Poor Schools and Religious Societies

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Poor Schools**

Female Orphan-House. - About the year 1791, Mrs. Tighe and Mrs. Este formed a plan for fostering and educating female orphans, of an age not exceeding ten nor less than five years, and for that purpose purchased a small house in Prussia-street, and supported five orphans there at their own expense; but the nobleness of the design soon procured them several benevolent co-adjutors.

The present extensive building, on the North Circular-road, was built by public subscription solely, and is capable of accommodating 160 children. They are taught reading, writing and needlework, at the same time that they are made acquainted with the duties of servants, for which purpose they are frequently apprenticed.

About five years since, an extremely handsome chapel in the gothic style, was erected adjoining the house. Divine service is performed here on Sundays, when a tolerable collection is made. The present patroness of this institution, and to whom it is much indebted, is Mrs. Latouche.

Besides the accumulated fund, the produce of an annual charity-sermon, and the result of the labour of the orphans, there is an annual grant allowed by parliament for the support of this institution. It was visited by his Majesty George IV., in 1821.

In 1793, an** **Orphan-house was opened in Prussia-street, for educating, clothing, and maintaining orphan boys but this appears to have been abandoned. **

Masonic Female Orphan-School**. - This school was founded by a few members of the body of Freemasons in Dublin, in 1790, and for that purpose a house was taken in Domville-lane, Prussia-street. In May 1797, the lodge 190-15 contributed munificently to its support, and removed the orphans to a house in Gordon’s-lane, Charlemont-street.

The treasurer, Mr. James Brush, of St. Andrew-street, resigned its government into the hands of a committee selected from the grand lodge, together with a sum of 112l. 11s., and the grand lodge further granted a sum of 200l. from their own funds for its support. In 1798, a resolution of the grand lodge was passed, “That it was expedient subscriptions should be raised throughout Ireland, for the maintenance and education of orphan children of Freemasons,” the Right Worshipful Walter Wade, M.D.; D.G.M. on the throne. The funds have improved so much, that the school has been removed to a more convenient house, No. 4, Gloucester-place, Mabbot-street; and, when they will permit, it is intended to establish similar schools in different parts of Ireland. **

Pleasant’s Asylum**. - The charitable Mr. Pleasants, at whose expense the Tenter-house and Meath Hospital were erected, bequeathed 15,000l. for the establishing of a female orphan-house, for daughters of respectable householders. In this asylum, which is situated in Camden-street, at the south side of Dublin, and was opened in 1818, twenty female orphans, Protestants solely, are clothed, educated and maintained in a manner exceeding any thing of a similar description in the British empire and when arrived at a proper age, if they can find a suitable partner, receive a handsome portion in marriage. (See art. St. Bride’s Church). **

St. Catherine’s Sunday-School**. - The first opened in this kingdom was established by the Rev. R. Powell in 1786. The female children were assembled, at first, in the parish school-house, while the boys met in the court-house of the liberties of Thomas-court and Donore.

The only recommendation necessary was a certificate from a housekeeper, and the number increased so rapidly, that some new accommodation became indispensably necessary; accordingly, subscriptions were raised, chiefly amongst the Quakers of St. Catherine’s parish, for erecting the present extensive and admirably-contrived school-house, in School-street.

This building, which is of brick, is 156 feet in length, and 37 in depth; the two upper floors are occupied by the schools, four in number, two for the boys and two for the girls, the children of each sex being quite distinct, and the entrances for each at different extremities of the building. In the centre of the building, and between the male and female schools, are the committee-room and master’s apartments, the room of the supervisor of all the schools is so contrived, that he can command a perfect view of the four schools, by standing up and sitting down successively.

On the 30th September, 1820, there had been admitted to this valuable establishment 27,711 pupils, and 360 were in actual attendance. There is no distinction of religion observed, but the scriptures are read by all.

The great anxiety evinced by the children to receive education, induced the managing committee to open a new day-school, which they did March 7th, 1808, whence to Sept. 30th, 1820, 14,883 scholars have been received, and the number on the books at that date was 840. The system of education finally approved of is Lancaster’s, and the children are instructed in reading, writing, and cyphering, and in the scriptures without note or comment. The funds are derived from subscriptions and donations, from work done in the female schools, &c and the scholars are provided with stationery, slates and books, which, if they should be so unfortunate as to lose, they are required to pay for. The managing committee consists of 21, amongst whom are some members of the Latouche family, the Messrs. Guiness, and several of the Society of Friends. **

Free Day-schools**. - In the same year (1786) in which the extensive establishment in School-street was opened, another upon similar principles was founded on the North Strand, for the poor children of the parishes of St. George, St. Thomas, and St. Mary. There is a small chapel attached to this school, the collections from which constitute a principal part of the funds for the support of the schools. Since the institution of this school, 7,800 children have been educated, and some of them clothed, and there are at present in attendance above 300.

Besides the Sunday and Daily Free Schools spoken of, there are the Linen-hall street, and James’s-street schools and at the upper end of Dorset-street, near Drumcondra Canal bridge, stands a conspicuous school-house, which cost 5,000*l., *bequeathed by Miss Anne Kellet, of the county of Meath.

On Stephen’s-green there is also an extensive school, on the Lancasterian system, where children of both sexes are instructed. In St. Mark’s parish is an excellent school on Dr. Bell’s system, called Marble-street Free School, There was also a Sunday-school for the improvement and education of young chimney-sweepers:- but Robinson’s humane invention will work greater benefits to this class of society, than could ever be expected from a weekly renew of their persons and morals. **

Society for Promoting the Education of the Poor in Ireland**. On the 2nd of December, 1811, a meeting of near 2,000 persons of respectability assembled at the public rooms, to take into consideration the most advantageous method of promoting the education of the poor of Ireland; when it was resolved that a system of education, embracing an economical disposition of time and money, and affording the same facilities to all classes of professing Christians, shoul be adopted. A petition was subsequently presented to parliament for assistance in the execution of this design; in reply to which was granted a sum of 6,980*l., *with which a *Model-school *has been erected in Kildare-place, capable of accommodating’ 1,000 children.

In this, young men are educated for the purpose of being intrusted with the charge of the society’s schools in different parts of the kingdom. Societies have been established ill** **London and Edinburgh to co-operate with that in Dublin in promoting the education of the poor in Ireland. As far as its funds will permit, the society contributes also to the building of school-houses, and establishing schools throughout the kingdom; and it keeps a repository in Ki1dare-place, for the sale of stationery, slates, school-books, and moral publications for the use of children, on such terms as the most limited incomes can reach.

Annual meetings are held at the society’s house. The funds are very insignificant, if we except the parliamentary grant. The affairs of the society are managed by a committee of 31; besides six vice-presidents. There are at present 1,490 schools deriving benefit from this society, and affording instruction to 100,000 children. **

The Sunday-School Society for Ireland**. - A society for the purpose of promoting Sunday-schools in Ireland, was first proposed in 1783, but not energetically carried into effect, till November, 1809, when the present improved and extended system was adopted. It professes to assist in the establishment of Sunday-schools all over Ireland, to supply them with spelling books, &c. at cheap rates; to furnish copies of the sacred scriptures gratuitously and at reduced prices.

This exellent institution is under the patronage of her grace the Duchess of Dorset; the president is the Bishop of Kildare there are besides 21 guardians. Upwards of 1,350 schools have been aided since the establishment of this society, 1,200 of which were founded by the society itself; and 50 schools have purchased books from it. The society meets at present at No. 16, Upper Sackville-Street.

There are several other school societies in this city; one for the dissemination of Irish Bibles and Prayer-books; this appears an Irish mode of instructing, most assuredly, for had the society commenced by teaching the poor the English language, the effort would have been more readily accomplished, and the pupil would then have have the whole range of English literature thrown open to him. **

Hatch-street Sunday School**. - This school was built by private subscription, and is supported by voluntary contributions. It is opened twice a week for the instruction of girls in plain work, and on Sundays for the instruction of both sexes, in spelling, reading, and knowledge of the Scriptures. **

Religious Tract and Book Society**. - To facilitate the dissemination of religious *tracts, *a shop has been opened in Lower Sackville-street, where a collection of books is exposed for sale: these are selections from religious publications, and are sold at reduced prices by the Society’s agent.

The repository is in Upper Sackville-street, formerly the banking-house of Sir W. Alexander, Bart. **

Religious Societies**

The Association for discountenancing Vice, and promoting the Knowledge and Practice of the Christian Religion, meet at Mrs. Matson’s, No. 7, Capel-street, every Thursday, from October to July, at one o’clock. For the origin of this society, the public are indebted to Mr. William Watson, of Capel-street, who first communicated the design to the Rev. Dr. O’Connor and Rev. S. Harper, in 17013; and three years after, the society was so much approved, that his Excellency Lord Fitzwilliam became president.

It continued to encourage public catechetical examinations of the poor schools, and distribute premiums to the best answers; also to such pupils at private seminaries, as were best prepared in scripture. They suppressed the system of insurance in the lottery, which beggared and demoralized the lower classes of Dublin; and assisted in the establishment, throughout the kingdom, of schools, on the soundest moral principles.

Among the decorous acts which this society are deserving of respect for, it ought not to be forgotten, that they induced the governor of the Lying-in-Hospital to discontinue the practice of holding Sunday-evening promenades in the Rotunda gardens. The society have distributed upwards of 60,000 bibles, 100,000 testaments, 100,000 prayer-books, and one million of moral and religious tracts; and premiums have been conferred upon 15,000 children for their knowledge of the Scriptures. The funds of the association are derived from donations, subscriptions, and parliamentary grants. The Lord Lieutenant is president.

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Bible Societies*. - There are several religious associations in Dublin, which hold their meetings at No. 16, Upper Sackville-street; the Hibernian Bible Society; the Naval and Military Bible Society; the Church Missionary Society; Auxiliary Society for Promoting Christianity amongst the Jews; the Methodist Missionary Society; the Religious Inquiry. Society; and some others for the most excellent purposes. Most of these associations, however, are branches of similar ones in England; and their objects, or rather their effects, are generally stated annually in the public rooms attached to the Lying-in-Hospital, by some of the most zealous and eloquent advocates of the Christian religion to be found in Ireland. The Bible Society have lately purchased the noble mansion of the Drogheda family, which is also in Sackville-street.

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