Newspaper Press Fund.

NEWSPAPER PRESS FUND .

LONDON , SATURDAY , MAY 14 , 1861 .

The Newspaper Press every day urges tlie claims ancl promotes tlie interests of some sacred cause of charity , but is a singular anomaly that whilst the Church , the Army and Navy , the medical profession , literature , the laAV , the drama , artists , the mercantile marine , publishers ,

booksellers , stationers , clerks—every professional calling and every section of trade , manufactures , and commerce , has . its distinctive charitable machinery , even the while the printers ancl the vendors of newspapers have their benevolent funds , and appeal to the liberality of the public , the members

of the literary department of the NeAvspaper Press have pursued their useful , honourable , ancl arduous labours , uncheered by public benevolence , yet too often reminded by appeals from their less fortunate brethren , and from the necessitous Avidows and families of deceased friends ancl colleagues , of the crying need of some charitable organisation for their relief .

The Parliamentary reporters of the London Press , assisted by some of their brethren in other departments , in the year 1858 originated a Newspaper Press Fund for the benefit of necessitous members and the families of deceased members . They appointed a committee to draw up rules and

regulations , arid summoned a general meeting of the newspaper body . Upon one point there was absolute ancl entire unanimity . Every one agreed that a provident association ought to be established . But AA'hen another point came to be discussednamely , the propriety of communicating with men

of influence , eminence , and public position , and to a certain extent with the community at large , in order to obtain for the Newspaper Press Fund resources commensurate with its objects—some diversity of opinion Avas manifested . The Parliamentary reporters stand in inevitabl y delicate relations with the members of both Houses

of Parliament , and some of their body shrank from joining in any appeal to public men Avhich threatened to compromise their independence . The question was discussed by the general meeting . The majority were of opinion , first , that the character and independence of newspaper Avriters

and reporters Avould in no degree be Aveakened by an appeal to the public ; and secondly , that the working bees of the Press were too small in number and too . scantily paid to give substantial relief to their necessitous brethren , or their widows and orphans .

The committee appointed by the general meeting- endeavoured to carry out the wishes of the majority Avithout offending the scruples of an influential minority . This task they performed with the greatest discretion . They made no general appeal to public men , but privately communicated with men of . distinction Avho Avere

knoAvn to be favourably disposed towards the Press . The late Lord Campbell sent them a handsome donation , accepted the post of vicepresident , and assured them of his earnest sympathy . The late Lord Lyndkurst did the same . The committee made repeated appeals to the

Newspaper Press both metropolitan and provincial , but Avith slender success . The guinea subscriptions of a feAV numbers formed but a hand-to-mouth fond , and no subscriber could be sure that an association which manifested symptoms of such feeble vitality Avould live until his own turn , might come to claim a . share in its benefits . The

association Avas dwindling away into nothingness . The committee had endeavoured to steer a middle course . It was , Ave think , a judicious course , because it Avas tentative , experimental , and intended to conciliate the suffrages of the entire body ; but it ended in failure . The Newspaper

Press Fund requires the remedy Avhich the Press itself prescribes for every other cause ancl institution . It wants the invigorating atmosphere of publicity , the animating breath of public sympathy , the cheering assurance of public support . Steps are UOAV being taken to bring- the claims of the neAV association before the world . Lord

Houghton ( Monckton Mines ) has accepted the post of President , and will take the chair at the inaugural dinner , to be held on Saturday , the 21 st of May . Men of the greatest eminence in the ranks of politics and literature grace the list of vice-presidents . Among the names we note those

of the Lord Chancellor , the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland , the Archbishop of Dublin , the Bishop of Oxford , Lord Clai-endon , Mr . Disraeli , Sir E . Bulwer Lytton , Lord J . Manners , Lord Redesclale , Mr . 0 . P . Viffiers , Mr . W . Cowper , Mr . NewdegateSir Joseph PastonMr . C . DickensMr . A .

. , , J . Beresford Hope , the Rev . G-. R . Gleig , Mr . Robert Chambers , Mr . R . Bell , Mr . Mark Lemon , Mr . Tom Taylor , Mr . Shirley Brooks , Sir C . W . Dilke , Mr . / ihoms , Mr . T . Wright , Mr . A . Spottiswode , Sir John Gray , Mr . George GrodAvin , Sir Cusack Roney , & c ., Avhilst a list of about eighty

stewards , including- the names of the Earl of Yarborongh , Lord Stanley , and a host of members of Parliament , and of learned bodies , shows hoAV widely the want of the institution is felt . We earnestly hope that our brethren of the Press Avill giA r e their powerful support to the

attempt which is IIOAV being made to extend the basis of the society ' s operations , and to place it in a position similar to that occirpied by literary , artistic , and other benevolent institutions . It is founded on a sufficiently Avide and liberal basis , for it has for its aim and object the relief of all

literary men who look to the NeAvspaper Press for their maintenance and support . Hitherto , the claims of these members of the NeAvspaper Press have not been recognised by any public institution . The Royal Literary Fund , for example , excludes newspaper editors , reporters , and con-