# The Chronicles of Early Melbourne/Volume 1/Chapter 19

CHAPTER XIX.
OLD MELBOURNE CHARITIES.—(CONTINUED.)
SYNOPSIS: —Cognate. Societies. —Selection of Site. —First Public Meeting. —Government Grant of £1000. —The Objects of the Institution Defined. —Qualifications of Members. —Conjunction of Two Ecclesiastical Planets. —The Transit of Two Celestial Bodies. —Tender for Building Accepted. —Brown and Ramsden, Contractors. —Foundation Ceremony Fixed for 24th June, 1851. —Roman Catholic Bishop Refuses to Attend Ceremony. —Occultation of the Ecclesiastical Planets. —Religious Dissensions. —Roman Catholic Protest. —Withdrawal of Public Bodies from Procession. —Laying the Foundation Stone. —The Procession Described. —Masonic Invocations. —The Inscription. —The Rev. Moses Rintel Makes Oration. —Masonic and Other Dinners. —First Annual Meeting. —Acceptance of Plans and Tender. —Complelion of Contract. —The Opening Ball. —System of Management. —The "Literary Blacksmith" First Inmate. —First Board of Management. —Reports for 1851 and 1887. —The "St. James'" "Visiting" and Kindred Societies.
The Benevolent Asylum.
The First Public Meeting.
The Legislative Council having voted ,£1000 to aid the erection of an Asylum on condition of a like sum being forthcoming from private contributions, a public meeting was held at the Mechanics' Institute on the 16th October, 1848, to consider the most desirable m o d e of raising sufficient money to render the grant available. T h e Mayor (Mr. W . M . Bell) presided, but for some unaccountable reason not more than a dozen persons attended, and amongst them only one clergyman (the Rev. A. Morrison). T h e meeting, notwithstanding this discouragement in limine, nominated a Committee, consisting of Messrs. John Lush, Robert Kerr, J. A. Marsden, Timothy Lane, Michael Lynch, John Hood, John O'Shanassy, J. P. Fawkner, R. A. Balbirnie, William O'Farrell, James Ballingall and Henry Langlands. In the room promises amounting to ,£200 yvere made, including ,£75 as the individual donation of the Mayor, ,£10 ios. from his firm (W. and H . Bell), and ,£20 from Mr. William Stawell. Between the origin of the Hospital movement and the laying of the foundation stone, more than five years had intervened, and seven years ere the building was opened, whereas the Asylum inauguration ceremony was performed in less than eight months, and it yvas ready for the reception of inmates in sixteen months after. The Contribution Committee enlarged its personnel by declaring the general body of the Clergy of all denominations ex officio members, and adding other influential names ; Mr. Richard Grice acted as H o n . Treasurer; Mr. Marsden, Secretary; and Messrs. Kerr, O'Shanassy, and Fayvkner were nominated to interview the Superintendent and obtain definite information about the site, the appointment of Trustees and the ,£1000 vote. The Anglican and R o m a n Catholic Bishops (Drs. Perry and Goold) for thefirstand last time in Port Phillip history yvorked hand in hand, and Bishop Perry presided as Chairman at the next meeting of Committee. The deputation asked for ten acres of land, but though His Honor yvas disposed to think five enough, he should not object if there was so much in the reserve. O n the 2nd November, 1848, there yvas an important meeting of the Committee, with Mr. O'Shanassy in the Chair : and a meeting of subscribers was held on the 8th, at the Mechanics' Institute, including Bishops Perry and Goold. T h e Committee's more important recommendation was "That the Institution be called 'The Victoria Benevolent Society,' and the Building 'The Benevolent Asylum.' T h e objects to be the relief of the aged, infirm, disabled, or destitute poor of all creeds and nations, and to minister to them the comforts of religion : (1.) B y receiving and maintaining in a suitable building such as will be most benefited by being inmates of the Asylum, (2.) By giving out-door relief in kind, and in money in special cases, to families in temporary distress. (3.) By giving medical assistance, and medicine through the establishment of a dispensary or othenvise; and (4.) By affording facilities for religious instruction and consolation to the inmates of the Asylum," O n the motion of Mr. Ebden, proposition 2, relating to Out-door relief, yvas omitted. O n the motion of Bishop Perry, it was agreed that the annual meetings be held in January of each year after 1850. T h e qualification of a Life Membership was fixed at ,£10 donation to the maintenance fund, or collecting ,£20 in any one year from unclaiming persons. Subscribers of £1 per annum in cash or kind were to be considered members of the Society, with power to vote at elections and recommend relief cases. This meeting is memorable as the only occasion upon which a fraternal conjunction of the two great ecclesiastical planets occurred, for it was the solitary instance in the transit of these celestial bodies where the " Right Reverend Fathers in God," Charles and James, foregathered either in public or in private. Meamvhile the collecting campaign was being actively and successfully carried on ; Mr. Samuel Goode a printer, supplied circulars gratuitously. The clergy threw themselves energetically into the work, and such progress was made that ,£670 had been subscribed. T h e plan Sub-Committee's scheme provided for an edifice capable of accommodating 250 inmates, but it was proposed to proceed only with a portion sufficient for the reception of 100, and the total expense was not to exceed .£2500. O n the 12th December, 1848 at a meeting of subscribers, Messrs. C. H . Ebden, W . M . Bell, and E. Westby were elected Trustees and Messrs. H . Ginn, D. Lennox, J. Blackburn, A. F. Greeves, C. H . Ebden, A. Thorpe, W. Hull, M . Lynch, R. A. Balbirnie and W . M . Bell were chosen a Committee to report upon the designs. M u c h interest now turned upon the bazaar announced as under the patronage of the wives of the Superintendent, the Resident Judge ​and the Bishop (Mesdames Latrobe, A'Beckett, and Perry). The St. Patrick's Society gratuitously offered the use of their hall, and the bazaar was held there on the 22nd and 24th March, 1850. T h e speculation turned out a lucky hit, for it increased the funds by ,£621 3s. 5d. The Design Inspection Committee yvere now at work, and several plans having been sent in, prizes were awarded, i.e., the 1st to Mr. C. Laing, 2nd Mr. John Gill, and 3rd Messrs. Newson and Blackburn. The estimated cost yvas ,£2800. T h e funds were stated at the beginning of June, 1850, to have reached ,£1750 6s, 1 id. Tenders were called for, and that of Brown and Ramsden yvas accepted for ^£2850, the building to be finished in thefirsthalf of 1851. T h e laying of the foundation was intended to be made a very big event, and the celebration was to be framed on the precessional lines which rendered the Hospital inauguration such a success. Invitations yvere sent to the Masons, Oddfellows, St. Patrick's Society, and other associated fraternities, soliciting their co-operation. The anniversary of the Accession of Her Majesty (20th June, 1850) yvas the periodfirstfixed,but it yvas suggested that a larger attendance would result from a postponement to the Festival of St. John the Baptist, and the 24th was agreed to.
A Split in Council.
And so matters yvent " merrie as a marriage bell," when it transpired that the Roman Catholic Bishop had, on behalf of himself and his clergy, declined the invitation of the Committee to be present, because it yvas intended that Ministers of other religious persuasions should offer up prayers on the ground. This referred to the Masonic ceremony wherein the Chaplain of the Order recites prayers and invocations. This contretemps produced much disappointment, and threatened to impair the effect of the display. The Building Committee tried to secure harmony, but no amicable adjustment could be accomplished. The Masons were asked to omit yvhat was conscientiously objected to, but they held as inflexibly by their formula as if they were Medes and Persians, and their layvs immutable. Bishop Perry suggested a rational and unobjectionable compromise, viz, that Divine Service should be performed in the various Churches on the opening morning, and prayers dispensed with at the ceremony; but the Masons persisted, and there could be no Masonic participation without the customary precation. T h e Committee meeting, at which a final decision was arrived at, was attended by Messrs. John Hodgson (in the Chair), G. A. Robinson, W . Hull, J. O'Shanassy, M . Lynch, A. Thorpe, C. H . Ebden, R. A. Balbirnie, H . Langlands, and Dr. Greeves. Mr. O'Shanassy moved a resolution declaring " it to be impolitic and unjust to adopt any ceremonial in laying the foundation stone of the Benevolent Asylum, which is considered by the Catholic portion of the community opposed to their religious principles, and a violation of the fundamental constitution under which they aided its progress." This was seconded by Mr. Lynch, whereupon Dr. Greeves moved and Mr. Hull seconded an amendment, "That they could not with consistency and honour, annul the procession and proceedings already entered into, especially considering that numerous public authorities and Associations have accepted the invitation of the Building Committee, and are known to have made arrangements for attendance." O n the question being put, Messrs. Hodgson and Ebden did not vote; only the mover and seconder of the motion voted against the amendment, which was declared to be carried, whereupon Messrs. O'Shanassy and Lynch quitted the meeting.
The Roman Catholic Protest.
The ceremony was to take place on a Monday, and on the Friday evening previous, a meeting of Roman Catholics was convened in St. Francis' School-room to protest against the action of the Building Committee. There was a crowded attendance. The Right Rev. Dr. Goold presided, and declared that his sole objection was the fact of the Masonic body intending to have prayers offered by a Protestant clergyman at the laying of the foundation-stone. This he considered to be a most uncalled for and improper proceeding, and the Building Committee should not have offered such an insult to the religious feelings of the Catholic community of Melbourne. He further declared that hearing prayers pronounced by a clergyman of any other persuasion was quite incompatible with the doctrines of the Catholic Church; and the Catholics might with as much justice claim the privilege of having prayers read by a Catholic ​clergyman, which they did not attempt to do. Addresses were delivered by Dean Coffey, Dr. Dease, Messrs. J. O'Shanassy, W . J. Dunbar, N. O'Connor, M . Lynch and others, and the folloyving resolutions were agreed to :— i. "That the Catholic Bishop, Clergy and Laity of the City of Melbourne, in public meeting assembled, do solemnly protest against any ceremonial partaking of the character of prayer on the occasion of laying the foundation stone of the Benevolent Asylum, conceiving such to be a departure from the liberal principle put forth in the prospectus of the Victoria Benevolent Society, and adopted by all denominations prior to any subscriptions being obtained." '2. "That in consequence of the violation of the rights of conscience involved in the proceedings adopted by the Building Committee of the Benevolent Asylum, the Catholics of Melbourne, Bishop, Clergy, and Laity, with deep regret deem themselves bound to withdraw their support from the Victoria Benevolent Society." 3. " That oyving to the invidious transactions detailed to this meeting in which more consideration is paid to the forms of a private Society than to the religious principles of the Catholic community, it is expedient to convene another meeting, for the purposes of considering the propriety of establishing a Catholic Benevolent Asylum, and to seek the aid of Government for that purpose." 4. "That the Catholic clergymen in the interior be informed of the proceedings of this meeting, and be requested to co-operate in carrying out its vieyvs." 5. "That copies of the foregoing resolutions be forwarded to His Excellency Sir Charles Augustus Fitzroy, Governor, His Honor the Superintendent, and the Committee of the Benevolent Society." The Catholic Benevolent Asylum fore-shadoyved above, never emerged from the region of shadows; and in due time, Dr. Goold, his Clergy and co-religionists learned " to forget their oyvn wrongs," and gave a generous and liberal support to an Institution yvhich bore refuge and solace to many worthy persons, whose sunset of life yvas darkened by clouds yvhich they had no power to avert. The St. Patrick's Society also yvithdrew from the procession, and the following semi-official announcement printed in one ofthe Monday newspapers thus justified their action :—"St. Patrick's Society. — The members of this body will not join the procession to lay the foundation-stone of the Benevolent Asylum to-day as intended. T h e reason for adopting such a course is that there is a difference of opinion amongst the members as to yvhether the Masonic ceremonial is one of such a religious character as to preclude the Society, in terms of one of its principal rules, from joining in it. A large proportion of the members think it is not, whilst another proportion think it is, and as it would be highly desirable that in the event of the Society co-operating in the day's proceedings, the utmost harmony and unanimity should prevail, those yvho believe that the Society ought to take part in the procession have not pressed the matter to a division; the more especially as, if they think proper, they will have an opportunity of lending their aid in the capacity of 'citizens,' for yvhich class a distinguished position is assigned in the programme of the proceedings."
The Father Matthew Total Abstinence Society also refused.
Laying the Foundation Stone.
The Anniversary of St. John was a fine bracing yvinter day, and though the Queen was too far ayvay to influence the Clerk of the yveather, the Saint must have contrived to put in a good word with him. It yvas a general holiday and bands of music played through the streets. A s noon approached, the Associated Bodies converged to the open space at the intersection of Swanston and Flinders Streets (the present St. Paul's), and thence in something like martial array set forthtotheir destination in the following order : City Chief Constable (on horseback). Native Police (mounted). The Various Schools. The Melbourne Total Abstinence Society. The Tents of Rechabites. Salford Unity of Independent Rechabites. " Apollo" and " Hercules " Lodges of Oddfellows. ​The Grand United Order of Oddfellows. Band. Lodge Banner. Ordinary Members of the "Victoria" Lodge and "Prince of W a l e s " Lodge. Warden and Conductor of " Prince of Wales " Lodge. Secretaries carrying Scrolls. Vice-Grand and his Supporters with Wands. Dispensation carried by Inner and Outer Guards. Noble Grand and Supporters with W a n d s . Noble Father and Supporters. Union Jack. Ordinary Members of the "Felix " Lodge. Warden and Conductor of "Felix" Lodge. Secretaries carrying Scrolls. Vice-Grand and Supporters with W a n d s of Office. Dispensation borne by Guardians. Noble Grand and Supporters with Wands. Noble Father and Supporters. Union Jack. District Delegates. District Treasurer and Secretary. Cushion and Bible and
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.% District Guardians s: (S with swords. District Master with the Deputy. All Past District Masters. T h e Australian Independent Order of Oddfellows. The Melbourne " Duke of York " and " Loyal Fitzroy " Lodges. O.G. with sword. ^ T h e Banner. Junior Members, two and two. Secretary of "Fitzroy" Lodge with Dispensation. Secretary of " D u k e of York" Lodge with the picture of Justice. Secretaries, supported by Junior and Senior Wardens, with sword and battle-axe. Members of the White Degree, two and two. W . G . with cushion and Bible, supported by a W . G . and P.N.G. Members of the Blue degree two and two. V.G. "Fitzroy " Lodge, with supporters and wands. V.G. " D u k e of York" Lodge, with supporters and wands. Members of the Scarlet Degree, two and two. N . G . "Fitzroy" Lodge, with supporters and wands. N.G. " D u k e of York" Lodge, with supporters and wands. Past Officers. Members of the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows, with white gloves, sashes and aprons, Outside Guardians with swords. Wardens. Secretary with scroll. Past Vice Grands. A Vice-Grand, with Bible and time-glass. Vice-Grands and supporters. Grand Masters, with wands. Past-Grands. Noble Grands. Secretary. Past Corresponding Secretary, with Scroll. Past Provincial Deputy Grand Masters. Provincial Deputy Grand Masters. Past Provincial Grand Masters. Provincial Grand Master. T w o Inside Guardians, with swords. The Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons in the following order :— Four Tylers. Banner of Faith. Masters of Ceremonies. Terrestrial and Celestial Globes. Entered Apprentices. Fellow Crafts. Deacons with wands. Secretary with Roll. Treasurer with Bag. Six Masters. Corinthian Light. Junior Wardens. Six Masters. Doric Light. Senior Wardens. Banner of Hope. Cornucopia. Pitcher with Wine. Pitcher with Oil.
o The Choir. Stewards. Architect and Builder. Bible, Square, and Compasses. «> a Banner of Charity. Chaplain. Installed Masters. Ionic Light. Book of Constitutions. ~ >. Royal Arch Masons. Past Masters. Masters. Inner Guardians. Band. 52 Clergy of all Denominations. Retired Naval and Military Officers. < § The Secretary of Benevolent Asylum. The Committee with White Favours. p" Civil Officers of Government. Heads of Departments. Magistrates of the City. Magistrates of the Territory. The Mayor and Corporation. Members of the Legislative Council. His Honor the Resident Judge. Aides-de-Camp. -{ His Honor the Superintendent. r Aides-de-Camp. Military.
It was a splendid sight, and to a person viewing it from an elevation near the Western Market the couptfasilwas very imposing. T h e Oddfellows unfurled a large flag on a blue ground, which was much admired. S o m e of the "Teetotal" streamers were very good, but there was one blank, the absence of the banners of^ the St. Patrick's Society, emblems of the " Emerald Isle," a chief attraction at the Hospital demonstration. T h e procession was more than a mile long, and was a most successful spectacular exhibition. O n arriving at the destination the school children occupied the area of the intended building; the Masonic body the east side; the Manchester Unity the north ; the Oddfellows the west; the Total Abstainers, the Salford Unity, and other Rechabites the south side of the space. T h e authorities were placed in front of the platform. O n the west side a platform was erected for the ladies, but through a queer arrangement, the reporters were cooped up along with the "fairer portion of creation," so that between the chattering of the ​daughters of Eve, and the distance of this "ladies' gallery" from the main pivot of operations, the " Recording Angels " could hardly hear a word to note down. Still, as if by an instinct peculiar to the professional pen-drivers, a creditably accurate account was chronicled in the journals next morning. There was some difficulty in providing for the ladies, but the politeness and patience of the untiring secretary (Mr. Marsden) would have tided him over even greater troubles. T h e Masonic body encircled the stone, and the ceremony commenced. T h e Rev. A. Strong, Masonic chaplain, offered the following invocation :— " M a y the Supreme Governor of the Universe bless this undertaking, and enable those w h o are more immediately employed in the good work to carry it on to its completion. " M a y H e support all those who, from disease and infirmity, become the inmates of this Institution. M a y H e bless them and keep them in the right way, that will ensure their everlasting happiness in that Grand Asylum above, where peace, harmony, and happiness for ever dwell. " POr all this we implore the blessing of that Almighty Being at whose creativefiatfirstall things were made." Masonic response : "So Mote it be." T h e Masonic adjustment of the stone was preceded by Brother John Stephen, P.M., reading aloud the following inscription engraved on a plate to be placed in a cavity :— THE FOUNDATION STONE Of the VICTORIA B E N E V O L E N T ASYLUM, For the Aged, Infirm, Disabled, and Destitute of all Creeds and Nations, Was laid this twenty-fourth day of June, A . D , 1850, in the fourteenth year ofthe Reign of Her Majesty, Q U E E N VICTORIA, B Y H I S H O N O R CHARI.ES J O S E P H L A T R O B E , E S Q , Superintendent of Port Phillip, Assistedby the Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Freemasons. His E X C E L L E N C Y SIR C H A R L E S A U G U S T U S FITZROY, K N T . , Governor of New South Wales. His H O N O R C H A R L E S JOSEPH L A T R O B E , E S Q , Superintendent of Port Phillip. A U G U S T U S FREDERICK A D O L P H U S GREEVES, E S Q ,
Mayor of the City of Melbourne. CHARLES LAING,
Architect. CHARLES B R O W N , H E N R Y B R O W N , S A M U E L R A M S D E N , Builders.
A glass bottle, the gift of Mr. John Hood, chemist, was encased in leather by Mr. Pascoe, saddler and in it yvas a scroll lettered "J. R. Pascoe, Melbourne, June, 1850." Melbourne newspapers and the brass plate, yvere put in the bottle, which was deposited in its resting-place. T h e stone was next lowered amid strains of solemn music played by Hores' Saxe-horn Band. After this, the Masonic ceremony of adjusting the foundation stone, took place ; upon which His Honor Charles Joseph Latrobe, Esq, went through the ceremony of making a curve or two with a trowel, after which, corn, wine, and oil were strewed over the stone, and the Chaplain offered invocation No. 2 . — " M a y the bountiful hand of Heaven ever supply this Province with abundance of corn, wine and oil, and all the necessaries of life : M a y H e whose mighty hand encompasses eternity be the guard and protector over this infant city, and m a y H e long preserve this building from peril and decay." Response : " So Mote it be." T h e Masonic Oration was delivered by the Rev. Moses Rintel (the Rabbin). H e yvas followed by the Mayor, and the ceremony yvas over. A collection yvas made, and realised ,£70, to which the Manchester Unity gave ,£25, the Freemasons ,£21, and the public ^ 2 4 . There were about 12,000 persons present. That night high revel was kept, for some 150 members of the Kilwinning, Hiram and Australian Masonic Orders dined at the Protestant Hall, presided over by Brother Richard Ocock, supported right ​and left by Brothers A. H. Hart, and R. Campbell. The Oddfellows and some of the other Societies had special festivities of their own. The expense of the foundation ceremonial was .£39, and receipts ^ 9 2 , which included ,£20 16s. 7d. collected at St. James' Church. Mr. J. T. Smith gave the proceeds of a benefit at the Queen's Theatre in aid of the Funds. A special meeting of contributors ruled that subscribers to the Building Fund should be entitled to privileges similar to those to be enjoyed by maintainence givers, though the Life Membership qualification was raised from ,£10 to ,£20.
The First Annual Meeting.
Held on the 17th January, 1851—in pursuance of Bishop Perry's motion, passed at a Committee Meeting on the 8th November, 1848—was a pro forma gathering merely. Mr. Charles Laing's plan of the proposed building was accepted; Mr. John Gill's obtained a ,£15 premium; and Messrs. Newsome and Blackburn's was awarded .£10. Messrs. Brown and Ramsden's tender for the erection of the building was accepted for ^£2850, but was afterwards increased by ,£220. The Fancy Fair held at St. Patrick's Hall realised ,£621 3s. 5d. The building yvas in the Tudor style. The extent of the portion erected was : — O n ground floor, i n feet by 52 feet. Accommodation was provided for forty-two males and as many females, and the attics were so contrived that twenty-nine more of each sex could be crammed into them. The cost would be about ,£3730, and the ground had been enclosed with a substantial three-rail fence. A grant of ,£500 from the Government towards furnishing had enabled the Committee to provide, amongst other items, for aboutfiftyinmates. The Legislative Council appropriated a further sum of £ 2 0 0 towards the enlargement of the building, and ,£800 for the Maintenance Fund, contingent upon a like amount accruing from voluntary subscriptions. The Committee received from the Government a ,£230 dividend of unclaimed poundage fees and fines; the Melbourne Bible Society made a donation of tyvelve bibles; the Rev. Mr. Clowes, of St. Mark's, a presentation of books, and a Mr. Sanger collected ,£100 from the diggers at Mount Alexander. A bonus of ,£25 was given to the Secretary in addition to his £2 per week salary, and an augumentation of his stipend to ,£150 per annum was recommended. Arrangements yvere made to have Divine service conducted regularly in the Asylum, by ministers of the various persuasions. Pecuniary assistance noyv floyved in from several stations where the squatters had started subscription lists. The townspeople and the Government had materially helped the laudable enterprise. The total amount expended on the building up to the 13th June, 1851, was ,£3272 19s. 6d, several important extra works having been authorised since the acceptance of the original contract. The edifice was now completed, and insured for ,£3000, in the Victoria Fire Insurance Company. A respectable person had been engaged to take charge of it, at a salary of 3s. per week (sic), and the Committee resigned its trust, "expressing gratitude to Divine Providence that so great and so useful an Institution had been brought to its completion yvithout any accident occurring to any of the numerous persons engaged on the works."
The Opening Ball.
There was one peculiarity in many of the public undertakings in Old Melbourne, bearing a resemblance to the Irish character, and it happened in some of the most serious of them, a humorous interlude popped up, aflashof light to cheer the surrounding sombreness—a something to provoke laughter in the midst of the solemnity, and so it was with the Asylum. T o the mind of an ordinary person, it would occur that if it was necessary to open an eleemosynary establishment with any special celebration, a religious service, a prayer meeting, or a sacred concert, would be the most apropos mode of doing so. But to inaugurate a Poor-house by holding a grand public ball there, seems incongruously amusing. Yet the Benevolent Asylum yvas actually opened by what was universally admitted to be the most hilarious lerpsichorean demonstration ever witnessed in Port Phillip. And it happened in this wise :—The building yvas turned out of the contractor's hands in June, 1851, and the recently constituted colony of Victoria was ​to begin its career on the ist July. On the 15th the first Lieutenant-Governor was to publicly assume the reins of Government, and it yvas determined that the auspicious event should be signalized by a public ball, to be honoured by the presence of the newly-blown Vice-Regent. Large rooms yvere not then so plentiful in Melbourne as they are now, and the steyvards of the entertainment hit upon the Asylum, and the notion was accordingly acted on. The two large rooms yvere put into proper trim; banners were borrowed, green boughs were obtained, and the place was decorated in picturesque style. T w o bands, (Megson's Orchestral and Hores' Saxe-horn) were engaged. More than 250 persons attended, and Lieutenant-Governor Latrobe, accompanied by his wife, and attended by his suite, yvas yvelcomed by " the rank, beauty, and fashion " of the city. At supper His Excellency proposed the Queen's health, which was greeted with "nine times nine," and his own toast followed. T h e night's jollification yvas varied by the exhibition of dissolving views by Mr. W . S. Gibbons. The caterer was Mr. Eyvers, a well-known confectioner, and his performance was described as " the best supper ever given in Victoria, and at a moderate price." T h e break-up of the assembly yvas brightened by a discharge of sky rockets ; and a surplus of ,£25 was estimated as probable to find its yvay into the funds of the Charity. A serious drawback to the convenience and comfort of those who patronised the occasion yvas that the Asylum was considerably " out of town," far away "in the bush," and there was not only no macadamized road, but no firm thoroughfare of any kind leading to it. It was midwinter, and to save the visitors from bogging or drowning, an avenue was buoyed at intervals on each side with rude torches, fastened to poles secured in the ground, and soldiers, and every policeman that could be spared patrolled the bush track from the junction of Queen and Latrobe Streets, between Plagstaff Hill and the Cemetery, to act as pilots. A newspaper of the time prints the folloyving invoice of liquors consumed on the interesting occasion, viz :—•" Champagne eight dozen, Sherry three dozen, Brandy two dozen, R u m one dozen, Port one and a-half dozen, Ale and Porter five dozen." Possibly the R u m was rationed out to the military guard and others on duty. About this time there yvas an unexpended balance from what yvas known as "the Black Thursday Relief Fund," and ,£250 was the Benevolent Asylum's share of it. The Committee's action yvas challenged by subscribers to the Relief Fund, and at a meeting held to condemn what was termed a "gross mis-appropriation," a resolution yvas carried requesting the various Institutions to refund the contributions wrongfully made ; but this the Asylum authorities refused to do.
System of Management.
As the period for the opening ofthe Asylum was at hand, the Government advanced ,£350, and the yvork was rapidly proceeded with. It was agreed to have a Resident Medical Officer at ,£100 a year, a Superintendent at £ 6 0 , and a Matron at .£40, with board and residence. The resolution providing for thefirstofficial gave much dissatisfaction, and yvas afterwards rescinded. A special meeting of subscribers was held on the 8th November, 1851, to consider and determine upon the rules for the government of the Institution. Mr. J. P. Fawkner yvas appointed Chairman, and it was agreed that Life Governorships should be conferred upon individuals contributing ,£20, or collecting a like sum in one year from donors not claiming membership, or any person for w h o m a Society might pay ,£20, or thefirst-namedExecutor of a Will bequeathing ,£50 to the Charity. Every subscriber of,£i yearly yvas to be an Annual Governor. T h e Management was to be vested in a President, two Vice-Presidents, Treasurer, Secretary, and a Committee not exceeding twenty-four Governors, to be elected annually. The ex officio members were to consist of the Lieutenant-Governor, Speaker of the Legislative Council, Colonial Secretary, Mayor of Melbourne, the resident principal Ministers of each Religious Congregation yvithin the City of Melbourne, being qualified as Governors, and the Medical Officers. T h e Medical Staff yvas to consist of two Physicians and two Surgeons, the qualification of the former to be the degree of M.D. at some University of Great Britain or Ireland, and of the latter, a diploma at some University or College of Surgeons in Great Britain or Ireland, to be chosen for four years, one of each to retire every two years, but to be eligible for re-election. N o convict was to be admissible as an inmate until he or she should have resided in the Colonv for three years after the expiration of sentence. At a subsequent meeting the Honorary Staff was reduced to one Physician and one Surgeon. ​O n the 14th November the Committee appointed a Mr. and Mrs. Kirby as Superintendent and Matron, but the Asylum was not formally opened until the 27th November, 1851.
The First Inmate.
Was a Mr. William Cooper, known for several years about town as the " Literary Blacksmith." He was an old fellow with a grog-blossomed face. " Old Cooper'" was, up to 1842, an industrious sober man, but the drinking immorality introduced by the Corporation and Legislative elections, divorced him from his anvil, and turned him into a low public-house cadger. With a foresight for which few would credit him, he helped in bis own small way, to aid in the erection of the Asylum. Possibly he was stimulated by the selfishness of wishing for a peaceful haven in which to ride at anchor during the last few years of his life; and if so, who could blame him ? The Asylum yvas to him as it yvas to others—once in affluent positions, but reduced to penury in after years—a veritable harbour of refuge. " Old Cooper "contrived to have a very good innings, for he lived and fattened there for nearly twenty years, until his death. In a day or two the Institution was thus peopled, viz:— William Cooper, John Fitch, Peter Kennedy, Charles Thompson, Jeremiah Betheil, Andrew Fleurin, Michael Fogarty, J. F. Arnold, William Farmer, Patrick Burns, William Baker, Henry M'Ardle, James Harvey, James Bryant, Charles Duff, Robert Wakefield, and William Nicholson. The last-named, an old bloated-faced pedagogue who once kept a school in Little Collins Street, was remarkable for the large size of his foot, and the quantity of half-and-half he could imbibe. H e yvas partial to "long drinks." H e used to thrash his scholars severely, by w h o m he acquired the sobriquet of "Old Bumble-foot." In addition to the male inhabitants of the Asylum, were three children named E m m a Carr, Jane Walker, and Mary Swords, whose mothers yvere in gaol. Before a week elapsed, three old ladies, named Mary Smith, Jane Roach, and Hannah Johnston, were received and rated on the books.
First Board of Management.
At a meeting held on the 23rd January, 1852, Mr. C. H. Ebden (then Auditor-General), in the Chair, the following were elected as thefirstBoard of Management:—President, Lieutenant-Governor Latrobe; Vice-Presidents, Chief Justice A'Beckett and Mr. Ebden; Treasurer, Mr. Richard Grice; Committee, the Rev. S. E. Bloomfield, Messrs. John Lush, Germain Nicholson, J. M . Smith, J. A. Markert, David Benjamin, Timothy Lane, John Duerdin, A. H . Hart, Michael Lynch, John O'Shanassy, David Ogilvie, R. A. Balbirnie, A F. Greeves, Robert Cadden, J. P. Fawkner, W . R. Belcher, John Hodgson, J. S. Griffin, Henry Langlands, Michael O'Shea, Abel Thorpe, W . H . Taylor, and D. Y o u n g — a body representing every section of the community. Its only fault was being numerically too strong, and overstrength in such cases often weakens that feeling of responsibility, which would be more active if more concentrated. Dr. W . M . Turnbull was appointed Hon. Physician, and Mr. Edward Barker, Hon. Surgeon. Mr. J. A. Marsden was elected Secretary, at a salary of .£150 per annum. The original building forms the central portion of the present pile, and faced the south. It now resembles a huge brick and mortar bird, winged all round, and all its ancient individuality smothered by the extensive additions since made. As an instance of the great changes wrought here, as in all the other establishments and departments, it may be mentioned, that for the year ended, 30th June, 1881, the average daily inmates numbered 623, and the year's income was ,£8345 15s. 2d, made up as follow :— ,£2819 4 s. 2d. received from local sources, ,£126 1 is. Municipal grants, and ,£5400 Government subsidy. For the year ended 31st December, 1881, the total revenue was ,£10,995 13s. 4d, and the expenditure ^ 9 9 4 1 14s. 8d, but there had been ,£768 os. 3d. received from inmates' labour and other sources, and the net expenditure amounted to ,£9173 14s. 5d. The average number of inmates yvas 621, and the cost per head ,£13 19s. 4d. The Thirty-eighth Annual Report of this Institution for the year 1887 contains, besides the usual items of information, the following appropriate remarks :
​"So far as the mere figures are concerned, there may not be m u c h to attract the casual reader; but they clearly show that there is a large s u m of money annually contributed, partly and principally by the Government, and partly by the public, for the maintenance of a large Institution, which shelters and provides for no small number of the entire population of the colony, whose title to gratuitous support rests exclusively upon the claims of poverty and destitution. " T h e Melbourne Benevolent Asylum has been so long before the public that it ought to be thoroughly well known by this time. Like every other public Institution, it m a y have its faults; but, whatever they may be, it is so accessible to its patrons and the public generally that they could not well be hidden. So far as your Committee are aware, the feeling of the inmates partakes more of the entente cordiale than the reverse; and your Committee must do them the justice of saying that their conduct is equally creditable to the Institution and to the colony. There are 656 inmates, male and female, exclusive of employes. That such a large number of m e n and w o m e n of divers nationalities, creeds, and idiosyncrasies should be massed together within so narrow a compass, without quarrelling and wrangling to a marked degree, is worthy of notice, inasmuch as it is at least presumptive proof of the satisfactory nature of the discipline which presumably leads up to such a result. " In the second quarter of the year there was a large number of male applicants seeking admission, nearly all of w h o m were in a most pitiable state of destitution, and, in vieyv of fresh applications at any moment, and the fact that the aged and enfeebled are rapidly on the increase, a large male ward to hold 30 additional beds is just about completed, which will swell the aggregate number of inmates from 627, in June last, to 686, being an increase of very nearly 10 per cent. Of course, the increase of accommodation means an increase of expense, and were it not that the interest accruing from the E n d o w m e n t F u n d is n o w utilised for maintenance, your Committee yvould not have ventured to have acted as they have done in increasing the number of inmates. " In the Annual Report for last year allusion was m a d e to the contemplated removal of the Asylum Cheltenham. That the time will come when it will be advisable to build a neyv Asylum is more than probable, but the question of removal is one which involves a great deal more than might be supposed at a first glance. T h e present Asylum m a y not altogether be what your Committee might desire, but for all that they see no reason for its being condemned as it has been. O n the contrary, they think it is a landmark which will be very m u c h missed if removed, both on account of the historic associations connected with it and its conspicuous and familiar appearance as a shelter for the homeless. " In any event, it would be premature at present to vacate the present buildings, even at the risk of to losing the promised site at Cheltenham. B y doing so there yvould be a sacrifice of .£57,205 15s. 4d. already expended upon them, whilst a further sum, roughly estimated from .£35,000 to ,£40,000, would have to be expended in erecting new premises upon the land at Cheltenham. It might be argued that the Institution yvould still be a gainer to the extent of the difference between the cost of the new premises to be erected and the s u m to be realised for the present site, and that the amount would largely augment the Endoyvment F u n d ; and, further, that in arriving at this calculation too high a value is placed upon the present buildings, assuming that they had to be re-erected, and that the excess in their present value, yvhich would be more than realised for the site, ought properly to be added to the amount to be credited to the Endoyvment Fund. This line of argument might have some force in it yvere it not that the probability is that before long the present site, if sold, would be likely to fetch a m u c h higher price than it yvould bring if sold forthwith, in yvhich case the Institution yvould be the loser of that difference, whatever it might amount to. " T h e Endoyvment Fund is making steady progress. During the past year various bequests, amounting to ,£4609 2s. 1 id, have been added to it, amongst which are the following, viz. : — T h e late Mr. Charles Rupprecht, ,£1969 5s. id.; the late Mr. Richard Goldsbrough, ,£1000; the late Mr. J. E. Wright, ,£480 • and the late Rev. Maurice Stack, ,£750.
"Within the last few years the amounts bequeathed to this Asylum have been mu ch larger in proportion to what they were during the first thirty years of its existence. This looks well for its future prospects, and goes a long way to prove that its usefulness as a factor for good is being more and more recognised. It shows also that society is becoming more and more leavened with a spirit of humanity, and ​that the duties and responsibilities of position and wealth engross more attention than they did in the earlier days of the colony. " T h e subscriptions for the past year have been ,£1567 3s. T h e receipts from the Government, including a balance of ,£1775 due on account of the previous year, ,£8525. T h e Committee of the Hospital Sunday Fund voted ,£868 16s. id, making, with ,£1855 18s. iod. as proceeds of inmates' labour and from other sources, ,£12,816 17s. n d . From this amount has to be deducted the expenditure for the past year, amounting to ,£10,613 3s, yvhich, with a debit balance of ,£1200 16s. brought forward from the previous year, leaves a credit balance of ,£1002 18s. n d . for the current year, which includes a sum of ,£5 to the credit of the Building Fund. " T h e accommodation of the House at present is equal to 656 inmates of both sexes, and the average for the past year has been 6 3 5 ^ . T h e average is larger than it was last year, owing to the increase of accommodation. T h e number of both sexes relieved during the year was 857, being an excess of 71 over that of the previous year, yvhich m a y be accounted for by the increase of inmates and a m u c h larger death rate. " T h e expenditure per head per annum amounts to ,£14 12s. 7d, or 5s. 7d. per week. " T h e total amount received by this Institution from the "Sunday Hospital P u n d " during the last fifteen years is ,£11,222 19s. 6d." Mr. I). G. Stobiefillsthe joint offices of Superintendent and Secretary in the Asylum. From the earliest times the people were very charitable, and though publicans m a y be ranked amongst the sinners, some of the ancient Licensed Victuallers were liberal and benevolent in the relief of cases of distress. Before there yvas such an adjunct of civilization as a public Hospital or an Asylum, the sufferer used to be carried to the nearest hotel, and, as a rule, taken in and kindly treated, without the expectation or prospect of a farthing's recompense. In a few years some kind-hearted individuals established small charities, and yvorked them with a holy zeal unknoyvn in modern days. T h e principal one of these was the
St. James' Visiting Society,
Established by half-a-dozen Episcopalians, who, relying mainly upon private contributions, rented a cottage in (the now) Chancery Lane for a Hospital and Asylum, managed it economically, and out of the pittance of support received, accomplished much good. T h e building contained seven beds, and yvas assiduously attended by Dr. Arthur O'Mullane. M u c h of its success was owing to the untiring exertions of the Rev. A. C. T h o m s o n and Mr. Joseph Greening. For the year ended 31st March, 1846 (thefirstof its existence), its total receipts were ,£169 3s. 4d, all of which, except 3s. 6d, was expended. During its second year (1846-7) the income yvent up to ,£271 15s. 4d, and the expenditure left a credit balance of ,£21 ios. 6d. During the third year the income fell to ,£225 18s. 4>^d, all of yvhich was disbursed less £ 1 0 13s. 7>^d. Shortly after its usefulness came to be recognised, jurors and special constables used to give it their fees, to yvhich was added a small proportion of drunkards' fines, During 1848 there yvere three deaths, and the patients numbered forty men, ten w o m e n , and twenty children. Nine funerals cost ,£15 7s. 6d. The "Friendly Brothers" was a R o m a n Catholic out-growth of a kindred kind, and was mainly started and kept afloat by the exertions of the Rev. P. B. Geoghegan, Messrs. J. O'Shanassy, and Michael Lynch. It drew its support from sources similar to the other, and accomplished a proportionately large amount of good. A "Strangers' Friend Society" was also established early, and though not brought m u c h before the public, was persistently active for several years. Messrs. John Lush and R. Kerr were unceasing in their exertions on its behalf. There yvas likewise a "St. James' Dorcas Society," yvhich owed m u c h of its success to the good-natured labours of a Mrs. Dutton, a Church of England schoolmistress, and Messrs. W . H . Campbell, C. J. Sanford, and A. F. Greeves (well-known surgeons), cheerfully rendered gratuitous professional assistance when required. In 1848 the "St. Peters' Visiting Society" was founded, and, like its predecessors, solaced many a troubled h o m e by its works of mercy.