An article published in The Liverpool Citizen, May 7th 1890
Gordon Working Lads’ Institute
The prominent and handsome front that this institute presents to Stanley Road is not very suggestive of a by-way of benevolence, but rather of one that gives bold advertisement of its existence and activity. The building is one of those provided by the munificent of Mr William Cliff, the well-known philanthropist and it owes its creation to a double motive– to perpetuate the memory of a deceased son of the founder, and that of the life and labours of General Gordon. The late William Fraser Cliff, the young son in question, died at the age of 11, but he lived long enough to show how deeply he was inspired by compassion for the poor lads who comprised what is called the street-Arab class [sic], and took the greatest interest in the ragged schools, which in this time, were being established for their benefit. Such interest in his poorer contemporaries is not a general characteristic of boys of his class at that age, for they are more absorbed in their own pleasures than to disposed to contemplate or sympathise with the woes of others. When Gordon was superintending the construction of the new defences of the Thames, from 1865 to 1869, he established a boy’s home for the benefit of destitute lads at Gravesend, and these lads he was accustomed to speak of as “his kings,” thus showing the affectionate and sympathetic relations that subsisted between them. The association of his name, therefore, with that of the new institute was particularly appropriate and the impulse that moved the founder to console himself for the loss of his son, making provision for the care of neglected lads, is one that needs no commendation or eulogy.
For a long time the North-en- of Liverpool has possessed an unenviable reputation for its useful rowdies, who have displayed a daring in their outrages which police vigilance has apparently been able to do little to check. This rough element, however, is confined within very well defined limits and most of the youths composing it, it may be feared, got beyond any influence for good that might be brought to bear upon them. They have previously acquired all the vices of maturity and would be as hard to turn in any direction for good as men of the same class who were twice or three times their age and had hardened beyond hope of reformation in their evil courses. These precocious young desperadoes are not only an evil in themselves, but they are a cause of evil in other lads with whom they may be brought in to contact; lads whose original dispositions may be good, but who are corrupted by association and example. From this danger the institute offers them a ready means of escape, and it is highly satisfactory to know that its advantages have been greatly accepted and warmly appreciated by thousands of poor lads from the North-end since its foundation. Until the institute was opened, the lads for whose benefit it was provided had no school of instruction, after working hours, but the streets; and what the teaching of the streets and example of street associates is likely to be, it is not at all difficult to realise, especially when the street associates possibly include some of the young desperadoes afore mentioned. Boys are very imitative, and are easily moved to emulation by examples of evil as they are of good. Perhaps indeed they are moved more readily in the former case than the latter, seeing that daring and audacity, even in crime, always appeal more strongly to a boys imagination than the earnestness in well-doing which sometimes carries with it, in boys estimation, the reputation of being a “muff” or a “milksop.”
The institute, however, is something more than a school. It is, in fact, a sort of working training college for lads, in which both their mental and physical development is looked after with equal assiduity, and when the term mental development is used, this must be taken as including the inculcation of religious principles. In some respects, the institute has been the first to take up the question of technical training in handicrafts of which a good deal has been heard lately in connection with elementary education. What form technical training will take in the case of Board and voluntary schools it is yet too early to surmise, but the form it has taken at the Gordon Institute is that of two rooms on the ground floor, fitted up as a smithy and a joiners shop respectively, and supplied with all necessary tools and appliances. The smithy especially is so well fitted that it might serve as a model for an artist in search of such an interior except that the picturesque elements of dust and dirt are conspicuous by their absence; and the joiners shop is equally suggestive of efficiency for its purpose. In those places the lads do not play at being smiths or joiners, as the case may be, but turn out finished articles in iron and woodwork for the use of the institute, this being done, of course, under competent instructors. The list of work accomplished in the smithy is a formidable one, and if it all had to be paid for would make a notable addition to the expenses. The smithy, it may be remarked is more popular with the lads than the joiner shop, though here also a large amount of good work is turned out. There is also a wood-carving class, and a class for practical plumbing work such as lead working, pipe-bending, and soldering.
In the rear of the building a gymnasium of imposing dimensions has been built at the cost of Mr Cliff and this was opened in October 1888 by the Earl of Meath. In the superficial area, the place seems as large, if not larger, than the gymnasium in Myrtle Street, and the effect of space is increased by the fact that there are no galleries, pillars or anything to obstruct the view. There is a satisfactory provision of apparatus, which the boys, who are of all ages, evidently thoroughly enjoy themselves in using. Some of them are quite little fellows while others are on the verge of young manhood, and it is pleasant to notice the truly fraternal, not to mention affectionate relations that evidently exist between them, the big boys helping the little ones to accomplish some feat for the performance of which their powers are scarcely equal to their ambition. Some of the lads wear gymnastic costume, but the majority are in their working class, in some cases, not in the best preservation; but there is a perfect equality and fraternity among them, and the prevailing atmosphere of the place is one of unalloyed good humour. At one side of the gymnasium is a stand containing 200 Snider carbines, presented to the Cliff Brigade by Mr William Cliff, the honorary Colonel. The possession of these weapons has, of course, been a valuable adjunct to the drill instruction of the members, which is found to develop rapidly in them the qualities of soldierly steadiness and self-respect. On the occasion of the opening of the gymnasium, the Brigade formed a guard of honour, and went through their exercises in a manly way, which was much appreciated by the spectators, and they subsequently took part in the assault-at-arms. Up to the end of last April, the average attendance at drill had been from 60 to 80 and on these occasions, an hour is devoted to carbine drill lessons being given afterwards in sword exercise, single stick, and boxing. Gymnastics and drill, however, are not the only means of physical education and development provided for the lads, for in connection with the institute there are two cricket clubs, the Gordon Athletic and the Gordon Juniors and no less than six football clubs, whilst several other clubs have made the institute their headquarters. There is also a swimming club, the members of which practice at the Westminster Road Baths and a harriers club, who practice running, going many miles in to the country on Saturday afternoons.
In the sphere of intellectual development, work is carried on with the same activity, and, what is still better, with the same success. The classes of an elementary character most in demand are those for arithmetic and writing, and there are also classes for short hand and for free hand, mechanical and other drawing, in which many of the lads have made very satisfactory progress, being very attentive, persevering and constant in their work. Early in November, 1888, science classes were begun in connection with the science and art department, South Kensington, and these are conducted by the Rev. R. Lomas, B. A., the subjects being mathematics and physiography and the department is making a grant of 50% towards the cost of the necessary apparatus. The committee also hope to form additional classes in subjects suitable for apprentices in the building and engineering trades. In the way of recreation which tends to intellectual improvement there is a brass band, a chess and draughts club, a class for singing, a social room containing a collection of books, and a bar for refreshments, a literary and debating society, and weekly entertainment during the winter. The latter are given in an immense room provided with a stage at one end; and the dimensions of this room are so considerable that they would eclipse those of many a professional concert room or theatre, whilst the stage is of corresponding proportions. To see this place on a Saturday evening, filled with lads enjoying the concert or dramatic or other entertainment provided for them by their friends, must be a social experience as novel as it could not fail to be gratifying. There is a considerable range of variety in the amusements provided, ranging from concerts to minstrel, ventriloquial and gymnastic entertainments up to actual theatrical performances, the ladies and gentlemen who produce them for the enjoyment of the lads being in all cases amateurs and doing the work as the members of the Kyrle Society do, for the love of it and their neighbours. This absolutely voluntary work, is in fact, the characteristic of every feature of the management and every willing helper feels sufficiently paid if he has the consciousness that his work has been crowned, to some extent, with success.
Perhaps a better way may be obtained of the amount of work thus voluntarily undertaken as a labour of love by a glance at the syllabus of the educational classes for the winter session, commencing on the first of last October and ending in the middle of last month, as follows:- Monday: 7.45, debating society; 8, joiners class; 7, history; 7-9.30, smiths’ class. Tuesday; 8, musical drill and advanced joinering; 8-9, arithmetic; 8-9.30, brass band; 7.30, chess club. Wednesday; 8.30-10, Cliff Brigade; 7.30, writing; 7-9.30, smiths’ class; 7-8, mathematics (S. A.), under the Science and Arts Department; 8-9, machine construction and drawing, under the Science and Art Department; 7-8, brasswork and drawing; 8-9, wood-carving; 7.30, shorthand. Thursday; 8, musical drill; 7-9, practical plumbing, in connection with the Liverpool School of Science; 7.30, chess club and book-keeping; 8, dramatic club and joinering. Friday; 8.30-10, Cliff Brigade; 7-8, elementary singing class; 8-9.30, Gordan Choral Society; 7.30, mechanical drawing; 7-9.30, smiths’ class; 7.30-8.30, repairing class. Saturday: 7-8, savings bank; 8, musical drill and entertainment; five band. Sunday: Sunday school; 3, German Sunday school; 6.45, evening service; 6.45, evening service; 6.30, children’s service.
In the Literary and Debating Society some of the lads have shown considerable ability as speakers, while the practice has led to a decided improvement in self control and consideration towards opponents. Curiously enough, the lads who form this Literary and Debating Society, are of a decidedly Conservative turn, and apparently a little inclined to a mild kind of Puritanism. They decided, for instance, at a majority of two to one, that it was not desirable to open museums, libraries and art galleries on Sunday; that the poetry of Robert Burns was injurious to morals; and that they gave a decided negative to the question of whether a working lad could save money. In a discussion too intended to illicit political opinion the Conservatives decidedly topped the poll with 35, the Gladstonian Liberals only mustered 11. The Socialist and Home Rulers, 8 each, and the Unionists 1. There is also a temperance league among the members who are provided with books for the purpose of registering such friends outside as they can induce to join and this means a good many pledges have been secured; while others of the lads have been formed in to an ambulance class for the purpose of receiving instruction in giving first aid to the wounded.
On Sunday the institute enters upon another phase of its work, as on that day a Sunday school is held, which is in high popularity with the lads. The young men’s Bible classes are composed almost altogether of the gymnasium leaders and the Sergeants of the Cliff Brigade, while the senior classes throughout the school are wholly supplied by the week day members. The unanimous testimony of the teachers is that the lads in the habit of attending the institute on weekdays are by far the best lads in the school being distinguished above the others for prompt obedience respectful attention to their teachers and general good conduct. Gordon membership, in fact, is now taken as the best possible guarantee of good behaviour; and this testimony is all the more valuable as it comes from those who at first shrank from the responsibility of teaching them. In addition to the Sunday school there are Bible classes held in the afternoon, two of them being for young men and a service in the evening. The committee in charge of these Sunday evening services have done the best to make them as bright and attractive as possible not only to deliver addresses but by securing for the musical part of the service the best vocal talent available, various ladies and gentleman having sung sacred solos and choruses in addition to the hymns. Evidently the Earl of Meath spoke no more than the truth when he said, on the occasion of opening the gymnasium, that the committee “had striven to make complete men of the lads whom they invited within their doors” that they were not content to cultivate exclusive either the intellect, body, or soul, but that they had endeavoured to draw out a programme that should embrace the wants of the entire lad as a living, thinking, responsible being, preparing for immortality.” This is the aim the committee have striven to maintain since the foundation of the institute five years ago and striven with a success which entitles them to expect a still ampler reward in the future.
Image: Liverpool Record Office, Liverpool Libraries