The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-01-20 00:00:00

GUILDS OF HEALTH AND DOMESTIC
SANITATION.

The Times has published the following letters :

Sir.—On Wednesday evening next, a paper on the
Sanitary Inspection of Houses is to _be read at the
Society of Arts. The subject is one in which my
father, the late Sir Henry Cole, was interested. He
had drawn up a scheme for organizing guilds of health
in every parochial district throughout the United
Kingdom. The guilds of health were suggested with
a view of supplementing and increasing the effi-
ciency of local boards. Their primary object was im-
provement in domestic sanitation. Arrangements
were in progress in the early part of last year for hold-
ing a public meeting to discuss the scheme. On the
day before my father's death, the Prince of Wales
wrote the following letter to him, and his Royal High.
ness graciously gave ma permission to make known
this letter when the question to which it referred
might be brought forward at a meeting of the Society
of Arts. As lam thiable to attend the meeting at the
Society of Arts on Wednesday, I venture to ask you
to publish his Royal Highness's letter. Its publica-
tion, I hope, may beef use on the present occasion.—
I am, Sir, your obedient servant, ALAN S. COLE.
20, Redcliffe-road, South Kensington.
"Marlborough House, Pall Mall, S.W., April 17, 1862.

"Dear Sir Henry Cole, —I have read with much
attention your proposal to establish parish guilds of
health throughout the 'United Kingdom. So wide a
question as that of national health, affecting in so
high a degree the prosperity and happiness of the
country, is one in which I naturally take a deep in-
terest, and I can only repeat what I feel assured has
occurred of late to all thoughtful persons, that every
effort which tends to direct closer attention on the
part of the public to the preservation of health, and to
the wide diffusion of a knowledge of simple rules bear-
ing on the subject, is deserving of sincere encourage-
ment.

"It is satisfactory to note that the support already
accorded to the projected guilds of health comes from
many of the highest authorities upon sanitary know-
ledge in this country; and I am glad to find, as
President of the Society of Arts, that the society, in
continuance of a work usefully commenced by it some
years ago, is arranging to discuss the means for pro-
moting the formation of these guilds in all parishes in
cities, towns, and villages.
"The labours of the Legislature to improve the
broad conditions of
.health generally throughout the
United Kingdom, and the efforts of all local sanitary
authorities, should be supplemented by the knowledge
and exertions of every individual. I conceive it to be
most desirable that every one should make him or her-
self acquainted, not only with the elementary rules
which science may give us, but also with the work of
existing organizations for the preservation of good
health, and I do not hesitate to express the opinion
that it would be a most humane deed to set in motion
measures by which everyone could ha encouraged and
assisted in obtaining practical information in connexion
with this subject.
"I wish all success, therefore, to the guilds of health,
and I shall be glad if you will request the council-of,
the Society of Arts to keep me informed from time to
time of the progress of the movement for promoting
their organization and establishment.
"Believe me, dear Sir Henry Cole, very sincerely
yours, "ALBERT EDWARD P."