Literary Society. A Religious Circulating Library was formed in 1824, probably by the Methodists. There was also a Stanhope Debating Club; the sole reference to this was found in the school minutes for 1877. We could find no mention of the Stanhope Institute after 1855; in 1851 the officers were: President, George Bovyer; Vice- Presidents, Alex Shaw and George Foster; Secretary-'I‘reasurer, George H. Douglas. Committee — David Douglas, John C. Leitch, James J. Lawson, John Shaw, William Auld, David D. Lawson and WilliamBovyer.

There was a branch of the Orange Lodge, No. 156 “Blooming Heather”, which met at the Stanhope Hall during the years 1894-96.

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