an important feature in every library. It is to be regretted that whilst, as a rule, they are costly, they are but seldom read. There are, however, cheap editions of the most popular works to be had, sufficient to train and stimulate the artizan to further researches. Donations to this section may be readily had, if the Directors will make their wants known. All books of great

value, whether by reason of their cost or their rarity, should be classed as works of reference, and only allowed to leave the library under certain restrictions. When your library is completed and opened to the public, it should contain the following sections-1. History and Biography. 2. Science and Art. 3. Voyages and Travels. 4. Fiction. 5. Poetry. And 6. Miscellaneous. In numbering the books, sometimes each class is designated by number and letter, as A 21, History; B 110, Science, &c. The letter and number together sometimes leads to confusion in the entries. If you make History run from No. 1 to 200, Science 200 to 400, and so on in proportion, you will save any possibility of error through duplication, and, at the same time, will more readily enable you to know what class a book belongs to without reference to the catalogue. The duty of recording the is sues, whilst of the simplest character, is often neglected. The Directors, as custodians of the members' property, should see that it is properly attended to. An excellent plan was published by your Association some time ago, well adapted to all towns and villages. Another plan is to enter the book to the member the same as one would enter | a sale of merchandize in a day-book, then posting it into the member's account in the ledger. The methods are almost as different and as numerous as the libraries. Having fully sketched the necessities and requirements of the library, we will next proceed to furnish the

READING-ROOM.

The first and most desirable newspapers are local, next Canadian, next English, then the United States journals. As you will not be able to furnish each reader with a paper, it will be found well to have the most prominent papers placed on a shelf running round the room, filed, and raised so high that a person can comfortably stand to read. By this means two can often peruse at the same time, and besides, having to stand, the tendency so often displayed by some avaricious members to monopolize the paper for hours is checked. Papers not in much demand, and such magazines as you may take, can be placed on the table, to which there ought to be comfortable chairs. The whole room should be made as cheerful and comfortable as a private parlour.

Don't be afraid of paint and whitewash. Coal oil and gas are cheap: have the place well lighted, and, above all, have it properly heated and ventilated. Make the place so nice that its comforts will excel those of the saloons and taverns. Members ought to be invited to place such papers as they personally receive, after using them at home, on the table; and as nearly every one takes a Magazine or Journal of some sort, you can by this means make the cost of your reading room comparatively small.

The "Reading-Room" and "Library" at present constitute the sum of the attractions in most Institutes, but I think another should be added—namely, a

CONVERSATION-ROOM.

While the reading-room and library pos sess attractions for the student, there are a large class to whom any lengthened study after a hard day's manual labour is anything but enticing. This class resort often to saloons and taverns almost from sheer necessity, as an asylum from the cold charities of a boarding-house. What was done originally to while away an hour becomes a fixed habit, with its usual attendant-intemperance. Whatever can be done to provide rational amusement, even if not combined with instruction, is a benefit to the workingclasses; and it is here where Mechanics' Institutes have an hitherto unbroken field on which to sow good seed. By all means, then, provide a "Conversation Room" separate from the "Reading Room." Leave it to the vote of the members whether smoking shall or shall not be allowed; if it is, I think it will be all the better. Introduce harmless but interesting games, such as Chess, Drafts, Dominoes, &c., and if your funds will permit, a bagatelle table, or even a billiard table. In this room the members will become acquainted with each other, and besides the ordinary chit-chat of the day, discussions of an ordinary character will often arise, in which, started by two or three, the whole company will be drawn in. If your room is large enough, have a horizontal bar, swing, or other gymnastic apparatus for the enervated Dry-goods or Bank Clerk to strengthen his muscle. Have the room as large as your means will afford; it need not necessarily be expensively ornamented.

Presuming you have your library, reading and conversation rooms fitted up, try and

interest your lady friends to furnish you a few pictures and flowers for their ornamentation.

If your means will permit, devote another room as the nucleus of a museum and model room. Most of your members can contribute something-old coins, manuscripts, models of art and machinery, &c. In a little while you will find you have actually a museum worthy of the name.

MANAGEMENT.

In the executive management it is imperative that you should have men whose heart is in the work. I would rather see a plodding, earnest, hard-working President than a brilliant man of position who neglected his duties, and thought he honoured the position instead of the position honouring him. Let all your Board be earnest, and not feel that because the responsibility of the management is divided amongst a number, they are not called upon for individual effort.

It will be found an advantage to form the following Committees:-1st, Finance; 2nd, Library; 3rd, Classes; 4th, Lectures and Entertainments. As to their duties, it will be for the FINANCE COMMITTEE to look closely after the receipts and expenditures; to fix the rate of subscription, so as to make the Institute self-supporting, when aided by the Government Grant. The moment you get behind in your payments you will begin to flag. Books cannot be bought as readily on credit as for cash. In fact, it will be like any mercantile business-credits will have to be paid for. The Finance Committee should also see to the proper repairs of the building, and letting of rooms, if there are any. For these reasons it is well to have one member conversant with financial matters, and one mechanic acquainted with building.

LIBRARY COMMITTEE.

The duty of this Committee will be to select the books, to see that they are properly used, not abused, and to generally supervise the library. It is hardly necessary to say that in a thoroughly non-sectarian Association the greatest care must be taken to exclude anything of a character likely to offend the prejudices or belief of any member. I do not say, however, that the Board should deny shelf-room to religious works

of a controversial character, when presented to the Institute.

CLASS COMMITTEE.

The work of this Committee will depend largely on the population of the town or village in which the Institute is located. I can hardly imagine, however, a place so sparsely populated but that one or more classes could be successfully formed. In our country there are a large number who in the land they left, either from poverty, improvidence, or neglect, have grown up in a state of ignorance, but who, coming to Canada, and succeeding in their occupations, feel sadly the need of more learning. I think that it should be the duty of the Government and Municipalities to provide for adult education; but until that is doneif ever it is-Mechanics' Institutes must supply the want.

The classes most desirable are 1st, Writing; 2nd, Spelling; 3rd, Grammar and Arithmetic; 4th, Architectural, Mechanical, and Ornamental Drawing; and the study of telegraphy and phonography, in this progressive age, are also well worthy of

attention.

Should the number of pupils warrant it, these subjects might be taken up separately. Two lessons a week, of one and a half hour's duration, will be found quite as much as the majority of pupils can do justice to. In distributing rewards for proficiency, punctuality should not be overlooked. It is no slight sacrifice for a youth to give up all amusements and devote him self to culturing his mind, whilst his companions are disporting themselves.

LECTURES AND ENTERTAINMENTS.

In these days, when sensational entertainments are all the rage, a Lecture Committee has up-hill work. Still there is no reason why they should not succeed in providing the public with instructive entertainment, even if the financial result is not always what may be desired. In every town you have a doctor, a clergyman, a lawyer, and an editor. Secure the services of these four gentlemen, and you have "a course," even if you fail in getting others. Unless, however, your town is very small, there is no reason why you should be restricted to those gentlemen I have named for the sake of illustration. To secure the support of all classes and creeds I would recommend the

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formation of an Auxiliary Committee, some of whom should be ladies. Let your lectures be preceded and followed by some cheerful vocal or instrumental music and select readings. This will make your entertainment pleasing to all, and the number participating in the performance will tend to popularize it and bring in the money which no Lecture Committee pretends to despise. I would strongly urge the appointment of some ladies on this Committee. Where the conversation room is sufficiently large, it might be used for these lectures, thereby saving the rent of a hall, which may be away from the Institute.

In conclusion, permit me to make a few GENERAL REMARKS. The non-success of most Literary Associations is-first, bad

If

management; second, want of means. directors and members will work together with a will, there is no reason why either should prevail. Institutes are for the public good, irrespective of creed, class, or colour, and only require a proper representation of their claims to meet with the hearty support of every right-thinking citizen. It is often the only Institution in the town that attempts to counteract the baneful effects of the drinking saloons. From every pulpit (it would not be too much to say) its claims should be urged. Let, then, any community who may have, or intend to have, an Institute, see that it does not halt, but go steadily forward, progressing with the population, and fulfilling the duties of a public educator and public benefactor.

MECHANICS' INSTITUTES, AND THE BEST MEANS OF IMPROVING

THEM.

II.

BY RICHARD LEWIS, TORONTO.

M

MOTTO.-" To make the Man a better Mechanic, and the Mechanic a better Man."

ECHANICS' INSTITUTES form an important element in the development of popular education. They are associated with the history and progress of National and of Sabbath Schools, and their claims upon public benevolence and philanthropy arose almost simultaneously with those great institutions which, in their splendid results, are now regarded as the great necessities of civil society and the Church. When National Schools for the education of the youth of the country were claiming the sympathies of the philanthropist and the statesman, the friends of the adult population urged the pressing necessity of supplying them with the means of instruction. While the common schools, open to the poorest, were established to arrest future ignorance and all its evils, it was urged that multitudes who had never received the advantages

of early culture were hungering and thirsting for knowledge-suffering all the consequences of neglected education-ripe for vice or crime or any form of lawlessness, because they were destitute of common knowledge, and because man is never satisfied to exist in a state of ignorance and mental darkness-ripe for intellectual improvement and for advancement to a higher state of social life. Deeply impressed with these views, able and benevolent men, at the head of whom stood the great Lord Brougham and Dr. Birkbeck, urged the necessity for establishing night institutions for the education of the working-classes in the useful branches of elementary knowledge, and for their instruction in science by means of popular lectures, and their entertainment by means of public reading rooms. The idea was novel, striking, and reasonable,

and at once commended itself to the good sense and generosity of the wealthier classes. Mechanics' Institutes sprung up in every part of the country, and were liberally supported by all ranks: the rich contributed their wealth, and gave their influence and their co-operation to manage the affairs of the Institutes; and the classes for whom they were especially designed did not show themselves ungrateful or unworthy of the interest and the generous efforts made in their behalf. For many years the classes were crowded with faithful and zealous students, and the lecture rooms were the favourite resort of all classes, and formed a bond of social reunion between ranks of society too widely separated by the accidents of fortune and position. If the history of Mechanics' Institutes were written, it would present very satisfactory evidence that the benevolent designs of their founders were most successfully accomplished. In very many instances, and especially in the towns and cities of manufacturing districts, not only were the Institutes flourishing, but the instruction was sound and useful, and the lectures were frequently of a very high character. The ablest literary talent of the country was engaged,* and the subjects were of a thoroughly practical and elevating character. The spasmodic system of single lectures, now so prevalent on this continent, did not then prevail; but courses of six, eight, or twelve lectures were given on a scientific topic, embracing all its leading points, with ample illustrations and apparatus when necessary. These lectures were generally distinguished for their simplicity, fulness and appropriateness, and could not fail to be the means of diffusing a great amount of useful knowledge throughout the country, and amongst all classes of the community, but chiefly that class for whom they were especially intended. But apart from this issue, a still higher result followed in the cultivation of scientific and artistic and literary tastes. No one could listen to the popular analysis of the steam engine by Dr. Lardner; or the delightful discourses of the unfortunate

* The writer has had the privilege, as a member of the Liverpool Mechanics' Institute, of hearing courses of lectures by Dr. Lardner, Professor Owen, Haydon the painter, George Thompson, Sheridan Knowles, Dr. Epps, Professor Wallis, Hemming, John Wilson the Scotch vocalist, and many others of equal eminence.

Haydon on painting, and art, and the Elgin marbles; or the interesting histories of animal nature by Professor Owen; or the fascinating histories of music and the old madrigals, with the charming illustrations of voice and instrument, by Professor Taylor, of Gresham College, and a host of other splendid lectures by equally able lecturers, all open to the members of the Institutes, without being edified, instructed, and refined. These were moral and intellectual advantages associated with this feature of the Mechanics' Institutes of thirty years ago of which we can have but a dim conception now. The enthusiasm with which they were then supported secured for their success the services of the highest cultivated minds in literature, art, and science; and while that order of talent was engaged in the work of popular adult education, the classes and the lecture halls were crowded, and the libraries were filled with books in harmony with the pursuits and the tastes stimulated and sustained by the lectures.

A great change has marked the history of Mechanics' Institutes during the last twenty years. The lecture platform has ceased to be occupied by the best literary and scientific talent of the countries in which these Institutes exist, and in too many instances the lectures have been made to pander to low tastes and emotions, with no reference to the elevation of the masses or the instruction of the members. It has been asserted that the working-men found the subjects too dry, and deserted the lecture hall because they had no desire for scientific or literary culture of a solid and high character; and it has been said that the conviction is gaining ground that adult education is a hopeless task. With reference to the failure of the popular lectures, it is quite possible that the indifference lay as much on the side of the lecturers and the wealthier classes whose munificence, while it lasted, kept the Institutes in successful action. Many of the lecturers gave their services gratuitously, while the enthusiasm associated with a new and popular movement prevailed; and under the pressure of that enthusiasm gave their best efforts to make the lectures interesting, clear, and instructive; and when the lecturers were paid for their services, the temporary liberality of the wealthy patrons of the Institutes removed all financial difficulties. Even at the present day,

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