THE TRADES GUILD OF LEARNING WAS FOUNDED IN LONDON, ENGLAND IN 1873 BY THE REVEREND HENRY SOLLY TO PROMOTE THE VOCATIONAL AND FURTHER EDUCATION OF ARTISANS. NOT A TRADE UNION ORGANIZATION, IT INVOLVED SKILLED WORKERS OUTSIDE THE UNIONS AS WELL AS TRADE UNIONISTS. A SERIOUS CONFLICT BETWEEN SOLLY'S PATERNALISTIC PHILANTHROPY AND THE PRINCIPLES OF TRADE UNION DEMOCRACY SOON LED TO SOLLY'S RESIGNATION AS CHAIRMAN OF THE GUILD. UNDER TRADE UNIONIST CONTROL, THE GUILD UNDERWENT REORGANIZATION IN 1876 AND PROVIDED LECTURES AND TECHNICAL COURSES MORE IN KEEPING WITH WORKERS' NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS. HOWEVER, THE GUILD SUCCUMBED IN 1882 TO THE DIFFICULTIES BESETTING TRADE UNIONISTS IN GENERAL AT THAT TIME--ECONOMIC INSECURITY, FLUCTUATIONS OF MEMBERSHIP, AND THE STRUGGLE AGAINST ANTI-TRADE UNION AGITATION. (THE DOCUMENT INCLUDES 40 REFERENCES). THIS ARTICLE APPEARED IN VOCATIONAL ASPECTS OF SECONDARY AND FURTHER EDUCATION, QUARTERLY JOURNAL PUBLISHED BY PERGAMON PRESS, 44-01 21ST STREET, LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK 11101. (LY)