Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham Part 34

_Old Folks' Tea Party_.--In 1857, a few old people were given a treat just prior to Christmas, and the good folks who got it up determined to repeat it. The next gatherings were a.s.sembled at the Priory Rooms, but in a few years it became needful to engage the Town Hall, and there these treats, which are given biennially, are periodically held. At the last gathering there attended over 700, not one of whom was under sixty years of age, while some were long past their three-score and ten, and a few bordered on ninety. The funds are raised by the sale of tickets (to be given by the purchasers to such old people they think deserve it), and by subscriptions, the recipients of the treat not only having that enjoyment, but also take home with them warm clothing and other usefuls suited to their time of life.

_Prevention of Cruelty to Animals_.--Birmingham Society for this purpose was established in 1852, and its officers have frequently been the means of punis.h.i.+ng inhuman brutes who cruelly treated the animals entrusted to their care. Cases of this kind should be reported to Mr. B. Scott, the Society's Secretary, 31, Bennett's Hill. In 1882, 125 persons were summoned, and 107 of them convicted, the year's expenditure being 344.

_Religious Tract Society_.--A local auxiliary was established here in 1853 in which year 409 were realised, by the sale of books, tracts, and religious periodicals; in 1863 that amount was quadrupled; in 1873 the receipts were nearly 2,000. Last year (1883) the value of the sales reached 2,597, and, in addition, there had been free grants made of more than 13,000 tracts and magazines--the Hospitals, Lunatic Asylums, Workhouses, Police Stations, Cabmen's Rests, &c., being supplied gratuitously.

_St. John Ambulance a.s.sociation_.--The Birmingham Branch of this a.s.sociation was organised in 1881, and some hundreds of both s.e.xes have since then pa.s.sed the examination, and obtained certificates of their proficiency in ambulance work, and in the treatment of ordinary cases of accident or sudden illness. It would be a good thing if every man and woman in the town had similar knowledge, and would make use of it when occasions require quick thought and ready hand. The secretary is Mr.

J.K. Patten, 105, Colmore Row.

_St. Thomas's Day Charity_.--A very old custom in Edgbaston has been the collection of donations for a Christmas distribution to the poor and old of the parish. Regular accounts have been booked for over fifty years, but how much longer the custom has existed is uncertain. At first, money only was given, afterwards part was given in bread and packets of tea, while of later years a stock of about 500 blankets has been provided for lending out. The receipts per year are about 200.

_True Blues_.--In 1805 a number of young men who had been brought up at the Blue Coat School and who called themselves the "Grateful Society,"

united their contributions and presented that charity with 52 10s. 3d.

in grat.i.tude for the benefits they had received, a worthy plan which was followed for several years. These same young men originated the "United Society of True Blues" (composed of members who had been reared in the School) for the purpose of forming a fund for the relief of such of their number as might be in distress, and further to raise periodical subscriptions for their old school, part of which is yearly expended in prizes among the children.

~Philanthropic and Benevolent Inst.i.tutions~--Birmingham cannot be said ever to have wanted for charitable citizens, as the following list of philanthropic inst.i.tutions, societies, and trusts will show:--

_Blind Inst.i.tution_, Carpenter Road, Edgbaston.--The first establishment in this town for teaching the blind was opened at 113, Broad Street, in March, 1847, with five boarders and twelve day pupils. At Midsummer, in the following year, Islington House was taken, with accommodation for thirteen resident and twelve day scholars, but so well did the public meet the wishes of the patrons and committee of the Inst.i.tution, that the latter were soon in a position to take upon lease a site for a permanent building (two acres, at 40 a year for 99 years), and on the 23rd of April, 1851, the corner-stone was laid of the present handsome establishment near to Church Road, the total cost of completion being about 7,000. Nearly another 7,000 has since been expended in the erection of workrooms, master's residence, in furniture, musical instruments, tools, &c., and the Inst.i.tution may be considered in as flouris.h.i.+ng a condition as any in the town. The 37th annual report (to Lady-day, 1884), stated that the number of in-door pupils during the past year had been 86--viz., 51 males and 35 females. In the same period 4 paid teachers, 15 out-door blind teachers and workmen, and 4 females had been employed. The number of adult blind residing at their own homes, and visited by the blind teachers engaged in this department of the work was 253. The total number of persons benefited by the inst.i.tution was therefore 362. The financial statement showed that the expenditure had been 6,067 2s. 7d., of which 1,800 had been invested in Birmingham Corporation Stock. The receipts amounted to 6,403 7s.

9d., leaving a balance of 336 5s. 2d. in the treasurer's hands. The statement of receipts and payments on behalf of the adult blind home-teaching branch, which are kept separately, showed a balance due to the treasurer of 71 5s. 9d.

_Bloomsbury Inst.i.tution_.--Commencing in 1860 with a small school, Mr.

David Smith has gradually founded at Bloomsbury an inst.i.tution which combines educational, evangelistic, and missionary agencies of great value to the locality. The premises include a mission hall, lecture room, cla.s.s rooms, &c., in addition to Cottage Homes for orphan and dest.i.tute children, who are taught and trained in a manner suited to the future intended for them in Canada. The expenditure of the Inst.i.tution is now about 1,500 a year, but an amount equal to that is wanted for enlargement of buildings, and other philanthropists will do well to call upon their brother Smith.

_Children's Day Nursery_, The Terrace, Bishopgate Street, was first opened in 1870, to take care of the children in cases where the mothers, or other guardians, have to go to work.

About 6,000 of the little ones are yearly looked after, at a cost of somewhat under 200. Parties wis.h.i.+ng to thus shelter their children must prove the latter's legitimacy, and bring a recommendation from employer or some one known to the manager.

_Children's Emigration Homes_, St. Luke's Road.--Though ranking among our public inst.i.tutions, the philanthropic movement of picking up the human waifs and strays of our dirty back streets may be said to have hitherto been almost solely the private work of our benevolent townsman, Mr. Middlemore. The first inmate received at the Homes (in 1872) was a boy who had already been in prison three times, and the fact that that boy is now a prosperous man and the owner of a large farm in Canada, should be the best of all claims to the sympathy and co operation of the public in the beneficent work of placing out "Street Arabs" in new homes where they will have equal chances of getting on in the world. The batch of children leaving this town (June 11, 1884), comprised 110 boys and 50 girls, making the total number of 912 sent out by Mr. Middlemore in the twelve years.--In connection with the Bloomsbury Inst.i.tution there is also a Children's Home, from which 23 children have been sent to Canada, and at which some 30 others are at present being trained ready to go.

_Deaf and Dumb Inst.i.tution_, Church Road, Edgbaston.--This is the only inst.i.tution of its kind within a radius of a hundred miles, and was the second established in England. Its founder was Dr. De Lys, an eminent physician, resident here in 1810, in which year a society was established for its formation. The first house occupied was in Calthorpe Road (1812), Lord Calthorpe giving the use of the premises until the erection of the inst.i.tution in Church Road, in 1814. The school, at first, would accommodate only a score of pupils, but from time to time additions were made, and in 1858 the whole establishment was remodelled and enlarged, at a cost of 3,000, so that now there is room for 120.

The number on the books at Midsummer, 1883, was 109--64 boys and 45 girls. The year's receipt's amounted to 3,152 12s. 4d., and the expenditure to 2,932 12s. 8d. The children, who are elected at the annual meeting of subscribers in September, are received from all parts of the kingdom, but must not be under eight or over thirteen years of age. Subscribers of a guinea have the right of voting at the elections, and the committee have also power to admit children, on an annual payment of 25. The parents or guardians of the elected candidates, must pay 6 per year towards clothing, &c. The office of the Secretary is at City Chambers, 82 New Street.

_Friendless Girls_.--The Ladies' a.s.sociation (established 1878) for the recovery of girls who have given way to temptation for a short time, or who have been convicted of a first offence, has been the means of rescuing many from the streets and from a life of crime. The Home is in Spring Road, and Mrs. Pike, Sir Harry's Road, is the treasurer, to whom contributions can be sent; and that they will be welcome is shown by the fact that there is a balance at present against the Inst.i.tution's funds.

_Girls' Home_, Bath Row, established in 1851, to provide shelter for young women of good character, when out of situations. A free registry is kept, and over 300 girls avail themselves of the Home every year.

_Girls' Training Inst.i.tution_, George Road, Edgbaston, was opened in 1862, to prepare young girls from twelve to fifteen, for domestic service.

_Industrial and Reformatory Schools_.--Gem Street Industrial School, for the recovery of boys who had began a life of crime, was opened in 1850, and at the close of 1883 it contained 149 boys, under the charge of nine officers.

According to the report of Her Majesty's Inspector, the boys cost 7s.

8d. per head per week, but there was an industrial profit of 601 11s.

4d., 309 0s. 11d. having been received for hire of boys' labour. The Treasury paid 1,350 14s., the rates no less than 1,007 18s. 11d., and subscriptions brought in 83 13s. Of 125 discharges, only 40 per cent, were reported to be doing well, 4 per cent, convicted, 16 per cent, doubtful, and as many as 40 per cent, unknown.--_Penn Street_ School, an establishment of a similar character, was certified in Jan., 1863.

There were 60 boys and 5 officers. The boys cost only 5s. 6d. per head per week. The school received 67 16s. 11d. from the Treasury, 275 0s.

10d. from the rates, 93 2s. from subscriptions, and 100 9s. 3d. from the hire of boy labour. There is an industrial profit of 136 19s, 11d.

Of 37 discharges 70 per cent, are said to be doing well, 6 per cent, to be re-convicted, 3 per cent, dead, and 21 per cent, unknown.--At _Shustoke_ School, certified in February, 1868, there were 130 boys, under 11 officers. The boys cost 6s. 8d. per head per week. 1,580 17s.

11d. had been received from the Treasury; 1,741 16s. from the rates, of which, however, 1,100 had been spent in building, &c.; industrial profit, 109 3s. 7d. Of 27 discharges 74 per cent, were reported to be doing well, 18 per cent, to be convicted, 4 per cent, to be doubtful, and 4 per cent, to be unknown.--_Saltley_ Reformatory was established in 1852. There were 91 boys under detention and 16 on license at the time of the inspector's visit; 9 officers. This school received 1,371 14s.

3d. from the Treasury, 254 19s. 1d. from the rates, and 99 16s. 6d.

from subscriptions. The boys cost 6s 8d. per head per week, and there was 117 9s. 10d. industrial profit, representing the produce of their labour. Of 74 boys discharged in 1879-81, 69 per cent are reported to be doing well, 19 per cent. to be reconvicted, and 12 per cent. unknown.-- At _Stoke Farm_ Reformatory, established in 1853, there were 78 boys under detention, in charge of 10 officers; and 19 on license. Stoke received 1,182 19s. 8d. from the Treasury, 102 17s. 6d. from the rates, and 100 from subscriptions. The boys cost 6s. 11d. per head per week, and there was an industrial profit of 18 14s. 11d. Of 62 boys discharged in 1879-81, 76 per cent, were reported to be doing well, 16 per cent. to be convicted of crime, 5 per cent. doubtful, 11/2 per cent.

dead, 11/2 per cent. unknown.

_Licensed Victuallers' Asylum_, Bristol Road, founded in 1848, to receive and maintain for life distressed members of the trade and their wives or widows.--The Secretary is Mr. H.C. Edwards, The Quadrant, New Street.--See. "_Trade Societies_."

_Little Sisters' Home_.--Founded in 1864, by three French and two English members of the Catholic "Order of Little Sisters of the Poor,"

the first home being at one of the large houses in the Crescent, where they sheltered, fed, and clothed about 80 aged or broken-down men and women. In 1874 the Sisters removed to their present establishment, at Harborne, where they minister to nearly double the number. The whole of this large family are provided for out of the sc.r.a.ps and odds-and-ends gathered by the Sisters from private houses, shops, hotels, restaurants, and bars of the town, the smallest sc.r.a.ps of material crusts of bread, remains of meat, even to cigar ends, all being acceptable to the black robed ladies of charity daily seen in the town on their errand of mercy.

Though essentially a Catholic inst.i.tution, the "Little Sisters" bestow their charity irrespective of creed, Protestants being admitted and allowed freely to follow their own religious notions, the only preference made being in favour of the most aged and dest.i.tute.

_Magdalen Asylum and Refuge_.--First established in 1828, the chapel in Broad Street being opened in 1839. Removed to Clarendon Road, Edgbaston, in 1860. There are usually from 35 to 40 inmates, whose labour provides for great part of the yearly expenditure; and it is well that it is so, for the subscriptions and donations from the public are not sent in so freely as could be wished. The treasurer is Mr. S.S. Lloyd.

_Medical Mission_.--Opened in Floodgate Street, Deritend, in 1875. While resembling other medical charities for the relief of bodily sickness, this mission has for its chief aim the teaching of the Gospel to the sick poor, and in every house that may be visited. That the more worldly part of the mission is not neglected is shown by the fact that the expenditure for the year ending Michaelmas, 1883, reached 643.

_Night Refuges_.--Mr. A.V. Fordyce, in July, 1880, opened a night asylum in Princess Road, for the shelter of homeless and dest.i.tute boys, who were supplied with bed and breakfast. The necessity for such an inst.i.tution was soon made apparent by larger premises being required, and the old police station, corner of Bradford Street and Alcester Street, was taken. This has been turned into a "Home," and it is never short of occupants, other premises being opened in 1883, close to Deritend Bridge, for the casual night-birds, the most promising of whom are transferred to the Home after a few days' testing. A somewhat similar Refuge for Girls has also been established, and if properly supported by the public, these inst.i.tutions must result in much good.

_Nurses_.--Tim Birmingham and Midland Counties' Training Inst.i.tution for Nurses, organised in 1868, has its "Home" in the Crescent. It was founded for the purpose of bringing skilled nursing to the homes of those who would otherwise be unable to obtain intelligent aid in carrying out the instructions of their medical attendants. The subscription list for 1882 amounted to 282 1s., and the sum to the credit of the nurses pension fund to 525 1s. The committee earnestly appeal for increased support, to enable them to extend the work of the inst.i.tution, from which at present the services of four nurses are granted to the District Nursing Society, Newhall Street, for attendance on the sick poor. The staff included 66 trained nurses, with 18 probationers, the latter pa.s.sing for their training through the General, Children's, and h.o.m.oeopathic Hospitals. The nurses from the "Home"

attend on an average over 500 families in the year, those from the District Society conferring their services on nearly 200 other families.

_Protestant Dissenting Charity School_, Graham Street.--This is one of the oldest of our philanthropical inst.i.tutions, having been established in 1760--the first general meeting of subscribers being held June 22, 1761. The first house taken for the purposes of the charity was in New Meeting Street, and both boys and girls were admitted, but since 1813 only girls have received its benefits. These are taken from any locality, and of any Protestant denomination, being housed, fed, clothed, educated and trained for domestic servants. There are usually about 45 to 48 inmates, the cost per child averaging in 1883 (for 56 girls) nearly 20 per head. At the centenary in 1861 a fund of nearly 1,500 was raised by public subscription in aid of the inst.i.tution, which has but a small income from investments. Subscribers of a guinea per year have the right of nominating and voting for the admission of one child every year. The present home in Graham Street was erected in 1839, and application should be made to the matron for information or for servant girls.

_Sanatorium_, situated at Blackwell, near Bromsgrove.--This establishment, which cost 15,750, of which 2,000 was given by Miss Ryland, was built to provide a temporary home, with pure air, rest, and nouris.h.i.+ng diet for convalescent patients, who otherwise might have had to pine away in the close-built quarters of this and neighbouring towns.

The buildings, which will accommodate sixty persons, were opened April 16, 1873, and take the place of a smaller establishment to which Miss Ryland had devoted for some years a house at Sparkbrook. The average number of inmates is put at fifty, and the number who pa.s.sed through the house in 1883 was 1,052, the expenditure for the year being 1,780 8s.

The income was derived from annual subscriptions, 901 10s.; special subscriptions, 347 11s. 6d.; paid by hospitals for maintenance of patients, 192 6s.; grant from the General Hospital, 26 5s.; share of Hospital Sat.u.r.day collection, 211 Os. 4d. The Secretary, from whom all information can be received as to terms of special and other tickets, is Mr. E.J. Bigwood, 3, Temple Row West.

_Servants' Home and Training Inst.i.tution_, established in 1860, finds shelter for a time to as many as 240 young women in the course of a year, many looking upon it as the only home they have when out of a situation. In connection with it is a "training school" and laundry, where a score or more girls are taught. Both parts of the inst.i.tution pay their way, receipts and expenditure (180 and 350 respectively) generally balancing. The Servants' Home is at 30, Bath Row, where there is a Registry for servants, and also for sick and monthly nurses.

_Town Mission_--Established in 1837, and re-modelled in 1850. This inst.i.tution seeks work in a variety of ways, its agents visiting the homes of the poor, the wards of the Hospitals, the lodging-houses, and even the bedsides of the patients in the smallpox and fever hospitals.

In addition to the providing and looking after the "Cabmen's Rests," of which there are sixteen in the town, the Mission employs a Scripture reader specially to deal with the deaf and dumb members of the community, about 200 in number. At the Noel Road Refuge (opened in 1859) about 40 inmates are received yearly, and at Tindal House (opened in 1864) about half that number, the two inst.i.tutions having (to end of 1883) sheltered 1,331 females, of whom nearly a thousand have been brought back to moral and industrious habits. The income of the Society for 1883 was 1,690 17s. 3d., the expenditure being a little over that amount, though the laundries connected with the Refuges more than pay their way. The office is at the Educational Chambers; 90, New Street.

_Young Men's Christian a.s.sociation_.--Inst.i.tuted in 1849; incorporated in 1873. For many years its meetings were held at the Clarendon Chambers, but when the notorious "Sultan Divan" was closed in Needless Alley, it was taken for the purposes of this inst.i.tution, the most appropriate change of tenancy that could possibly be desired, the attractions of the glaring dancing-rooms and low-lived racket giving place to comfortable reading-rooms, a cosy library, and healthy amus.e.m.e.nts. Young men of all creeds may here find a welcome, and strangers to the town will meet friends to guide them in choice of companions, or in securing comfortable homes.--A similar a.s.sociation is that of the Church of England Y.M.C.A., at 30, Paradise Street, which was commenced in 1849, and numbers several hundred members.--At a Conference held Nov. 24, 1880, it was decided to form a Midland District Union of Y.M.C.A.s in this and the surrounding counties.

_Young Women's Christian a.s.sociation_, 3, Great Charles Street.--The idea of forming an inst.i.tute for young women was first mooted in 1874, a house being taken for the purpose in Colmore Row in 1876, but it was removed to Great Charles Street in 1882, where lodgings may be obtained for 2s. 6d. a week. From returns sent in from various branches in connection with the a.s.sociation, it would appear that the number of members in Birmingham was 1,500, which says much or its popularity among the cla.s.s it was intended to benefit.

~Philanthropic Trust Funds.~--That our predecessors forgot not charity is well proved, though some of the "Trusts" read strangely in these days.

_Apprenticing Poor Boys_.--A favourite bequest in past days was the leaving of funds for apprenticing poor lads to useful trades, and when workmen were so scarce and valuable that the strong arm of the law was brought in to prevent their emigrating or removing, doubtless it was a useful charity enough. Now-a-days the majority of masters do not care about the small premiums usually paid out of these trusts, and several such charities have been lost sight of or become amalgamated with others. The funds, however, left by George Jackson, 1696, and by Richard Scott, 1634, are still in the hands of trustees, and to those whom it may concern, Messrs. Horton and Lee, Newhall street, solicitors to both trusts, will give all needful information.

_Banner's Charity_.--Richard and Samuel Banner, in 1716, left some land at Erdington, towards providing clothing for two old widows and half-a-dozen old men, the balance, if any, to be used in apprenticing poor boys in Birmingham,

_Dudley Trust_.--Mr. William Dudley, at his decease in 1876 left 100,000 on trust for the purpose of a.s.sisting young tradesmen commencing business on their own account, to relieve aged tradesmen of the town who had not succeeded in life, and lastly to benefit the charities of the town. The rules require that applicants must be under fifty years of age; that they must reside within the limits of the borough; that they must not have been set up in business more than three years; that they must give satisfactory proof of their honesty, sobriety, and industry; and that they must give satisfactory security to the Trustees, either personal, viz., by bond with two or more sureties [each surety must give two or three references], or upon freehold, copyhold, or leasehold properties. All these conditions being satisfactorily met, the loans, which will be made free of cost, will bear interest at 2-1/2 per cent. per annum, payable half-yearly, and must be repaid within five years, and if the money is wanted for more than two years, repayments by instalments must then commence. The benefactions to aged persons take the shape of grants, annual or otherwise, not exceeding 20 in any one year, in favour of persons who fulfil the following requirements: They must be of the age of sixty years at least, they must have been tradesmen within the limits of the borough; and they must be able to show to the satisfaction of the Trustees that they are of good character and need a.s.sistance, and that they have not received any parochial relief. The Trustees have made several large grants to charitable inst.i.tutions. Offices: 20, Temple Row.

_Fentham's Charity_.--In 1712 George Fentham left about one hundred acres of land in Handsworth and Erdington Parishes, in trust, to teach poor children to read, and to clothe poor widows. The property, when devised, was worth 20 per year. At the end of the century it was valued at 100 per year; and it now brings in nearly 460. The twenty children receiving the benefits of this charity are admitted to the Blue Coat School, and are distinguished by their dress of dark green. Some fifty widows yearly share in the clothing gifts.

_Food and Clothing_.--John Crowley, in 1709, bequeathed an annuity o 20s. chargeable on property in the Lower Priory, to be expended in "sixpenny bread" for the poor at Christmas.--Some land at Sutton Coldfield was left, in 1681, by John Hopkins, to provide clothing and food for the poor of St. Martin's.--Palmer's Charity, 1867, finds about 40 per annum, which is distributed among eighty recipients selected by the Town Council, the majority being poor old women, who go for their doles Dec. 12th.--In addition to the above there have been a number of minor charities left to the churchwardens for providing food and clothing which have either been lost sight of, or mixed up with others, some dating as far back as 1629-30.

_George Hill's Charity_ is now of the value of nearly 5,000, bringing in about 120 yearly. Of this 52s. goes to the churchwardens of the parish church to provide bread for the most necessitous and aged poor; 20s. to the inc.u.mbent of Deritend, and the residue in pensions of not more than 20 to decayed schoolmasters and schoolmistresses.

_Hollier's Charity_ was devised in 1789, the land now known as Highgate Park (originally 10 acres) being left to clothe, annually, twenty poor persons, twelve from Birmingham and eight from Aston. The purchase money paid by the Corporation has been invested, and, under the direction of the Charity Commissioners, the income of this charity is appropriated thus:--50 for clothing for twelve poor men or women of Birmingham, and eight ditto of Aston; 25 for relieving deserving and necessitous persons discharged from Borough Lunatic Asylum; 150 to the Dispensaries of Birmingham and Aston; 25 each to the Children's Hospital and the Sanatorium; and the remainder to the General Hospital.

_James's Trust_, of 1869, which realises about 1,000 per year, was left to provide homes and pensions for deserving widows and others; five annuities for poor and decayed gentlewomen; and a scholars.h.i.+p at the Grammar School. The Secretary is the Vicar of St. Clement's, Nech.e.l.ls.

_Kylcuppe's Charity_.--Sept. 19, 1611. Richard Kylcuppe devised certain land at Sparkbrook for charitable purposes, the income of which is now handed to the General Hospital and General Dispensary, as nearly as possible following the testator's wishes.