The Opening of the Club

The Yorkshire Post

Monday 23rd November 1891

NEW CONSERVATIVE CLUB

AT CULLINGWORTH.

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Speeches by Mr F S Powell, MP,

Mr Byron Reed, MP, and

Mr D’Arcy Wyvill.

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(By our own reporter)

A very commodious and well-appointed club has just been provided for the Conservatives of the village of Cullingworth and the district by Mr. Francis Sharp Powell, M.P., who has thus given another proof of his interest in the welfare of the people of the locality.

Hitherto the members of the club have had to be content with a single room, in marked contrast to the new premises, which comprise a fine billiard-room, a smoke-room, a recreation-room, a reading-room, and two committee-rooms, besides the curator’s apartments.

The premises were formerly used as three cottages, the interior of which has been entirely rebuilt, the whole cost of the alterations having been generously defrayed by Mr. Powell.

The opening of the new club was an event of much interest in the locality, and a large gathering witnessed the ceremony. At the door of the premises, Mr. E. Greenwood (treasurer of the club), on behalf of the members, presented a gold key to Mr. Powell, who, by the way, is president of the club. With this key Mr. Powell opened the door, and on entering the billiard-room formally declared the club open.

Mr. Robert Clayton (secretary) issued an address from the committee and members of the club to

Mr. Powell, of whom as a supporter of the Unionist Government they expressed their admiration. His high personal character and the consistency of his political career continued to win the confidence of his fellow countrymen. “We desire to express our thanks to you,” the address proceeded, “for the help you have given to the cause of Church defence deserves the thanks of all Churchmen; and we feel confident that your support of a united Parliament, together with the many other services you have rendered on behalf of the Conservative principles, will in due time meet with a well deserved reward.  We hail with satisfaction the signs of returning progress to Ireland as witnessed in the decrease of boycotting and intimidations, and by a growing confidence in commercial circles, tending to a large increase in trade.”

The address offered a hearty welcome to Mr. Powell, sincerely thanked him for providing the club, and expressed the hope that he might long enjoy health and strength to enable him to use his talents and great abilities in upholding the unity of the empire, on which, to a great extent, the prosperity of the United Kingdom depends.

The address having been presented by Mr. Greenwood Judson.

Mr. D’Arcy Wyvill (Unionist candidate for the Otley Division) offered a few supplementary observations, reminding the members that, though the club was a social club, it had also an important political purpose, and also remarking on the friendly relations existing between Mr. Powell and his tenants.

Mr. J. W. Cockerham and Mr. B. R. Stansfield added their congratulations. The latter gentleman, referring to the rumour that Mr. Powell is shortly to be promoted to the peerage, said that if there was one man in this country who deserved that honour it was Mr. Powell.

Mr. F. S. Powell, M.P., was cordially greeted on rising to acknowledge the address. He first referred to the indications of improved trade in the district, and then alluded to the political conditions of Cullingworth, remarking that anyone coming to that village would find that the cause of Toryism was not dead there. Touching upon the subject of free education, he said he felt great anxiety respecting the bill last session, but he now derived much consolation from the fact that everywhere the friends of Voluntary schools were rising to the occasion, and placing their schools in a position

of strength.

Mr. Powell expressed the hope that the club would be of great advantage to the working men, and at the same reminded them that it was founded for a definite purpose, which was to promote the Conservative cause in general, to help to keep the Unionist Government in power, and to return as member for the Otley Division Mr. Wyvill, whose knowledge of agriculture and of commerce eminently qualified him to represent the constituency.

On the motion of Mr. T. Greenwood, seconded by the Rev. T. Mellodey, and supported by Mr. R. Clayton, a very hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Powell for his generosity and for his attendance to open the club.

Some of the members of the committee and others afterwards had dinner at the George Hotel, Mr Powell presiding ;- After the loyal toasts had been honoured, Mr. Wyvill proposed “prosperity to the Club,” and Mr. Powell responded.

The chairman, on opening the proceedings, stated that during the twenty years which had elapsed since he represented the old Northern Division of the West Riding the Conservative party in Cullingworth had become more powerful, because the men and women of that locality had become more intelligent.

Progress was the motto of Cullingworth, and as Cullingworth grew the Conservative party would grow, provided the Conservative party did its duty. And how was the Conservative party to do its duty? Not to gloomily lament the good days of the past, but to work among the people and to aspire them with hope, and to realise the great wish of Lord Beaconsfield – that the Conservative party should be, and must be, a national party,

Votes of thanks were afterwards accorded to the Chairman and the speakers.