OPr.NING OF THE ESSEX MUSEUM, ETC. 323 



not want to make that mistake now, but at once, in the name of Literature, 

 Education, and Science declared the building open, and to hope that its work 

 would be for the good of the district in particular, and for the welfare of man- 

 kind in general. (Loud applause.) The preceding speaker had said that the 

 building had arisen from its ashes like the Phoenix. That was so, but instead 

 of waiting 500 years as the bird did in the myth, they in West Ham had got 

 another building together in 500 days, whilst only a fortnight after the destruc- 

 tion of the central part of the building they had begun work in other parts of 

 the district. They showed that energy and courage were their civic virtues. 

 It was a testimony to the British workman and the architect, Mr. Russell, 

 that they were enabled to meet in that building that evening. (Applause.) 

 Now they had got it, what were they going to do with it ? That was the 

 question they would have to decide. It was called a Municipal Technical 

 Institute. That was a very good name, but he thought it would be a great 

 deal better if they called it the "People's University," or the "West Ham 

 University." They had got a library which was almost unsurpassed in 

 London, a library of some 50,000 volumes, and no one could tell, day by day, 

 how much good those books would do in illuminating or improving the 

 character of the people of West Ham. He came down to the library on 

 Tuesday to see the Librarian, and he saw four or five little children at the 

 counter asking for books for their mothers and fathers. They had not 

 only the library, but an institution which was one of the most valuable 

 aids to science — the Museum. (Applause.) Thus they had a trinity in 

 unity — the Library, Institute and Museum. They had a triune institution, 

 and he hoped they would turn it to proper account. A motto which had been 

 put over a door in Thebes read as follows — " Books are the best medicine for 

 the soul " — but he suggested instead of that motto being placed above their 

 Institute it should read " Let there be light." He believed the Institute 

 would be turned to good account, he was sure of that from what he 

 had heard. It was most necessary that they should succeed, for it was to the 

 national interest that institutions of that kind should be promoted in the 

 country. He did not like it to be stated that England had to follow the lead 

 of other nations ; continuous efforts should be made by the country to secure 

 a leading position. Was it right that England, with its vast wealth and great 

 growth, that it should be left behind by Germany or America ? No, it was 

 not ; they should seek to march side by side on the path of progress. There- 

 fore these institutions had a national interest. The number of people in West 

 Ham was growing prodigiously, and it was (as was the case in other large 

 towns) growing at the expense of the country, and it was necessary that the 

 Institute should be made of great benefit to all classes who came. (Applause.) 



The Mayor then asked the Couniess of Warwick to address the meeting. 



Lady Warwick, who was also heartily received, said : I have to thank 

 you for inviting me to speak this evening. 3 I follow Mr. Passmore 

 Edwards with diffidence, because he is one who has always shown a 

 practical sympathy with the work of education, whilst I feel that I am 

 only a theoretical champion on that subject. I am here this 



3 Lady Warwick's speech is reprinted from the verbatim report in the West Ham 

 Qucirdian. Ed.] 



