Saints, which, in previous winters had greatly assisted poor youths in the acquisition of knowledge were again opened in October in furtherance of their laudable object.
The Halton School Sermon having been postponed from the 12th to the 19th of October in consequence of rough weather, the incumbent (Rev. J. Parkin) was equally unfortunate in his second selection of the day, and the attendance was such that only £12 was collected.
An Earlier Treat. It might have been stated that the treat of Mr. Rock to the youths of the St. Mary's Evening Schools on the 14th of July, was the second one during the year. The first was on the 13th of January, when the learners of the said school were the recipients of refreshments and some valuable books as rewards for their progress and good conduct. On that occasion, Mr. Rock with fatherly kindness encouraged them in their studies and gave them examples of men who were once placed in similar positions, but who, through the blessings of an evening school, became some of the greatest men of their day. The number admitted during the season exceeded 100, and under the tuition of Messrs. Berry? and Fullager, were making considerable progress.
An Exhibition Treat. By the kindness of a lady, 140 children of the Sunday School, of St. Mary, were treated to the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park (There were also several workman's treats to the Exhibition, noteably(sic), those of Mr. Howell, Messrs. Rocks and Messrs. Blomfield.
The Hastings Ragged School had its annual field day at Field's Farm on Thursday, September 11th, where the children were kindly feted by the ladies and gentlemen who were known to take a deep interest in their welfare. The behaviour of the children was spoken of in eulogistic terms.
A New Building for the Ragged School
The immediately preceding paragraph is a pleasing reminder of the part taken by Brett's St Leonards and Hastings Gazette in a general advocacy of Ragged Schools and in the particular support of needed greater accommodation. The said journal in its issue of April 19th had the following article:-
Many of our readers will have noticed that a Bazaar in aid of the Building Fund of the Hastings Ragged School is to be held in the Music Hall on Wednesday and Thursday next. The object is of so laudable a character that we cannot permit the present opportunity to pass without a few words on its behalf, even if it be only to remind those whose whose momentary forgetfulness might cause them to be unintentionally absent.
There can barely be a negative opinion as to the desirability of encouraging Ragged Schools when it is remembered that their object is to ameliorate the condition of the human family. But it is not every mind that realizes to itself the full amound of good desirable from the encouragement thus given. We are too prone to regard the efforts made to better the condition of the poor as many acts of grace, calculated only to benefit those on whom our care is professedly bestowed without ever reflecting that the benefits are to some -
