YOUNG MEN'S MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY.

Thames Star, Volume III, Issue 1679, 21 May 1874, Page 2

YOUNG MEN'S MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY.

As per advertisement Mr Hill delivered a lecture on the 'advantages of literary societies in the Hall of the Mechanics' Institute last night, at half-past seven o'clock; The lecture was ostensibly fqr the purpose of formally .inaugurating ia " Young Men's Mutual' Society," of which the Hey. Mr. Hill has kindly consented to be president. There were about thirty present, amongst whom were some well-known Thames merr chants! and also a few ladies., Mr. Kenshaw occupied the chair.

In introducing the rev. lecturer the chairman congratulated the present and intending members that .Mr. Hill,had consented to deliver: an address !at the first meeting of the Society. No other person on the Thames had taken more interest in matters of the kind, and his past labors in that direction had been most energetic and well-directed. It was his (the chairman's) opinion that Ministers of religion did not take as much interest in those institutions as the nature of their positions demanded of them—they failed, many of them to look : upon it as a duty;; whereas it was a duty that peculiarly devolved upon them. He beleived that the little interest evinced by clergymen was mainly due to an impression which existed in their 1 minds that it did not come within the range of their duties, being more of an institutionforintellectualadrancementand debate than for religious instructien. But this impression was dangerously erroneous, as from his (Mr Renshaw's) personal observation, he had become painfully aware of the fact that from the very want of this moral and religious influence, such institutions had oftentimes resulted in infidel debating societies. The chairma« then introduced the lecturer.

Mr Hill delivered a most able lecture, and we are sorry that our space will not admit of our publishing it in cxtenso. He dwelt firstly upon the immense power contained in such societies in .the;.-way df directing the minda of young men into a right channel, and to fit them for the proper discharge of the many duties which w©uld devolve upon them in the walks of life. One of the great duties of all men, the lecturer proceeded to declare, was the preservation of Jhealth —aduty both to God and themselves; and without which there could be no real happiness. Young men should also keep prominently before their minds another great object—the maintenance of position. There were three points, however, which stood out prominently in the instruction of youth. Though sometimes separated they had, when united, an immense influence. These three objects combined consisted iof mental culture. Though there were occasional instances where men stoqd apart from, and were exalted above their fellows by the possession of a brilliant, genius, there could be little doubt that the majority of men were similarly gifted in the matter of intellect; and it was thus that in the struggle for pre-eminence in the race of this life that some men rose superior to others, simply by the exercise of greater energy. The first step in mental culture was the practice of reading; the second, thinking; and the third, giving expression to the results of thought. The lecturer dwelt with much force upon the manner of giving effect to the process of pursuing these three courses of instruction for the development of the human mind., He then, dilated- with much warmth upon the moral principle, which should never be left out of solemn consideration. Thig terwiwjfod the lecture. <

Mr Hill's discourse was listened to with an attention which showed plainly that those present had come there with the purpose of deriving sound information, and were in earnest in their wish to promote the institution.

MrC. P. Mitchell, m a brief address, which was highly encomiastic of the rev. lecturer's address, proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Hill, which Mr Scott, secretary to the association, seconded.

The secretary then intimated, on-the' suggestion of the chairman, the terms for entrance. A number of gentlemen at once put down iheir. names, -and the meeting dispersed.