I eagerly embrace the opportunity afforded me for
congratulating you most cordially on the unanimity and good
feeling displayed at the general meeting of the supporters of
the Mechanics' Institute, last evening.
I point to the labours of the Committee and to the encouraging
support they have received with honest pride and the most
sincere delight--and, in consequence of these successful
labours, and this public approbation thereof, I feel called
on to suggest and recommend the most _prompt_, _energetic_,
and _unanimous_ support and co-operation of all classes and
individuals in behalf of this Philanthropic Institution--that
this unostentatious but admirable and holy principle, so dear
to every Christian heart,--"Glory to God in the Highest, peace
on earth, and goodwill towards men,"--may be brought into
active and perpetual operation in this Parish, is my motive for
offering my humble support and anticipating your co-operation.
Why--let me ask--should any individual withhold the hand of
fellowship from his neighbours and fellow parishioners in a
work from which the elements of discord are carefully and
fundamentally removed?
I do not envy that man's feelings who can allow groundless and
purblind prejudice, the offspring of unreasoning ignorance, to
blind his eyes, and steel his heart against endeavouring to
benefit his fellow creatures.--Let such an one--if indeed he
can be found--remember that man is not a mere animal, but a
_reasoning_, _reasonable_, and consequently a _responsible_
being; and according to the food his mind receives, so will it
be vigorous for good or evil.
Let us therefore feed men's minds with wholesome information,
and thus--"Lead them thro' nature up to nature's God."--And
rest assured this grand remembrance is the mainspring of my
every action, the burden of my every waking thought, and the
leading object of my life.
"_Magna est veritas, et prevalebit._"
Great is the truth and it will prevail.
Believe me to remain,
My dear Parishioners,
Your faithful friend,
JAMES C. BROWNE, D.C.L.,
_Vicar of Dudley_.
June, 1848. A most heartrending and devastating accident happened at
Hartshill. A boiler connected with a forge mill suddenly exploded, and
eleven men were instantly scalded to death.
Church rates were still levied in this parish, and occasionally we had
to witness some very unwise and unpleasant seizures of respectable
townsmen's goods or furniture, who conscientiously refused to pay the
obnoxious church rates. The spirited remonstrance made by Mr. Joseph
Pitchfork, the talented and genial master of "Baylisses School," in
Tower Street, who was occasionally a victim in this unrighteous cause,
will repay perusing.