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STARKE & CO 1855. i#^M..., ^ m .Ify y 1^ 'rl < ,?^^''/uVA .;:*mvji: .Hi iH'^^tjiri >!l!i r,^«- ^hru;- •■ 'if-,' ■ < : ■■ ■ > , jiti.'-., 7>!?f-f;n"^'i'' WVV' '* i? /,-i' >^" ^o :) s. :% :ri ;i /.. ■■ ■*■* » ' i.i^=-;i:.'-> .<%■' ■• '.[!« >/ ! t . ' t-. . .1; . /I "' • '"li- !• .1,, 8ociation, by which men arc brought together, are made to unite their efibrts towards effecting good and useful purposes. So long as men, or classes of men, would persist in keeping aloof from their fellows, and individual benevolence, Howard like, was left to travel alone in the worid, progress could only be slow. But when difference oi creed, of origin and of language, when even national antipathies came to be mastered and overcome, the combined power of men acting together for good could hardly ihil of success. There is«a law of Providence, which, stronger than man's will, compels him, however he may struggle against it, to restore to humanity a portion at least, of what ho has taken from it, and to contribute, however little may be the amount, at least something, although he would fain withhold it. Society is kept together, in despite of the selfishness of classes and of individuals, by the same law which binds together and sustains the particles of the globe which we inhabit. Smce then, even against •j>*>i»ii«i' ,/' T *JfW^' th'ir will, iiton must be compelled to do something or give something iot others, however strongly disposed they may be to keep all to themselves ; is it not even good policy to do it with a good grace 1 But, in justice to this age, there is not the selfishness which marked former times. The spirit of association has brought men, in their common helpless humanity, to acknowledge how much they need the assistance of their fellows, and to see, Ic every one of our kind, a man and a brother. This spirit, h allowed by religi on, has given birth to innumerable j indertakings, in a Cjaunt! variety of ways, among all denominations, but all having the same tendency to promote the hap- piness of mankind, temporal and eternal. The cheap lodging-house, the bethel unions, the ragged schools, the temperance sodeties, and above all, the Sunday and Sabbath Schools, prove the benevolent and christian spirit of the age in which we live ; and this it is, and this mainly, which exalts it far beyond all others. Among the associations for which this age is remarkable, it is now time, not further to extend preliminary observations, to notice particularly Mechanics' Institutes. The advantages of machinery over bodily labour, in every manufacturing process, was early felt, and machinery once introduced, suggests improvements and degrees of perfection little thought of at first. In proportion as the machine became valuable, so became the talent not only of the contriver, but of the workman, who could skilfully execute each part of it, and so adjust the whole as to make it fully perform the purpose for which it was designed. The value of the mechanic became known when his science and co-operation was felt to be necessary to aid the diHcover- ics of Science and to second the eflbrts of Art. From himself this value could not have been hid, and he at last availed himself of the spirit of the age to form associations of his own. The natural and the physical scien<'0.^ and arts had long had their schools and academ- ies — literature and the exact sciences their grammar schools, colleges, and universities — but now the working mechanic of the 1 9th century was to open a new school for himself — and this school met at onco with the most distinguished success. Learning and science contri- buted eageriy all their stores^ and the highly educated and the highly born were there striving to teach and to promote the instruction of a new class of pupils and of scholars, before untaught and neglected. Everywhere throughout Britain's enlightened and glorious land sprang up Mechanics' Institutes. Books, models, casts, plans, moulds, maps, were ovoryvvliere collected ; the Hcicntilic imparteil tlicii knowledge in leciures ; the working mechanic ww put in communication with the man of theory ; oral explanation and practical experiment com- pleted the course of instruction. And this new school produced its I'ruitH ; machinery of the most curious nnd complicated kind is now made with the most unerring precision, and the watch is no longer the model of the works of contrivance. Our ships, our beds, our houses, are of iron ; steel is made to fnrnish us with the pen to write ; caoutchonc and gutta percha in every varied form, are made to suit the pnrposos of life. And even for the dread ends of war, and des- truction of human life, resort is again had to mechanical skill ; the Mini^ rifle and the Colt revolver are supplied by the mechanic ; while the " navvy " plying his work on the dump, erects the railroad, which contributes more to the success of the gallant soldier, than his war horse, or the elephant of the armies of old. To all classes of men, the mechanic is alike useful and necessary ; he is the back bone of society, and its best interests arc linked with him and his prosperity. From the beautifully constructed instrument which the hand of science applies for the minutest of purposes, or to view the most distant heavenly boilies, or the humane skill of the surgeon deli- cately directs lor the relief of sulTering, down to the plough with which the farmer opens the earth to give us bread, or the iron shoe of his farm horse — all .is supplied by the mechanic. To him the Painter owes his brush and his pallet, the canvas on which he draws his living pictures, iiid the colours to which his genius gives immor- tality. The MuHi<;ian receives from him the hero's harp and the lover's lute, to pour out his heavenly strains of music sweet. And the Sculptor claims from him the well tempered steel which, in a ma»ter-hand, is to produce forms of beauty, dignity and grace, which all but breathe. It isHingiilar that in a country renowned for the skill of its work- men, and fur the lioaur in which they arc held, the language has been so far perverted as to annex to the word mechanic such epithets as " mean," " servile," " of mean occupation." The English diction- ary when opened by the school-boy presents to him these degrading accoinpanimcntt--, and are supported by even the authority of Shak- speare. The improper use of words has in all ages led to great mischief, and men have long gone on with controversies arising solely from thia cause. A little explanation, or a correction in time, might -»«iil/ vMify have Mved much Htrifu and contention, by explaining nnd dofining a Dingle word. The word mechanic is derived from the Greek, and means "inventive" " ingenioiw " "full of resources," "clever." Its root is a verb which means, to " make by art," " put together by contrivance," " to build," " to contrive," " to devise." Such being the original meaning of the word, it seems strange that it should be debased in Eogliuh, and that Shakspeare, above all others, should be the authority for this. But this is a grievous error of lexicographers, arising, probably, from a misconstruction of the lines of our immortal bard, in Midsummer NiglU's Dream — " A crew of pAtohea, rude mechanicsla, < ' I That work for bre»d upon Atbeaian ■talli." Bude has been supposed an epithet of mechanicals, but such it is not. It was intended by the poet to apply not to mechanics generally, but to the crew of patches of whom mention is made in the passage. The proper meaning of the Greek word can never be altered | unlike the English word " patch," which meant a poor or bad trad< Mnan, and what is now called a " botch." It is probable that Shakspeare was the first English writer who resorted to the Greek for the use of this word. In our tmnslations of the bible made in Shakspeare^s time, the word mechanic never appears ; and in lieu of it, the words " craftsman," " workman," from the Saxon, and " artificer," from the Latin, are alone used. In Minshewe's " Guide into the Tongues" — a valuable and learned dictionary, most carefully compiled, and which was published in 1617 — the word mechanic is not to be found at all. The word mechanically is again subjected to an improper meaning — to import what the French convey better by the word machincUement — which refers to the thing or machine /nade, and not to the maker or artist. The word mechanic has been more correctly treated in French, as one to be coupled with the loftiest and sublimest subjects ; and LaPlace could not find a more appropriate title for hit great astronomical work, than " Mecanigue Celeste." Even in English, mechanism implies nothing less or more. It has been the fashion, which at one time can create " Merchant Princes " and " Railway Kings,'' to make the mechanic an object of ridicule and ribaldry, and to degrade him beneath contempt. While mechanics were Uie chief officers of the Corporations in the great towns, and supplied England with her mayors, and her aldermen, the civic great- ness, a class was found affecting to despise all labor alike, as degrading to the gentleman. 8^ ,.L When the Lord sent our first parent from Paradise, he said to him : — ^' In the sweat of thy brow thou ahalt sat bread." He who is ashamed to eat his bread in the sweat of his brow ought to be ashamed to eat it at all. There is no mechanic who has reason to be ashamed of hia calling; and if there be one ashamed of it, his calling ouglit heartily to be ashamed of him. Labor there must be ; it is not in the power of man to withdraw from it. And is there any man who leads a more laborious life than the mechanic ? But is there anything that deprives him of thoughts which the highest' intel- lect can claim ? Was there anything to prevent Bums at his plough from composing his works, which are ever admired? Is labor a curse 1 Something to be avoided ? No. So far from it, that labor is pursued, even by the Majesty on the throne and by those who are brought up in luxury, and refinements, and wealth. Therefore, in- stead of labor being a curse, a disgrace, precisely the reverse is the case. Let foolish men endeavor, if they please, to degrade the mechanic ; but they will hardly venture to do so now that we are under the necessity of having recourse to the mechanic's skill and ingenuity day after day. Those who would turn into ridicule the mechanic's labor, will at the same time ridicule all other labor. Sir Walter Scott fully appreciated thfi littleness of disparaging the worth of labor, which he shows in Guy Mannering, where he introduces Sir Robert Haislewood and Mr. Glossin, the latter having been requested to render services to the former as a lawyer, answers that, whatever small assistance he could render, was entirely at Sir Robert's service ; but as Sir Robert Haslewood's name stood high on the list of the faculty, Mr. Glossin could not presume to hope it could be either necessary or useful. Sir R. H. then answers : — ** Why, my good sir, you will understand me only to mean that I am something deficient in the practical knowledge of the ordinary details of justice-business. I was indeed educated to the bar, and might boast, perhaps, at one time, that I had made some progress in the speculative, and abstract, and abstruse doctrines of our n^unicipal code ; but there is in the present day, so little opportunity of a man of family and fortune rinng to tiiat eminence at the bar, which is attained by adventurers, who are as willing to plead for John a Nokes as well as for the first noble of the land, diat I was really disgusted with practice. The first case, indeed, which was laid on my table, quite sickened me ; it respected a bargain, sir, of tallow, between a butcher and candle-maker ; and I ''^■^•>->( ) f^H->< « 9 found that it was expected that I should grease my mouth not only with their vulgar namet^, but with all the technimal terms and phrases, and peculiar language of their dirty arts. Upon my honor, my good sir, I have never been able to bear the smeil of a tallow candle since." Sir Walter Scott puts into the mouth of one of the characters in his Antiquary, the following manly sentiment, and in the person of Jonathan Oldbuck, gives expression to his own Scottish enthusiasm : " There, Mr. Lovell ; there is the work I mentioned to you, last night, the rare quarto of the Augsburg Confession — the foundation at once, and the bulwark of the reformation, drawn up by the learned and venerable Melancthon, defended by the Elector of Saxony and the other valiant hearts who stood up for their faith, even against the front of a powerful and victorious Emperor ; and imprinted by the scarcely leas venerable and praiseworthy Aldebrand Oldenbuck, my happy progenitor, during the yet more tyrannical attempts of Philip II. to suppress at once, -"ivil and religious liberty. Yes sir, for print- ing this work, that eminent man was expelled from his ungrateful country, and driven to establish his household gods even here at Monkbarns, among the ruins of Papal superstition and domination. Look upon his venerable effigies, Mr. Lovell, and respect the honor- able occupation in which it presents him, as laboring personally at the press, for the diffusion of christian and political knowledge. And see here his favorite motto, expressive of his independence and self- reliance, which scorned to owe anything to patronage that was not earned by desert — e-pressive also of that firmness of mind and tena- city of purpose, recou mended by Horace. He was indeed a man who would have stood firm, had his whole printing-house, presses, fonts, forms of great and small pica, been shivered to pieces around him. Read, I say, his motto, (for each printer had his motto or device, when that illustrious art was first practiced.) My ancestor's was expressed, as you see, in the Teutonic phrase, Kunst macht Crunst — that is, skill or prudence in availing ourselves of our natural talents and advantages, will compel favor and patronage, even where it is withheld, from prejudice or ignorance." As to mechanics, what class of men can boast of greater and more illustrious members than those that have handled the tools of a mechanic 1 If we look back to the Pagan ages, we have one of the best and wisest men, who was almost a christian, the Prince of Philosophers — *' Socrates." Tt is said that a group, representing the B 10 Graces, which stood on the Acropolis of Athens, was his production^ But it is certain, that at the age of thirty, he practised his father*s art — statuary. Plato, one of hii hearers, said of him : — ^* When I heard Pericles, or any other great orator, I was entertained and de- lighted, and I felt that . he had spoken well. But no mortal speech has ever excited in my mind such emotions as are kindled by this magician. IVhenerer I hear him, I am, as it were, charmed and fettered. My heart leaps like an inspired Corybant. My inmost soul is stung by his words as by the bite of a serpent ; it is indignant at its own rude and ignoble character. I often weep tears of regret, and think how vain and inglorious is the life I lead. Nor am I the only one that weeps like a child, and despairs of himself; many others are affected in the same way;" Socrates was, therefore, mighty in word. Xenophon, his disciple, says of him : — "^ All the fKends of virtue who knew Socrates, are still filled with sorrow for his loss ; for they found him the best guide to virtue. He was so pious that he did nothing without the advice and consent of God ; so just, that he never injured in any way the happiness of any man ; but, on the other hand, did the most important services to those who were connected with bim. He was so temperate, that he never pre- ferred the agreeable to the useful. Of so clear a mind, that he never erred in the distinction of good and evil, and all by his own consi- dered strength. He was besides, so able in his definitions and illus- trations of these subjects, in his judgment of men, in confuting error and recommending virtue and uprightness, that I esteem him the best and the happiest of mortals.'* Xenophon again says of him : — ^" He felt all the dignity of labor, and he was in the habit of insisting mainly on the importance of l9bor in his lessons. He said, (quoting from the works and days of Hesiod) : — Labour is^ no disgrace ; IMenen is a disgraee.^^ Such was Socrates, the Pagan mechanic. But are there no il- lustrious mechanics in the christian time ? Was not the founder of our religion the son of a carpenter 1 Did he not handle the tools of a carpenter? We have another illustrious mechanic — the great Apostle Paul, who was a tent maker. Does he not glory in speak- ing of his vocation, that a man ought to be proud of having a similar ? As to examples in modern times, of illustrious mechanics, to name one, would be commencing an endless catalogue. It is useless to endeavor to degrade labor — ^let such endeavors be made ; but so long •v-ig rRt-< 11 V as Viuti' , BridgCH are in contoiuplation, so lung as such sublorranean cotumunications, like the Thames Tunnel, arp projected, bo long as such gigantic plans as the M«nai Bridge are conceived, it will be in vain to attempt to degrade the mechanic. Let others endeavor to elevate themselves to a level with them. The mechanics of our own city, stimulated by the retMilts of similar institutions elsewhere, entered — it is now more than fifteen years ago — into an association, which was afterwards incorporated by Act of Parliament as the Mechanics* Institute of Montreal. Their eiTorts, aided by their friends, have been attended with marked sue* cess. A spirit of emulation has been created, which cannot be satis- fied by lesa than the attainment of perfection, and will not shrink from competition in any quarter. The manufactures of Canada and the specimens of our workmanship exhibited at the Crystal Palace, did no discredit to our country. They first made Canada known by her industry, as now she has made herself honorable in the eyes of the two greatest nations of the earth by her liberal sympathy with thent in their present struggle. At this very hour our products and the la- bor and skill of oar mechanics have found their way to the Grand Exposition at Paris, and Canada has her place there. And can we doubt it, that that place will be one deserving of our rising fame and rapidly increasing importance ? To the advantages of this Institute, no citizen of Montreal can be insensible. It is here that the me- chanic — master and man — may take lessons fur improving himself in skill and workmanship. It is here that he can learn what other countries are doing. It is here that the mind can be cultivated and the intellect e:!talted, and where he can fit himself for the important duties which he has to perform. JW^e have each of us a deep interest 2a*t *m*<*/{ j in the success of this InstituteT^ti,V" :»v ./ advoncement. But eBpecially to the young, is this Institute valuable. The apprentice of to-day is destined hereafter to be a master me- chanic himself; let him, then, have every means of instruction, and of fitting himself for his high calling in future years. The employers in the city have readily as a body, consented to give up the evenings to those in their employ. Such liberality should be met in a like spirit, for these precious evenings well employed, are able to yield returns abundant beyond al! expectation. If the young will but pro- fit by the assistance which our public institutions afibrd,the character of our city will be exalted and its peace secured, for they will learn how greatly they are interested in maintaining peace and order, and so far from disturbing it themselves, will be its most trusty and pow- erful defenders. !.'iiLet us recollect, that if the age in which we live is di8tingui»hed as has been already said, for good, there is much evil abroad. While we are peacefully assembled here, thousands of our brave country- men and of our allies are struggling to the death in the great war of opinion now raging in the East. A siege, unexampled in history, has been carried on with an unheard-of spirit. of obstinacy and de- termination. The warlike means employed are beyond precedent, and the tons of iron missiles and of powder employed in these terri- fic operation^; pasties belief. England's best blood has been freely spilled, and yet we are at the commencement of the contest. The tide of war may roll back upon Europe, and though divided by the ocean from that theatre, communications with the old world are too rapid not to involve us ultimately in the contest. If the powers of Europe be shaken, America connot be unmoved. 'In this war of opinion — this contest between the serfdom and tyranny of despotic Russia, and the liberty and civilization of enlightened Europe, — no lover of his race can be apathetic. To the spirit of Association, then, we must look for support in the coming struggle, if we are to join in it — to the spirit of liberty which the free institutions of Britain have ever breathed : that spirit which has alwa3-s animated and dis- tinguished 4he British Mechanic, no less than it has all other of Britain's Sons. But time admonishes that this Address must be brought to a close. '■■'i- Fellmo-€itizens. — We are here assembled to inaugurate the beautiful, spacious, and commodious structure, which rises above us, and to open it for the first time, to the purposes for which it was de- t I ^ ■ ff^ ^^^f^\ 13 signed by its munificent builderH* Tho pre«iti( occaiiion muMt be a proud one for the'offliceri and memberH o( (bo Mechanics* Institute of Montreal, and crowns all their past IttlMirs. In a city, possessied as ours is, of many public buildingM, wlfto there is no one like this, con- structed at private individual expense, (otti public and philanthropic purpose, by one single class of the coromuniyi Praised, then, and honored be the men to whose public spirit and patriotism Montreal owes one of her most interesting and beautifiil monuments. Long, long may it endure, braving the tempest and the storm, the fire and all other accidents, to serve as a temple of science to the Mechanics of Montreal : and when, like all otfier earthly tabernacles, ttiis is destroyed, may the Great Architect of the world, the Mighty Maker and Mechanic of the Universe, build with hewn stones the bricks that are fallen down, and when the Sycamores are cut down, may He change them into Cedan. ^t^j-.i ;.. nvwu.ni ,«(!H>Bri n»Vi j|;»)»*<7i( f^'i* in< '#«!,«!,<.»»!; .Ui b ■,;ur.i ■■.s-. 'a : ,',ij * "-'' /I / . *-'-- T i }\)' ■1 -"•■; M '\\ ■' '><,-:' ")<< !'V. - -M. v./, ■' jI " 'I 1 ■ 1 ■ »» ( ' - f( ,' ( :<)- ■ ■ .t: • i'.-- w" ( ' u . .li -.1:, '.■:' 1 i ' • ':>.' iWtl / )^ ,,. The lecturer was loudly chared ai be concluded and sat down. He was, also, several times during tlie delivery of the Address, inter- rupted with cheering. At the request of the President— His Worship the Mayor then addressed a few words to the au- dience. He expressed liie deep gratification that he had felt in listen- ing to the eloquent and learned address of Mr. Justice Aylwin. He * thought after such an address, it would be quite unnecessarr for him to detain the audience with a speech, and he should not attempt to do so. After a few general remarks, congratulating the Mechanics of Montreal on^ their splendid Hall, he sat down, and was cheered. Councillor Day said that he, like His Worship, would not make a speech, but he desired to move a resolution to which he felt assured all present would heartily respond ) and after a few introductory re- marks, he moved that the thanks of this meeting be given to the Hon. Mr. Justice Aylwin for his eloquent address. The motion was seconded by B. Holmes, Esq., who expressed his admiration for the address and its fitness for the occasion. The reso- lution was past by occiomation. 'm .^f/!'n#r ,'-»»>(:».ui1;W>ftl<*(WIJWr!«i^ r . t -:■ f»i.iVv. or E8SAY AND OPENING ADDRESS COMMITTEE •■« ON •>■. THE UBRITS OF THE SEVERAL BSSAYS SUBMITTED. 1 :h .^Kr The Essay and Opening Address Comutttee hare the honor to report that ' fiTe EaaayB have been received, careAilljr read and examined, and after mature consideration of each of them on their respeotire merits, the Oommlttee bare come to the conclusion that the Essay bearing the motto, " Behold in theu vhat Hiaure hour$ dttnand^ amusement and true knowledge,^ which, for the fa- cility of rei^rence^ has been numbered Ont^ excels In conciseness, originality, and poeUe beauty that numbered 2W, and bearing the motto, " The love of knowledge it in itself the attainnunt of knowledgtf" whilst Number Two is, in the view of the Committee, equally as perspicuous, systematic and appropriato as Number One ; and contains, perhaps, some mora useful suggestions. Both , of them an reiy creditable prodootions, and erince much literary proficiency and taste. The writer ot Fssay Number Two, Is evidently a scholar, and, in the opinion of the Committee, has had more experience in Essay writing than the writer of Number One. The Oommlttee after some hesitation and di£Sculty in deoidiuK upon the merits of these two excellent Essays, have come to the determination that, all circumstances considered, the prize of Life Memljership should be awarded to the writer of Bssa^ Number One. But the Committee would at the same thne re<;ommend, that, with' the permisiion of the writer, Essay Numlier Two should be published at the expense of the Institute, and be admitted with Number One to a permanent place in its records. Essay No. 3. — Motto, " Nil Deeperandum," is a respectable production, written i^vidently by a novice in Essay writing; and although falling far short of Nos. 1 and 2, as a composition, ought, in the estimation of the Oommlttee, to be placed next aftar them as a literary effort. No. 4.— Motto, " FortUudine vtnetf,"— is the most voluminous and lengthy Essay of the whole, and although not entitled to a plaoa with the three former AS a literary production,' it affords evidence of an extensive knowledge and large practical experience in the writer as a mechanic ; and the Oommlttee cannot^ therefore, but commend the writer of it for the amount of useful in- formation he has collected and conveyed in the plain and simple language of the craft. V * *f/ ( ■■ ■ / 15 *fj No. 5.— Motto, " Labor directed by Induitry, the Source of all WeaJthjtnd P>-o»perUy,"—ia apparently the unostentations effort of an uneducated me- chanic, who, had he possessed the advantages of the other Essayists, might hare produced something worthy of a higher place in the report of the Com- mittee. The Committee cannot close this report without remarking, that, when it is considered that the competition for the Prize Life Membership, in the present instance, has been restricted to Members of the Institute, who, with some few exceptions, are practical mechanics, it is highly creditable to the Institute, and must prove as gratifying to the Members generally, as it is to the Committee, to perceive that there exists amongst us the amount of literary taste, energy and application displayed on this occasion by the several competitors. The writer of Essay No. 1, the successful competitor, entitled to the prize, is J. M. EiBB, a Member of the Institute. Essay No. 2, is firom the pen of Andrew Thompson Campbell, also a Member of the Institute, who has, since the foregoing was written, consented to allow it to be published and placed on the Records. JOHN J. DAT, OHAiBHAir. A. BERNARD. A. MURRAY. M. MORRISON. D. BROWN. ' G. SMITH. ' H. J. CLARKE. MoNTRiAL, 24th May, 1865.