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| The, Working
Lads' Institute & Home 279, Whitechapel Road, London, E. 1. FOUNDED 1876. |
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| Ex-Officio President THE RIGHT HON. THE LORD MAYOR. Founder HENRY HILL, ESQ. Trustees THE BOURNE TRUST CORPORATION, LTD. Committee Revs. W. M. KELLEY, J. H. HIRST, W. J. WARD, J. T. BARKBY, J. K. ELLWOOD, T. JACKSON, JAS. E. THORP, MESSRS. S. A. BUTT, and T. PROUD. Solicitors MESSRS. E. C. RAWLINGS, BUTT, & BOWYER, 2, Walbrook, E.C. 4. Auditors A. E. TURBERVILLE & Co., Chartered Accountants, 20, Essex Street, Strand, London, W.C. 2. Bankers BARCLAYS BANK, MILE END BRANCH, 234-236, Whitechapel Road, E. 1. Hon. Treasurer T. PROUD, ESQ., " Parkfield," Grove Park, Lee, London, S.E. Hon. Superintendent and Secretary, REV. THOMAS JACKSON, 279, Whitechapel Road, London, E. 1. Hon. Assistant REV. JAS. E. THORP, 279, Whitechapel Road, London., E. 1. Probation Officer MR. H. E. KINCHIN, 53, Carey Street, Leytonstone, E. 11. |
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Working
Lads' Institute and Home. REPORT for the year 1926 |
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| ANNUAL REPORT, 1926. The issue of the Fiftieth Annual Report of the Working Lads' Institute and Home indicates its special interest. The hopes of those who were responsible for inaugurating the Institute, at a meeting held in the Mansion House, under the presidency of the Lord Mayor, in the year 1876, that the Working Lads of Whitechapel and the -East End should be befriended and cared for, have been realised to a considerable extent. Few of the friends, whose generous financial support and patronage gave such early success to the movement, remain to share in the gratification a review of the past fifty years excites, but the esteemed founder, Mr. Henry Hill, has been spared to share in the Institute's jubilee. Departed Friends. It is with deep regret that we have to record the death of two respected Members of our Committee. The late Mr. William Tyler, J.P., had served on the Committee for the past thirty years and had manifested the warmest interest in the work, and given it most generous support. As a personal friend for nearly half a century, his sympathetic and practical advice in times of difficulty in respect to ways and means, and also during the period when important structural alterations had to be made in the Institute premises, were most valuable and appreciated. As Chairman of the Stratford Bench of justices, he frequently sought and obtained our co-operation in dealing with male juvenile offenders, and expressed his gratitude and satisfaction that the Institute Home so successfully dealt with the cases his Bench placed under our care. Our late esteemed Treasurer, Mr. Charles ]R. Maynard, for many years was a liberal supporter and took a deep interest in the lads admitted to the Home. His practical advice on matters relating to their employment and after-care attention was highly valued by the Committee. His generous contributions to the Christmas and other special occasions, when meetings and re-unions of present and past members were held, added greatly to their enjoyment, and his bright, cheery presence was most inspiring and welcome. We shall greatly miss these valued helpers and friends, but highly appreciate the sympathetic help they rendered the work. The late Sir Stuart M. Samuel, Bart. At our Annual Meeting, in May last, we had the pleasure of the company of the late Sir Stuart M. Samuel, Bart. With few exceptions he had attended and taken part in the Annual Meetings of the Institute for the past twenty years. In moving the adoption of the Report, Sir Stuart said : "He was first attracted to the Institute by the wide tolerance shown and the fact that it was non-sectarian and that no religious barriers were erected in the good work being done. The fact that a very large number of the boys in the Institute had lost either one or both their parents showed the value of home life and the effect of example. The boys had a father in Mr. Jackson, and if only they would look up to him and follow his example they would become good and successful men." This proved to be the last public speech he was to give, for tile following Thursday night he suddenly passed away. The sad event caused deep and widespread regret and sorrow, and all who knew him felt that the poor, and Whitechapel specially, had lost a true, devout, and generous friend. We shall greatly miss, in future, his cheery presence and appreciative words. The Boys' Happy Evenings. The Institute continues to be an attractive centre for the lads of the neighbourhood. Both the junior and senior sections have been provided with opportunities for spending their evenings profitably and enjoyably. The Gymnasium is a popular item in the evening meetings. A competent Gymnast is engaged to give instruction one evening per week, and he is assisted by senior members, whom he regards as competent to give lessons in his absence. The Competitions are keenly contested, and the ambition to be Prize Winners excites great interest. Occasional Displays are given with the object of assisting in raising funds for the Summer Camp and other agencies. The Cinematograph has been an attractive addition to our means of entertainment during the past year. At a cost of £50 we have provided a plant which meets all the requirements of the L.C.C., and avoids all risks of danger from fire. A six months' contract with a Film Company enables us to select a change of exhibexhibitionition weekly, and keep undesirable representations out. A charge of one half-penny is made for admission, towards meeting the expenses of the hire of films. The subjects selected are such as provide both instruction and amusement. The Monthly Parade Is an interesting item. Led by the Bugle Band and Banner, the march is stimulating to the members and attracts much public notice and appreciation. A simple but neat uniform gives the lads a smart appearance and aids in the forming of habits of self-respect and worthy conduct. Games. Provision is made for indoor games during the Winter months, and open-air games during the Summer. Occasional Lantern Lectures, Concerts, and Swimming Contests add varied interest to the members. The Summer Camp. The appearance of the motor lorries in the Whitechapel Road, for the conveyance of the member, and their baggage, occasions no small stir and excitement. parents seeing their boys off, lookers-on amused at seeing the lads loading-up their camp paraphernalia, the bugle call to attention, the signal to start, and then resounding cheers such as only lads excited can give, were features of the start from Whitechapel to Foots Cray, in Kent, for the Summer Camp. Of all the Summer events for the lads, camping-out is the most popular, and when the changed conditions from Whitechapel are considered it is a most profitable one from the view point of health. The change of scenery, the club-like type of life, fresh air, plenty of plain food, a life of freedom, blesses both body and mind. The conduct of the campers was most exemplary, and the memory of the Summer camp, 1926, one of unmixed pleasure. The Institute Home. The following is a brief summary of the cases dealt with by us during the year. Our Probation Officer reports as follows: Admissions into the Home during the year, 98 ; of these, 27, had lost both parents, 18 had lost father, 17 had lost mother (62). He found employment as follows: Glass Works, 18; Coal Mines, 20; Restaurants, 18 Tailoring and General, 18; ; Farms, 6; Mercantile Marine, 8 Army, 4. Returned medically unfit, 6. Two of our old lads have been assisted to emigrate. I. U. W., to Auckland, New Zealand; and L.W., to New South Wales, under the Dreadnought Training Scheme. Both have written us and are doing well. The Coal Dispute caused us great anxiety, having over 60 of our lads involved, but only 6 of these returned home. The others were well cared for, Mr. Kinchin visited them three times, and Mr. Thorp also saw many of them during a visit to Yorks. In order to assist these lads about £50 was forwarded in cash or clothing, and most grateful letters were received from the lads or their guardians. At Xmas, too, all our lads at the mines, and on the farms in Devon, received a small present, which cheered and encouraged them considerably. The Reports from Employers have been most satisfactory, a little readjustment was made when Mr. K. visited Yorks., apart from this, only two cases have been sent back as unsatisfactory. The Devonshire cases have given the greatest satisfaction, and are opening a wider field for us in this district. Following the Coal Crisis, great alterations have taken place in the Glass Making Industry, we shall not be able to send many lads to this work, so gladly welcome the opportunities of sending increasing numbers to farm work. The area from which the Lads come to us is still a wide one, and embraces, beside all parts of London, Berkhampstead, Bedford, Birkenhead, Brentford, Colchester, Cork, Darlington, Dartmoor, Dover, Eastbourne, Fareham, Folkestone, Gravesend, Grimsby, Haverhill, Hull, Leicester, Maidstone, Manchester, Mayford, Northampton, Northfleet, Sheerness, Southend, South Wales, Yarmouth. Beside the cases dealt with in the Home, The Police Court, Prison Gate, and After-care Work has kept us busy. Very many visits have been paid to the homes and places of employment of cases handed over to our care. Over 50 places of employment have been found for ex-Borstal and ex-Prisoners and other needy cases, and a goodly measure of success has been registered. To see men who have been again and again convicted and served long sentences, taking up honest work, putting their best into their job, earning the well done of their employer, is encouraging. Even when failure has come we get a letter such as this "I am sorry to let you down, I did try, but old habits were too strong, but please do not give me up. I am sure you and your cause will win yet. When free, I shall come to you." So we take courage and press on. H. E. K. Our Grateful Acknowledgments. In presenting this brief statement of the past year's activities of the Institute and Home, we wish to thank most heartily all who have kindly assisted us with their contributions, and the friends who have rendered gratuitous service in making the work so attractive and efficient. We solicit a continuance of generous support from our friends and the public. On behalf of the Committee. THOMAS JACKSON, Hon. Superintendent and Secretary. |
 Jubilee Commemoration, Mansion House, City, October 18th 1926. Reading left to right: CITY SHERIFF, H. HILL, T. JACKSON, THE LORD MAYOR, PRESIDENT OF CONFERENCE, VICE-PRESIDFNT OF CONFERENCE, CITY SHERIFF. Report in the "City Press," October 23rd, 1926: |
| Jubilee Meeting at the Mansion
House. The Lord Mayor, accompanied by the Sheriffs, presided at the Jubilee meeting of the Working Lads' Institute and Home, at the Mansion House, on Monday. Letters expressing regret at inability to attend were read from Alderman Sir George Truscott, Bt., the Lord Mayor-Elect, Alderman Sir William Waterlow, and Col. and Alderman Sir Charles Wakefield, Bt. The last-named said he immensely admired the splendid work carried on at the Institute. He would have liked to have a share in the jubilee celebration, if only to testify to Mr. Jackson's own magnificent record of service to that excellent cause. He had much pleasure in enclosing a cheque for £10. Founder Present. The Superintendent (the Rev. Thomas Jackson) said that the Institute was founded in October, 1876, and the founder, Mr Henry Hill, was present that afternoon. It might be said to have been born at the Mansion House, because it was inaugurated there under the presidency of the then Lord Mayor, Sir J. R. Cotton. The object was to provide facilities for working lads employed in the City as errand boys, apprentices, and shop assistants, who had two or three hours of leisure, were not favoured with convenience for recreation in their homes, and consequently were exposed to the temptations of the streets and low music-halls Sir Robert Carden gave £100, and premises were obtained in Whitechapel. Instruction was given in reading, writing, arithmetic, music, wood-carving, and carpentry. The teachers gave their services. Lads thronged the rooms every night, ,and a larger building had to be erected at a cost of £18,000. A Jubilee Memorial. The lads now catered for were of a poorer class than formerly, but their need was more urgent. Food, clothing, and lodgings were provided for destitute lads. During 14 years they had received from the City Courts 70 first offenders, and from the Metropolitan Courts 766. Upwards Of 3,000 of their lads had gone to useful employment. No fewer than 75 per cent of those had made good. It was proposed to raise as a jubilee Memorial Fund, a sum of £2,000 to he invested on behalf of the work. The total at present was £1,579 The Lord Mayor gave all a hearty welcome to the Mansion House. He said he did not think there was abetter institution in existence for the uplift of lads employed in the City, and residing for the most part in the East End. It was true, as Mr. jackson had said, that just 50 years ago the institution was inaugurated in that place by one of his honoured predecessors. He was glad to find that the efforts of the Committee had been a great success from the start. On his own behalf, and on that of the Corporation, he offered congratulations to the founder, Mr. Henry Hill, who for twenty five years was the Hon. Superintendent and Secretary. His Lordship also referred to the valued services of Mr. jackson, who was commemorating the jubilee of his ministry in the East End of London. Mr. Henry Hill, in moving a resolution expressive of thanksgiving, referred to the valuable support given to the Institute by the Corporation during fifty years. The Lord Mayor and Sheriffs, he said, had with few exceptions attended the annual meetings. One of their boys had been the Mayor of Stepney. The resolution was heartily adopted. The "Derby Daily Telegraph," January 28th, 1927. The story of Mr. Jackson's life and work is full of romance and inspiration. He is a native of Belper. Born in a lowly home, and beset with difficulties in his early days, he bravely won his way by the power of character and sacrificial ministry to a position of unique influence in his own church. With remarkable enthusiasm, he was elected the President of the Conference some years ago. Recently he was honoured by the Lord Mayor of London in the Mansion House, where representatives of the City, of all the churches, and political parties in the State paid warm tribute to his influence and ministry. It was a noble celebration of Mr. Jackson's ministerial jubilee. All classes contributed to a testimonial, which reached the sum of £1,000. Mr. Jackson, in reply, spoke on behalf of the poor and "the down and out," and gave the gift to the work carried on for their sake. For nearly 40 years he has toiled hard and heroically in the east of London, and the title not a few give him, ---the Bishop of Whitechapel," he has worthily won. |
| The Annual Meeting OF THE Working Lads' Institute & Home WILL BE HELD IN The ALEXANDRA ROOM of the Institute, On MONDAY, May 9th, 1927, At 3 p.m. The Right Hon. The LORD MAYOR will preside, Supported by the CITY SHERIFFS, MR. H. PERCY SHEPHERD, C.C., and MR. PERCY VINCENT, C.C., The MAYOR of STEPNEY (Councillor J. Sullivan, I.P.), HENRY HILL, Esq., ALD. H. KOSKY, J.P., J. D. KILEY, J.P., The PRESIDENT of CONFERENCE (Rev. A. L. Humphries, M.A.), The RECTOR of WHITECHAPEL (Rev. J. A. Mayo), REV. J. T. BARKBY (Ex-President of Conference), and others. The LADY MAYORESS will present the Prizes to Members. A Collection will be taken for the Institute and Home Work. We greatly need increased funds. |