Rushden Institute

  Last night this Institute was formally opened under the most gratifying conditions.  Full details have already appeared in the Rushden Echo.  Three excellent rooms over the Windward Cycle Company’s shop in Church-street have been secured, and they have been fitted up most comfortable.  At the opening ceremony there was a large attendance.  Mr. Chas. Smith was voted to the chair.  He said that one aim of the promoters was that the institute should become a centre where the various societies could meet and amalgamate – for instance, the Adult School, the Art Society, &c.  This institute was having a small beginning but they should not lag behind and let all the clubs be conducted on drinking lines. He was pleased the institute was making such a successful start.  (Cheers.)

  Mr. Geo. Denton, who had consented to formally declare the institute open, said they were all proud of Rushden and they hoped the institute would become worthy of the town.  (Hear, hear.)  The proposed formation of an institute had been before them in an acute form for several years.  Some of the meetings held had, to an extent, proved abortive, but though they could not realise their ideal, yet like wise men they had done what was really possible.  That beginning would, he hoped, form the starting point of something greater.  He hoped that the institute would so grow as to necessitate extended premises, with increased membership, and that the organisation would influence a large number of the residents of Rushden.  (Hear, hear.)  For years some of them had thought it was not very creditable to their town that there was no free library and practically no public reading room.  He was glad there was to be a reading room as well as games rooms, and that it was the intention to have a library.  (Cheers.)

  Dr. Durance moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Denton, the chairman, and all who had been so active in starting the institute. He expressed his hearty approval of the aims of the institute. There had been started in the town other institutes which had not terminated well. In some instances they had been converted into clubs of which the chief attraction was the drinking bar – in other cases they had gone to the wall through lack of interest. He hoped the members would take a personal interest in this institute. The larger it became the less would be the proportionate working expenses, and consequently the greater margin of profit to spend on improvements. Dealing with the library, he said he hoped it would include some solid literature – history, science, and biography. He heard some talk of a gymnasium, and hoped there would be physical development classes. (Cheers.)

  In seconding the motion, the Rev. M. E. Parkin, said he felt delighted at the commencement which had been made.  He hoped the institute would lead to the improvement of the members and that through its means they would become wiser, stronger, nobler and better.  (Cheers.)

  The institute starts with about 100 members.

Rushden Echo & Argus, 4th December 1931, transcribed by Kay Collins 30 years ago – 29th Nov 1901 There were 150 members of the recently opened Rushden Institute.

Fund 1921