Rushden Echo, 4th December 1903, transcribed by Kay Collins

An Adult School Started

A public meeting was held on Tuesday evening in the Board Schools with the object of starting an Adult School for the town. The meeting was held under the auspices of the Northants Adult School Union, and the Rushden, Finedon, and Higham Ferrers schools were well represented. The Finedon and Rushden Adult School String Bands gave a number of selections prior to and during the meeting. Mr Wm. Langley presided, and said he gathered that the Adult School movement knew no social distinctions, and its motto was not sectarianism, but “by love, serve one another.” By practical Christianity the Adult Schools proved the brotherhood of man because they believed in the Fatherhood of God. There was no clericalism attached to the movement; the man who had no religion and the man whose life was all religion could meet together. Mr E J Pope, president of the Finedon School, gave an interesting account of the successful work at Finedon. Mr Bond, of Rushden (chairman of the County Extension Committee) dealt with the history of the movement, the need for which was evident when it was remembered that two thirds of the adult population of England were outside the Churches. He questioned whether one-third of the adults of Irthlingborough attended the places of worship.

The Adult School movement was capable of reaching all sorts and conditions of men. Having emphasised the non-political and un-sectarian nature of the Adult Schools, he said that whereas three years ago there were only three schools in Northants there were now 21, with 2,000 members. Their methods were much as to touch men at every phase of their being, and the basis of the work was the practical teaching of Christ. They had no tests of membership, the only condition being a willingness to join. They had no cliques, no snobbery, no class distinctions. (Cheers) Their message was that of the redeeming, uplifting, enlightening, all-embracing love of God. They were not concerned to spread particular doctrines, their work being to uplift men. Mr Boyd, of Higham Ferrers (secretary of the Extension Committee), explained the movement and said that there was not problem which they had to face as working-men which could not be solved by a proper application of the principles of the Book which they studied in their Adult Schools. Mr R Langley moved that a school be started in Irthlingborough, which was seconded by Mr C Gardiner and carried. Mr Wm. Langley was appointed president pro tem., and Mr T Chown secretary. The School will meet next Sunday morning at nine o’clock in the Board Schools. [part of a longer article]