FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. - The Bishop of Durham spoke about the peril of excessive amusement during a friendly societies' demonstration at Wolsingham. Dr Moule said the idea of duty in this country was going down before that of amusement. The enormous cultivation in all ranks of the idea of amusement tended to become a national peril. He could bear witness that in university circles there was a grave risk that amusement would over-ride study. It also threatened business and thoroughness in working life. If recreation meant nothing else than self-pleasing dissipation of time, it would lead to mischief. Friendly societies cultivated the idea of individual duty and he wished the Wolsingham gathering every success. (Applause).

From this newspaper 50 years ago. - The preacher at the forthcoming annual open air service at Mount Grace Priory is a York vicar and keen church archivist. Dr J S Curtis is an authority on Yorkshire church history and takes a strong interest in the restoration work at Ingleby in aid of which the service is held. He is diocesan archivist and for 13 years has worked single-handed on cataloguing and classifying an immense mass of North country records going back to the fourteenth century. The records are to be stored at St Anthony's Hall, York, which is being converted into a historical research institute. The sum required for the restoration work at Ingleby is now £80, compared to £1,200 needed when the repairs began four years ago. This is a notable achievement for the people of the district.

From this newspaper 25 years ago. - North Road Station in Darlington is showing an exhibition by the Save Britain's Heritage movement. The exhibition is called Off The Rails. It draws attention to the indifference of the authorities, British Railways Board and public towards the destruction and negligence of nineteenth century railway buildings, said trustee Herbert Wolfe. It is well illustrated with photographs and Mr Wolfe hopes as many people as possible will visit it. North Road and Sunderland's Monkwearmouth stations are two examples of railway buildings that were saved through the efforts of local authorities, the English Tourist Board and local citizens