Entertainment misc

Liverpool Mercury Jan 5th 1857

Annual festivity

The members of the Waterloo Glee Club celebrated their anniversary by dining together on Wednesday evening last , at the house of Mr Edward GREENE, Waterloo Inn, Grange Lane, Birkenhead. The dinner was served up in a manner highly creditable to the good taste and management of the worthy host. The chair was occupied by Mr J. HUGHES, and the vice-chair by Mr E. GREENE. After the removal of the cloth, the chairman gave the usual loyal and patriotic toasts, which were duly responded to and a most agreeable evening was spent, the company being highly gratified with the evenings entertainment.

Presentation to Superintendent of Police

On Friday afternoon at the police court Bury, Mr John SELLARS, Superintendent of police, was presented with a purse containing £108, which had been contributed by the magistrates of the division, some of the magistrates, clerks and a number of the gentlemen of the town and neighbourhood. The presentation was made on the retirement of Mr SELLERS from the Bury division, where he has filled the duties of Superintendent for the last 10yrs. He has been appointed to succeed Mr MILNE as superintendent in the Bootle division near Liverpool and Mr MILNE has been appointed superintendent of the Bury division.

Old Swan Temperance Society

The 4th annual tea meeting took place on Thursday, in the new school Green Lane when about 200 persons partook of the good things provided by Mr CROFT of Green Lane. After tea a public meeting was held presided over by Mr Samuel QUILLIAM of Elliott St. Mr William ALLINSON in a neat speech, presented Mr John Gough BROWN with a massive, silver medal, manufactured by Mr MAYER of Lord St, on behalf of the committee and members of the society, as an acknowledgment of gratitude for his labours among them. Mr BROWN in his reply stated that he had delivered 150 addresses to upwards of 22,000 persons and had travelled 1,000 miles during the past year. The meeting was addressed by Mr James SMITH, Mr George HARDIE and Mr Benjamin JONES and Mr John G. BROWN sang several songs. The meeting broke up at 10pm, highly pleased with their New Year’s night.

Foresters dinner

The members and friends of the Court Rob Roy, No 2095, of the Ancient Order of Foresters, held their usual Christmas gathering at the St George Inn, Grange Lane, Birkenhead, on Wednesday evening last, when about 40 of the brethren, and several friends sat down to an excellent dinner. After the cloth was withdrawn, P.D.C.R. DOSWELL was called to the chair, and Mr F. GOODWIN. P.D.C.R, occupied the vice-chair. The usual toasts were drunk followed by, Court Roby Roy, and success to it. the latter accompanied by the "Forester's fire". The Chairman responded and gave a cheering account of the financial position of the Court. "Court No 705" was the next toast given which elicited an acknowledgement from District Secretary ACKROYD and Brother HOPPER of No 703. "The Oddfellows, and other Benefit Societies." was next proposed and responded by Mr WINGFIELD. Then followed the heath of the Chairman and Vice-chairman, the host and the hostess and family etc. Messers DAVIES, BEBINGTON, BROWN, HOPPER, FRANCIS, DOSWELL and HANNIE added to the harmony of the evening by singing some songs.

Working Men's Association in connection with St Jude's Church

A social tea meeting of the members of St Jude's congregation was held on the evening of New Year's Day, at the school house, Low Hill, after which a meeting of the members of the congregation was convened for the purpose of establishing a working men's association , the Rev J. B. LOWE, the respected incumbent presided and made a most forcible appeal to the gentlemen of the congregation who felt the reward of doing good a sufficient compensation to volunteer their gratuitous services for the purpose of improving, physically, mentally and morally the condition of their less fortunate fellow creatures.. He proposed that gentlemen actuated with such principals should undertake the management respectively of reading, writing, drawing, and singing classes at different evenings every week, which under God's blessing would have the desired effect of raising the moral tone, mental enjoyment and physical comforts of men of the working men of the district. The reverend chairman added that he would gladly take upon himself the conduct of the Bible class. He did not despair of by the zealous assistance of the ladies of the congregation to establish also a "working women's association" To be taught, reading, writing, sewing and other useful domestic accomplishments. In conclusion he urged the imperative necessity of working while it was day, as the night was at hand, when no man should work. The Rev Mr MINTON incumbent at St Silas's gave some information respecting the practical working of the association in connection with his own church.

Allsops Waxworks

Between 8000 and 9000 persons have visited this interesting exhibition since it opened. Mr ALLSOP anxious to please his patrons has secured the services of Mr R. HOLT organist, late pupil of Mr W. T. BEST.

Jullien with his unrivalled band, and assisted by Madam GASSIER, Herr FORMES and Mr CROFT, will appear again at St George's Hall this evening, tomorrow and Wednesday. The promenade and galleries will be thrown open at a shilling each admission. The hall will be densely crowded on the occasion.

The brass-finishers in the employment of the Liverpool Gas Light Company held their 3rd anniversary on Thursday evening last , at the house of Mr TREVITT, Circus St, where after they had each "fared sumptuously" of the good things provided for them, spent the rest of the evening harmoniously and agreeably together. Mr John RILEY ably conducted the business as president on the occasion, and Mr John BONNY very creditably assisted as vice.

Saturday evening concert

A large and enthusiastic audience at the Concert HALL, Lord Nelson St, on Saturday evening testified to the increasing popularity of Mr Basil YOUNG'S entertainment. When the ability of the performer and the character of the performance be looked at the result is not to be wondered at. In showing "The follies of the age" Mr Young brings before his audience the mock heroism of the dramatic cast, and contrasts it with the realities of every day life. His illustrations of dramatic love, passion and parental condemnation were given with excellent effect, and highly relished by the audience. His photographic portraits were taken in a good light, and exhibit artistic power worthy of remark. The entertainment was much enhanced by the accompaniment of Mr J. SKEEF Jnr, on the piano forte, On Saturday evening next Mr Ellis ROBERTS, Harpist to H.R.H the Prince of Wales will give his musical entertainment entitled, Notes of a wandering minstrel or echo's of the harp assisted by Mrs WINN [intro Miss ROSE] of the Royal Academy of Music, London.

The total sum realised at the bazaar held at the Lyceum, in aid of the new schools for the Church of St Stephen the Martryr, was £125.

Presentation

On Wednesday evening the men in the employ of Messers WOODALL and JONES, Lord St, numbering 30, met at the house of Mrs WILKIE, Harrington St, where an excellent supper was provided. Mr KENDALL who is leaving the firm, after being over the men for about 18yrs, was presented with an address [read by the oldest hand] accompanied by a handsome gold watch. Mr KENDALL in suitable terms acknowledged the present, the usual toasts were given and after a pleasant evening the party broke up at an early hour.

Liverpool Festival Choral Society

The next public performance the 57th, of this society will take place on Friday next at St George’s Hall When Handel's oration of "The Messiah" will be performed. Miss SANTLEY, Miss Lacy GASKILL, Mrs MORGAN, Mr WILSON, and Mr ARMSTRONG are the principal vocal performers. Mr W. T. BEST will preside at the grand organ.. Mr BAETENS will officiate as leader and Mr C. B. HERRMAN will conduct. The name of the new conductor brings to recollection the gentleman who acted in that capacity for so many years and was suddenly cut down soon after the last public performance of the society. As has already been announced he has left a widow [approaching her accouchement] and family totally unprovided for. In order to relieve their temporary necessities and provide for their support in future a committee of gentlemen has been formed to collect subscriptions.

Kirkdale Saturday evening Concerts

These concerts will continue to be carried on with great success, the utmost praise being due to the Rev T. M. LESTER, the respected incumbent of St Marys for his indefatigable exertions to make them as attractive as possible to the working classes. On Saturday evening last not notwithstanding the unfavourable weather the large schoolroom was crowded to excess with a respectable and well conducted audience of the working classes. His Worship the Mayor F. SHAND Esq, presided, and amongst other gentlemen present were Mr Alderman DOVER, Councillors T. D. ANDERSON, F. A. CLINT, and J. KITCHEN, the Rev Mr APPLETON, chaplain of Kirkdale gaol, Rev T. M. LESTER, Mr Edward HEATH, Mr GIBB the governor of the gaol etc, etc.

The Chairman opened the proceedings and apologised for the absence of Mr ARMSTRONG who was to sing but could not attend as he had a very bad cold. He excused himself as he also had a cold. He came for the purpose of giving a zest as the Mayor could give some zest and force to the entertainment they would receive. [Hear hear] He hoped to receive for himself assurance that their entertainment was consistent with good order and in the best interests of the community in which they lived, [Hear hear] He was quite sure from what he saw around him that such was the case, and he did not know any duty as the Mayor of Liverpool which afforded him more pleasure than that of promoting the pleasure and the happiness of the working classes of the community in which he was appointed to preside, [Hear, hear, and applause]. From all his experience as Mayor of Liverpool he felt himself a kind of pivot in the great racial engine of the corporate body, and by the corporate body he meant not only those in the council, but those out of the council quite as much, he was like a keystone to the social arch that kept the community together. In connection with his office he often got such letters as, “I beg you to answer me by return of post when the next ship sails for America, and how many there are on board who are total abstainers." [laughter] He fancied that their very good friend, their most excellent and indefatigable pastor , had introduced him as something like an "illustrious stranger" upon the occasion [laughter]. Now as to being a stranger, he must certainly disclaim that, as he believed the first lesson he ever learned in public duty was in the Everton and Kirkdale school and as he was at that time just fresh from public school where the injanetious of Solomon was wisely and carefully observed he was a good disciplinarian himself and he did not know whether around him there might be some who had benefited by the discipline he recommended [Hear hear]. He might say, however, that though not exactly an "illustrious stranger" he did claim to be what he considered most important in some communities, namely, one of the "oldest inhabitants." He recollected Everton and Kirkdale earlier than any he saw before him, he remembered when Everton Church slept, when the old beacon was a ship's flag, and when there was a clear atmosphere and no smoke over the surrounding neighbourhood. In those days St Anne's Church and Richmond Fair were the boundaries of Liverpool and the people of the town used to go round Everton and Kirkdale as a delightful walk, and it was a most pleasant way of deriving recreation, for they had nothing to stop them because Molly BUSHELL'S toffy shop and Phoebe BARLOW'S strawberry gardens were the only places in the neighbourhood. There were no beershops, nothing between Low Hill and Kirkdale except HALLIDAY'S Coffee house, and he must say that Green Lane and those shady walks were the delight of the people of Liverpool. But a change had come over it, not only Green Lane, but the shady walks had passed away, and even the magnificent houses that used to stand in the neighbourhood were all swept away. The thought did really suggest itself to the mind, therefore, that the working classes there did require something whereby they should derive pleasure and recreation and he was glad to find that it had been supplied, and that, it answered so admirably for the purpose for which it had been intended. [Hear hear] He presided recently at the Lord Nelson St, Saturday evening concerts, and he thought he heard there that the committee stated it was to, "make the man a better mechanic, the mechanic a better man." Now, he did feel there was something more necessary than that, There was something too mechanical about the statement, and he thought a man's own mind should tell him he was something more than a mechanic, he contained higher qualities and those merely of the mechanic, if he looked after another and a better world, and that all the entertainments he had were cheerful, pleasant and happy in proportion as they prepared him for that which was to come [Hear hear] It was only with that impression that he took part in them, and on Saturday nights they met in that happy, comfortable way they seemed to do there, and he was sure by the happy faces around him, it sent them to happy and comfortable homes. He thought he had said enough to prepare them for the amusement they were about to receive, and therefore, with the most earnest good feeling for their welfare and happiness during the ensuing year, he made his bow to them, Loud applause.

The concert proceeded Mr WILBERFORCE presided at the piano forte, the vocalists were, Miss FLETCHER, Mr H. JOHNSON, Mr COTTIER and Mr GRAHAM, whose combined efforts gave the greatest satisfaction. In the interval Mr HEATH briefly addressed the audience, at the close the Rev Mr LESTER proposed a vote of thanks to the Mayor, and said that his worship had kindly given £5 towards the concerts. Mr T. D. ANDERSON seconded the motion which was carried by acclamation, proceedings terminated with the National Anthem.

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