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Hospital Sunday since its establishment in 1873." He sai,the Hospital Sunday Fund had been in existence thirteen ofourteen years, but the result year by year had not in airdegree corresponded with the measure of increase whielmight justly have been looked for, and therefore a new effortas the Lord Mayor had stated, was absolutely necessaryThe mortality of London was from 70,000 to 80,000 everyear, and the amount of sickness that that number of death:would represent must be very large. It was to meet not onljthe mortal cases, but cases of sickness of all kinds, that theextension of their hospital system was absolutely requiredThe London hospitals, many and large as they were, woulcnot contain more year by year than about 50,000 or 60,00Cin-patients, assuming that there was a continual successiorin the beds, and that they were occupied for something likean average period. Comparing this with the mortality andsickness, and also with the vast population of London, forwhich provision must be made, it seemed that as yet they hadno adequate provision for the sickness and the suffering ojthat population. That point being established, he hoped theywould not content themselves by saying that they had a verylarge and efficient system of hospitals. A great many peoplehad lulled themselves to sleep with the notion that provisionwas already made. It was not already made; and that mustbe fixed as the first axiom in dealing with this question.When they considered the enormous increase of the wealthof London, and compared it with the amount collected forthe Hospital Sunday Fund-about 30,000 or 32,000 everyyear-they must all feel that there was some defect, somewant of motive power, some deficiency, he would not say ofgood will, on the part of those who had assisted in thismovement-for that he was confident was not the fact-butthat in some way they had not reached the consciences andthe hearts of the people of London sufficiently. That beingso, it would seem that this resolution required no furtherjustification. It, first of all, appealed to the ministers of all de-nominations ; it, secondly, appealed to all laymen ; and, thirdly,to the press, and to all those who were able to give publicityto and enforce by comment the proceedings which would takeplace at the meetings about to be held. As yet they had notreached the hearths and the homes of the people at large, andthe Hospital Sunday Fund was the best possible means ofsecuring such a result. He had great pleasure in movingthe resolution.

Mr. HENRY C. BURDETT said that, so far as could beascertained from the published reports of the Hospitals andMedical Charities of London, the names of only 40,000separate individuals were to be found within their pages-thatwas to say, that not more than one person out of every 100in London contributed anything definitely to the hospitals.The Hospital Sunday Fund up to that time had been mainly,so far as the organization in London was concerned, the workof the clergy and ministers of all denominations. They werenow met to inaugurate a new departure, the success of whichwould be largely due to the devotion, the time and theenergy that the Lord Mayor had thrown into the matterapplause). It was a new departure on the part of thelaity, who felt that the clergy ought to have behind them,and to be encouraged by feeling that they had behind them,the support of public opinion (applause). Notwithstandingthe political crisis through which they were passing, leadersof political parties on both sides would be found on theirplatforms at the district meetings, and not only politicians,but other leaders of public opinion, showing that really andtruly the laity desired to co-operate with the clergy, and toshow by combined action the importance which they attachedto the financial straits in which many hospitals of Londonwere placed. He wished to state that in connection withthis movement the proprietors of THE LANCET, to whomthe hospitals were under great obligation, had sent a specialcommissioner, a trained correspondent, who had been in

many countries and had seen many things, to visit thehospitals, and he came back with this conclusion. Havingvisited all the leading hospitals, both special and general,he maintains that the reason that there is not more financialsupport at the present time from the majority of the peopleoff the metropolis is solely due to the one fact that they are

ignorant of the work done within the hospital walls. If thatstatement was correct, as he believed it to be, he felt thatthis Hospitals Week, this new departure, by attracting theattention of all classes of the community to the needs of thehospitals, would do a real service-indirectly by increasingthe amounts collected on Hospital Sunday, and also directlyby arousing people in all parts of London to the fact that themedical charities which were to be found in their midst

required further support. No doubt if this awakening besecured, all classes would then give further support, espe-cially if the managers of the various medical charitiesapproached them individually after Hospital Sunday was pastand over.The resolution was unanimously adopted.

MEETING AT LAMBETH PALACE.

THE first of the six district meetings was held on Mondayafternoon in the library of Lambeth Palace, under the

presidency of Sir Andrew Clark, M.D., F.R.S.Mr. R. KESKIN (by whom the meeting was organized) read

a letter from Lord Sandhurst, expressing regret at hisinability to attend ; and another from Dr. Oliver WendellHolmes, expressing sympathy with the movement, and hisregret that he could not multiply himself so as to be inLondon and Oxford at the same time, it being absolutelynecessary that he should be in the latter place.

Mr. OCTAVIUS MORGAN, M.P., moved the first resolution :" That this meeting pledges itself to use every endeavourto arouse the inhabitants of this district of London to theimportance of maintaining the hospitals and medical charitiesin the utmost efficiency; and in furtherance of this object iturges the clergy and the ministers of religion to make anearnest appeal to the people to so increase their contributionson Hospital Sunday as shall secure that the whole sumcollected shall not be less than 80.000." The hon. memberurged all the electors present to do their utmost to returnsuch members to Parliament as would be indefatigable intheir efforts to pass the Bill for the relief of hospitals fromlocal taxation.

Sir EDMUND HAY CURRIE, in seconding the resolution,said he could not help thinking that if the mind of Londoncould be once made to grasp the fact that the hospitals werefalling into debt to the extent of 40,000, that amountwould be quickly forthcoming. He then suggested thatappeals should be made to the country towns, which sent somany patients up to the London hospitals for relief.The Rev. CANON CLARKE said that from practical ex-

perience he could testify to the valuable work done in Londonby the hospitals. He was very much afraid that if they wereever handed over to the State, all the religions element whichwas so indissolubly connected with them as a charity woulddisappear. He was sure that all clergymen would do theirvery best to further the work.

.

The Rev. Dr. LEE having made a few remarks in supportof the resolution, it was put and carried.

General C. FRASER, M.P., moved the next resolution:"That this meeting regrets to learn that the expenditure andliabilities of the hospitals and medical charities of this districtin the year 1885 exceeded the income by B2000, and pledgesitself to increased exertion, with a view of preventing any likedeficiency during the current year." He said he believed thatthe people only wanted a thorough awakening to a sense oftheir duties towards hospitals to lead them to give a moreliberal support.The Rev. NEWMAN HALL seconded the resolution, and the

Rev. F. G. PELHAM: supported it. It was then put andunanimously adopted.On the motion of the Rev. W. EDWARDS, a vote of thanks

to the Archbishop of Canterbury, for granting the use of thelibrary of Lambeth Palace for the meeting, was unanimouslyagreed to.A vote of thanks to Sir Andrew Clark for presiding was

also carried.

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WORK FOR ALL-A GOOD IDEA.Sir ANDREW CLARK, in returning thanks, said he had

attended with the greatest pleasure, and he deemed-it aprivilege to be allowed to join in the work. fie had onesuggestion to make. As women enjoyed much less vigcrcushealth than men, which was to a great extent to be accountedfor by the want of a definite purpose in life, his suggestionwas that a Hospital Sunday Society might be formed in everyparish, which should put on a permanent basis the work theyhad established. In the operations of these societies employ-ment mis’ht be found for women, who would thus be kept inconstant healthy work, and at the same time would be addingto the funds of the hospitals. He commended this proposalto the clergy and ministers of religion throughout the

metropolis, who could easily arrange for a body of gentlemento act as joint Honorary Secretaries to this CongregationalHospital Society. Each society might then communicatewith the Hospitals Association, Norfolk House, NorfolkStreet, W.C., which would guide the societies in the rightway to make the Hospital Sunday Fund a continuous andabiding success.

MEETING AT BLACKHEATH.

THE second district meeting was held at the Rink Hall,Blackheath, on Tuesday evening, the chair being taken by theEarl of Dartmouth.Lord DARTMOUTH, in opening the proceedings, said that on

Sunday next there would be collections in aid of hospitals inevery place of worship within the metropolitan area. In theparticular district in which the meeting was held interestwould especially centre in two well-known and deservingimtitutions-the Seamen’s Hospital and the Miller MemorialHospital at Greenwich. Foreign Governments took immenseinterest in the Seamen’s Hospital, and as a proof of that hemight mention that the German Consul-General and theAustrian Vice-Consul were both present at the annual meet-ing in March last. Canon Miller was one of the first whofounded the Hospital Sunday at Birmingham in 1859, andtherefore it was appropriate to give the institution his name.He hoped that many people would take the trouble to read thestory, which he believed was entirely founded on fact, in THE

’ -LANCET Special Supplement, entitled "Within the Hospi-tal Walls," because he was sure that if they began to readit, they would not only feel interested, but intensely touchedby what they read. He himself had been greatly affectedby the account, which appeared in the Supplement of THELANCET of last Saturday, of the old bird-catcher who metwith an accident in the street, and was brought to thehospital to die, and who left his birds to the hospital. Ifsuch stories were generally known, all classes of the com-munity would be encouraged to support liberally the hospitalfunds. Even those classes who were not obliged to seek shel-ter in hospitals derived benefit from the fact that efficientmedical men and nurses were trained there. It was sometimessaid that the more opulent classes of society used the hospitals inorder to have their domestic servants relieved when they werestruck down by accidents; but if there was one class in the com-munity more than another that required the help of a hospital itwas domestic servants. The late Mr. Robert Grimstone metwith a serious accident in the hunting-field, became an in-patient of a London hospital for some time, and with hisusual generosity he took care never to forget the benefits thathe received there. An accident in the streets might happento any one, and if that person had no indication about himas to his residence or personality, where could he be taken toexcept to the nearest hospital ? Hospitals, therefore, wereuseful to all classes of the community. In that district itwas right that they should remember what the needs andnecessities of the various hospitals and dispensaries were.During the year 18S5, in the hospitals and dispensaries ofNo. 2 district, there were 2505 in-patients and 45,785 out-patients, making a total of 48,290 patients treated. Ofthese, 40,383 were district, and 7,907 non-local cases. The

gross income of the institutions was f25,306, and the gross

expenditure B35,004, leaving a deficiency of £ 9GS9. Hehoped that ministers of all denominations would vie with oneanother in honourable rivalry as regards the collections nextSunday. This was an occasion when people of various creedsand of different politics, and of all ranks and stations, werecalled upon to take their part in providing for their fellow-creatures.

Baron HENRY DE WOR31S proposed the first resolution :"That this meeting pledges itself to use every endeavour toarouse the inhabitants of this district of London to the im-portance of maintaining the Hospitals and Medical Charities.in the utmost efficiency ; and in furtherance of this object it

urges the clergy and ministers of religion to make an earnestappeal to the people to so increase their contributions onHospital Sunday as to secure that the whole sum collectedshall not be less than .680,000." He said that the income ofthe London Hospitals had materially diminished during thepast year. If he wished to find the reason for that diminu-tion he would seek it not in any wish or idea on the part ofthe general public to withhold their subscriptions, but in thefact that there unfortunately existed at the present time inEngland a terrible depression of trade. He could not agreewith an eminent physician, who sought the reason for thediminution in the subscriptions to hospitals in excessive ex-travagance in other directions. He quite agreed that a manor woman who indulged in luxury beyond his or her meansdid a reprehensible act, but it should not be forgotten that ifthose who had the means did not indulge in such expensescommensurate with their income, those who were not so-

wealthy would suffer. No doubt Sir Andrew Clark’s objectwas a good one, but he (Baron de Worms) regretted that thereasons given by that eminent physician did notcommend them--selves to the minds of some of the public. Still, the point to beconsidered was not the abstract opinions of the advocates ofthe cause, but how the good cause could be best forwarded.No less than an additional 280,000 a year was required forthe hospitals of London. At the Ophthalmic Hospital, inMoorfields, there were about ten operations a day, or 3,650 ina year, and nearly JS300 worth of spectacles were distributedto the poorer classes. In another hospital there were 8,000accident cases dealt with last year. Of that number, 2,000were in-patients, and the expenses of the hospital were B50,00&a year, while its certain income was only .615,000. It was tocover the deficit in various hospitals that these meetings hadbeen inaugurated, and he hoped that they would be attendedwith material success. There were many, who called themselvesphilanthropists and reformers, who conceived that they had apanacea for every ill which existed, but were too ready to setclass against class, and to forget that the great object was toassist men in the hour of need. Carlyle had very welldescribed the action of those loud-mouthed philanthropists whosimply did good in word but not in deed, when he said, "Eng-land has, I am persuaded, in it many kings; they are among’the silent, I believe, mostly far away from platforms and publicpalaverings, not speaking forth the image of their nobleness intransitory words,but imprinting it, each in his own little sectionof the world, in modest, kindly actions that will endure forevermore." Those words contained the true spirit of philan-thropy. Those who thought that the more prosperousclasses in England neglected the less prosperous should bearin mind this great fact, that England was the only country inthe world where nearly every hospital was supported by volun-tary contributions. The hospitals were the slent, true tributeof the generous men and women who freely, for their suffering

, fellow-creatures, were willing to give according to theirL means to help those who were less fortunate than themselves.i The helping hand of the rich was the safeguard of the poor-I Perhaps many people had never seriously considered what the: great hospitals in London did. There were in the metropolis., four and a half millions of people. It was difficult to imaginel what suffering must be endured by that great mass of, humanity. Poverty itself was hard enough to endure ; but’ how much harder was it when it was coupled with disease n. No person who considered what it must mean to the poor,: living in hovels, to have a child stricken down by fever, with-

out the means of obtaining the precious aid of science, wouldi hesitate to give according to his ability to maintain the great