The Working Men's Club and Institute Union held their first
annual meeting on Saturday last in Burlington House, Lord Brougham in the chair. Lord Lyttleton remarked on the reform of manners caused by the institution of clul a for the higher class, which drew men away from taverns, and anticipated the same result from the promotion of these work- ing men's clubs for the working class. The discussion natu- rally turned on funds, the annual subscriptions only amounting to about 100/. a year, and the expenditure of last year having been—thanks to donations—about 486/. The Rev. F. D. Maurice, supported by Mr. Thomas Hughes, urged that the Union should be kept poor, as the pecuniary aid it should give to local institutions ought not to be considerable, lest it should sap the self-supporting spirit of the various clubs. Lord Lyttleton and Lord Brougham were for large subscrit4tions. Perhaps Mr. Maurice is right ; but it is clear that up at least to 500/. a year the Union can spend efficiently, and at present it has but 100/. The difference may, we hope, be soon raised.
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