POPULAR ENTERTAINMENTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 150, 4 November 1868, Page 2

POPULAR ENTERTAINMENTS.

♦ ODDFELLOWS. The second of the series of popular enter tainments in aid of the Widow and Orphans' Fund, in connection with the Odd Fellows' Society, took place at their Hall, Lichfield Btreet, last evening. There was a large attendance. The chair was occupied by Mr Wynn Wil Hams, who said he had very great pleasure iv acceding to the request made to him to preside, as he was, and always had been, of opinion that people cannot too often meet together for social purposes and innocent amusement, netting aside the advantages that accrued to many by keeping them away from those resorts, the frequenting of which could not but have a baneful effect both on mind and body, these social gatherings brought together all classes, and tended very much to increase that respect and good feeling which we ought all to feel towards one another, no matter what position in life we may occupy. He was only sorry that there was not more frequent inter-epmmuni-cation between different classes of society than there is at present. But at the same time, it was but fair to acknowledge that the tendency to join in this kind of gatherings hud of late very much increased, and he thought that the oftener those who occupied what was generally called the higher position in the social scale found themselves taking part in these movements, the more they would enjoy them. The enjoyment consisted mainly, in his opinion, iv helping those who had not the leisure or the means to indulge in the more expensive amusements, to enjoy themselves, and at the same time to improve their manners, habits, and ideas. (Hear, hear.) This must, he considered, be a source of very great enjoyment to those who really took any interest in endeavouring to improve the social position of those who were destined to occupy that position in the world which required that they should devote nearly the whole of their time to bodily labour, having no leisure or means afforded to them after a certain age of enjoying the advantages of a liberal education. In fact, these gatherings helped to make up to the working classes for the loss they sustained in not beiug able to obtain that education which the higher classes had within their reach. He did not, however, agree with those who thought that meetings of

this kind Bhould be devoted to instruction solely. He did not think it possible to instruct any, person by means of platform lectures, more especially if they were of a scientific nature. (Hear, hear.) Anything that would bear elucidation by very simple means might of course be imparted to others by means of lectures ; but he couldn't think for one moment that lectures on scientific subjects could be of any- advantage whatever, excepting to those who were either themselves particularly interested in some particular branch of science, or to those who were so highly educated as to be able to understand the lecturer. In his opinion, what was • equired at meetings of this sort was as much inuocent amusement as possible, combined with light instruction. In fact, he couldn't see the harm, as some people did, of enjoying a good laugh and a merry evening. (Applause.) The great feature of these meetings, however, was the fact of their gathering together, and meeting each other as often possible. This was after all the important result- brought about; and besides in many instances they saved numbers from passing their time in some less innocent amusement. One result of these meetings was that the rich and the poor, the hi_h and the low, were thrown far more together than they were years ago, aud on terms that would bring about a far better appreciation of each other's good qualities, than when there were no means provided for intercourse between different classes of society. Those who encouraged these meetings were worthy undoubtedly of great credit, because they participated in and encouraged that interest which resulted iv the holding out to the labouring classes the right hand of brotherhood. He thought it was wiser not to follow the doctrinaires who aimed at making philosophers of artisans aud scholars of mechanics. It was better, surely, to endeavour to draw both artizans and mechauics, and, still more, the agricultural labourers, into kindly intercourse with the classes above them. The doctrinaires undertook to instruct with the airs of the superior coming down to the level of ths inferior. But the more rational and certainly the more agreeable course was to greet kindly the mechanic and the labourer alike, and to invite both to join in those amusements and recreations which refreshed the spirit as much as they invigorated the frame. In conclusion, he would invite all those who sincerely desired to encourage the advancement of education and the cause of the mass of the people to join to their very utmost in encouraging them all by their presence and support to meet and join together in reunions of this description as often as possible. He would also go further and say that proceedings of this description might be so extended, as to afford fpr the working classes those interchanges of society which in a different form were enjoyed by the wealthy and so-called higher classes. He meant that they might so extend tljese entertainments, as to add to them the pleasure of social teameetings and the enjoyment of dancing, which was certainly as innocent an amusement as could possibly be indulged in. He was afraid he had expressed what he had wished to say in rather an ambiguous manner, and had very possibly expressed views that some of the more straight-laced might think not quite correct. If he had, he begged to apologise to those who might differ with him; but at the same time to say that he considered it much more to the advantage of those whom he saw there around him, that they should indulge in a little innocent recreation on occasions of this description, instead of coming from their houses after a hard day's work to listen to some dry lecture or readings of serious poetry. He thought what was principally to be aimed at was — the affording an hour or two's innocent recreation and amusement, and more especially the oue great object, that of briuging together the different classes of society. (Applause.) The programme was opened by " Jack's journey round the World " by Mr Harper and company. Mr T. I. Joynt read ** the Jackdaw of Rheims," and was loudly applauded. Mr Stapleton then gave a song, and was encored ; and Mr Legett read " v Day's Journey through London in search of a Policeman," which was well received. Mr Ingleson followed with a local song ; after which Mr Harper and company sung " The Lady of the Olden Time," which formed one of the best selections on the programme. Another song by Mr Stapleton was followed by the reading, by Mr John Armitage, of part of a chapter entitled "My Wedding Trip," from the autobiography of William Henry Milburne, au American divine. r Legett then read the scene between O'Connell and Bridget Moriarty, which gave rise to much laughter. Some other pieces were given, and the entertainment concluded shortly before ten. HEATHCOTE SUNDAY SCHOOLS. The third and last entertainment in aid of the Heathcote Schools fund, took place in Messrs .Palmer and Co.'s warehouse, Ferry Road, last night. The attendance was scarcely so numerous as at the previous ones, but was still good, and the programme was characterised by even a larger measure of success than that attained by its predecessors. Mr J. S: Williams presided and delivered the opening address: — He first referred to the intended discontinuance of the entertainments, and said he had no doubt that having been so successful such a decision would be greatly regretted. He considered re-unions of that kind were calculated to do a great deal of good both in instruction and amusement, although the latter was perhaps the principal object. Even allowing, however, that it was the soleresult likely to be attained, still their time would not be wasted. Of all nations in the world none understood so little how to amuse themselves as the English They knew well enough how to work, b"ut had scarcely Ir-arnt how to play in a rational manner." To his mind every one should understand both, and from their hard working business