about the streets or visiting public houses. It might be made free or by admission at a penny a week subscription. There is a spot of ground near the Music Hall which I think would do extremely well, and I should be most happy to communicate with any friends and would join with me in £50, £100, or £200 shares. It has been tried in several places and found to answer well. To this might be added a house, the rent of which would nearly pay, if not quite, the interest of the whole outlay, and might be depôts for the British and Foreign Bible Society and the Religious Tract Society.”
“James Rock, Bedford place, Oct. 29, 1860”.
The proposal was quickly taken up by other gentlemen, but with divergent views, as will be seen in the (abreviated(sic)) letters which follow. “A Friend” wrote –
- “I am thankful to observe that Mr. Rock has brought this question to a practical issue, because I am convinced that it is not only highly important, but a positive duty to provide a fitting place for labouring men to meet after the toil of the day, where they can pass a portion of their leisure hours apart from those debasing influences by which they are now so constantly beset. The higher and middle classes have clubs and reading-rooms, to which they constantly resort. Mechanics and artizans have their institutes of various kinds, but the poor man, till lately, had nothing save the beer-shop, the gin-palace or the public-house. I say till lately, because in many places already a better spirit has arisen, and working-men’s reading-rooms are established. Is it not a reproach to us that in such a town as this, no suitable place is yet found for them to spend their evenings in scenes free from temptation and vice? If, therefore, Mr. Rock’s proposition cannot be carried out at present, I venture to suggest that a room should be procured without delay in a central position and a committee of management formed consisting chiefly, if not entirely of steady, intelligent working-men. The rules should be as simple as possible and the charge for membership about 1d. per week. The room should be open every evening till ten o’clock, and perhaps in the earlier part of the day, especially in bad weather, when labour is slack. It will, of course, be kept clean and well lighted, and will be provided with illustrated and other papers, popular periodicals, chess, draughs(sic), dominoes, &c. If a smoking-room could be added I doubt not it would prove an additional attraction. On Sundays I think the room should be open at certain hours (not during Divine Service) and suitable books and periodicals supplied.”
“A Friend, Nov. 7, 1860”
- “I am thankful to observe that Mr. Rock has brought this question to a practical issue, because I am convinced that it is not only highly important, but a positive duty to provide a fitting place for labouring men to meet after the toil of the day, where they can pass a portion of their leisure hours apart from those debasing influences by which they are now so constantly beset. The higher and middle classes have clubs and reading-rooms, to which they constantly resort. Mechanics and artizans have their institutes of various kinds, but the poor man, till lately, had nothing save the beer-shop, the gin-palace or the public-house. I say till lately, because in many places already a better spirit has arisen, and working-men’s reading-rooms are established. Is it not a reproach to us that in such a town as this, no suitable place is yet found for them to spend their evenings in scenes free from temptation and vice? If, therefore, Mr. Rock’s proposition cannot be carried out at present, I venture to suggest that a room should be procured without delay in a central position and a committee of management formed consisting chiefly, if not entirely of steady, intelligent working-men. The rules should be as simple as possible and the charge for membership about 1d. per week. The room should be open every evening till ten o’clock, and perhaps in the earlier part of the day, especially in bad weather, when labour is slack. It will, of course, be kept clean and well lighted, and will be provided with illustrated and other papers, popular periodicals, chess, draughs(sic), dominoes, &c. If a smoking-room could be added I doubt not it would prove an additional attraction. On Sundays I think the room should be open at certain hours (not during Divine Service) and suitable books and periodicals supplied.”
Mr. G. E. Moulton wrote:- I should be most happy to join other gentlemen in our town to promote the proposed room, should any committee be formed and a unit be required.
