DR BIRKBECK’S INSTITUTE.

Evening Star, Issue 14633, 1 August 1911, Page 2

DR BIRKBECK’S INSTITUTE.

Dr Birkbeck, whose name is now- prominent in a .connection which he never contemplated in life, had to encounter extraordinary opposition in founding' the first Mechanic*’ Institute in London 83 years ago. Xow that the movement he stintea has spread all over the Empire,, it is amazing to read the Press prophecies at its birth. The ‘St. James’s Chronicle’ saw in it a “diabolical scheme for the destruction of the Empire.” It added that Dr BirkheckVj proposals to "set up the laborers as a separata or independent class meam scattering the seeds of evil, the extent of which the wisest amongst us cannot anticipate.” Although his name is chiefly associated with the founding of-mechanics’ institutes. Dr Birkbeck was associated with other be-' neficenb movements, among them the re-' moval of the taxes ou newspapers: ' In 1835 ho headed a deputation to the' Chan* l cellor of tho Exchequer, Mr' Spring-Pirc.-j With him were Joseph Hume, (ieorge j (■{rote, Howland Hill, and Charles K night. 1 Dr Birkbeck’s speech was a powerful plea I for the removal of artificial barriers bn the | dissemination of knowledge. These words j of his read strangely to-day: “Xo report of the proceedings of the Legislature, no account of tho manner in which the laws are administered, no information, respect: jug passing events can bo published in a, form accessible to tho poor without a violation of tho law.”