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No central association at a distance could possibly understand them
as this local association does。 No central association at a
distance could possibly put them in that familiar and easy
communication one with another； as that I； man or boy； eager for
knowledge； in that valley seven miles off； should know of you； man
or boy； eager for knowledge； in that valley twelve miles off； and
should occasionally trudge to meet you； that you may impart your
learning in one branch of acquisition to me； whilst I impart mine
in another to you。 Yet this is distinctly a feature； and a most
important feature； of this society。
On the other hand； it is not to be supposed that these honest men；
however zealous； could； as a rule； succeed in establishing and
maintaining their own institutions of themselves。 It is obvious
that combination must materially diminish their cost； which is in
time a vital consideration； and it is equally obvious that
experience； essential to the success of all combination； is
especially so when its object is to diffuse the results of
experience and of reflection。
Well； ladies and gentlemen； the student of the present profitable
history of this society does not stop here in his learning； when he
has got so far； he finds with interest and pleasure that the parent
society at certain stated periods invites the more eager and
enterprising members of the local society to submit themselves to
voluntary examination in various branches of useful knowledge； of
which examination it takes the charge and arranges the details； and
invites the successful candidates to come to Manchester to receive
the prizes and certificates of merit which it impartially awards。
The most successful of the competitors in the list of these
examinations are now among us； and these little marks of
recognition and encouragement I shall have the honour presently of
giving them； as they come before you； one by one； for that purpose。
I have looked over a few of those examination papers； which have
comprised history； geography； grammar； arithmetic； book…keeping；
decimal coinage； mensuration； mathematics； social economy； the
French language … in fact； they comprise all the keys that open all
the locks of knowledge。 I felt most devoutly gratified； as to many
of them； that they had not been submitted to me to answer； for I am
perfectly sure that if they had been； I should have had mighty
little to bestow upon myself to…night。 And yet it is always to be
observed and seriously remembered that these examinations are
undergone by people whose lives have been passed in a continual
fight for bread； and whose whole existence； has been a constant
wrestle with
〃Those twin gaolers of the daring heart …
Low birth and iron fortune。〃
I could not but consider； with extraordinary admiration； that these
questions have been replied to； not by men like myself； the
business of whose life is with writing and with books； but by men；
the business of whose life is with tools and with machinery。
Let me endeavour to recall； as well as my memory will serve me；
from among the most interesting cases of prize…holders and
certificate…gainers who will appear before you； some two or three
of the most conspicuous examples。 There are two poor brothers from
near Chorley； who work from morning to night in a coal…pit； and
who； in all weathers； have walked eight miles a…night； three nights
a…week； to attend the classes in which they have gained
distinction。 There are two poor boys from Bollington； who begin
life as piecers at one shilling or eighteen…pence a…week； and the
father of one of whom was cut to pieces by the machinery at which
he worked； but not before he had himself founded the institution in
which this son has since come to be taught。 These two poor boys
will appear before you to…night； to take the second…class prize in
chemistry。 There is a plasterer from Bury； sixteen years of age；
who took a third…class certificate last year at the hands of Lord
Brougham； he is this year again successful in a competition three
times as severe。 There is a wagon…maker from the same place； who
knew little or absolutely nothing until he was a grown man； and who
has learned all he knows； which is a great deal； in the local
institution。 There is a chain…maker； in very humble circumstances；
and working hard all day； who walks six miles a…night； three nights
a…week； to attend the classes in which he has won so famous a
place。 There is a moulder in an iron foundry； who； whilst he was
working twelve hours a day before the furnace； got up at four
o'clock in the morning to learn drawing。 〃The thought of my lads；〃
he writes in his modest account of himself； 〃in their peaceful
slumbers above me； gave me fresh courage； and I used to think that
if I should never receive any personal benefit； I might instruct
them when they came to be of an age to understand the mighty
machines and engines which have made our country； England； pre…
eminent in the world's history。〃 There is a piecer at mule…frames；
who could not read at eighteen； who is now a man of little more
than thirty； who is the sole support of an aged mother； who is
arithmetical teacher in the institution in which he himself was
taught； who writes of himself that he made the resolution never to
take up a subject without keeping to it； and who has kept to it
with such an astonishing will； that he is now well versed in Euclid
and Algebra； and is the best French scholar in Stockport。 The
drawing…classes in that same Stockport are taught by a working
blacksmith； and the pupils of that working blacksmith will receive
the highest honours of to…night。 Well may it be said of that good
blacksmith； as it was written of another of his trade； by the
American poet：
〃Toiling； rejoicing； sorrowing；
Onward through life he goes；
Each morning sees some task begun；
Each evening sees its clause。
Something attempted； something done；
Has earn'd a night's repose。〃
To pass from the successful candidates to the delegates from local
societies now before me； and to content myself with one instance
from amongst them。 There is among their number a most remarkable
man； whose history I have read with feelings that I could not
adequately express under any circumstances； and least of all when I
know he hears me； who worked when he was a mere baby at hand…loom
weaving until he dropped from fatigue： who began to teach himself
as soon as he could earn five shillings a…week： who is now a
botanist； acquainted with every production of the Lancashire
valley： who is a naturalist； and has made and preserved a
collection of the eggs of British birds； and stuffed the birds：
who is now a conchologist； with a very curious； and in some
respects an original collection of fresh…water shells； and has also
preserved and collected the mosses of fresh water and of the sea：
who is worthily the president of his own local Literary
Institution； and who was at his work this time last night as
foreman in a mill。
So stimulating has been the influence of these bright examples； and
many more； that I notice among the applications from Blackburn for
preliminary test examination papers； one from an applicant who
gravely fills up the printed form by describing himself as ten
years of age； and who； with equal gravity； describes his occupation
as 〃nursing a little child。〃 Nor are these things confined to the
men。 The women employed in factories； milliners' work； and
domestic service； have begun to show； as it is fitting they should；
a most decided determination not to be outdone by the men； and the
women of Preston in particular； have so honourably distinguished
themselves； and shown in their examination papers such an admirable
knowledge of the science of household management and household
economy； that if I were a working bachelor of Lancashire or
Cheshire； and if I had not cast my eye or set my heart upon any
lass in particular； I should positively get up at four o'clock in
the morning with the determination of the iron…moulder himself； and
should go to Preston in search of a wife。
Now； ladies and gentlemen； these instances； and many more； daily
occurring； always accumulating； are surely better testimony to the
working of this Association； than any number of speakers could
possibly present to you。 Surely the presence among us of these
indefatigable people is the Association's best and most effective
triumph in the present and the past； and is its noblest stimulus to
effort in the future。 As its temporary mouth…piece； I would beg to
say to that portion of the company who attend to receive the
prizes； that the institution can never hold itself apart from them；
… can never set itself above them； that their distinction and
success must be its distinction and success； and that there can be
but one heart beating between them and it。 In particu