The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-06-09 00:00:00

',Ebe taurbric Obserber.

SATUTIDAY, JUNE :), 1888.

OUR HOSPITALS.

JUNE 10th this year was long ago fixed as
Hospital Sunday, as far as London is con-
cerned; and it is to be earnestly h)1 of that
the collections made in the various places of
worship, when they come to be ceunted, will
prove in the aggregate to be at least as large
as any which have gone before, for no one
can well conceive a worthier object than that
thereby to be benefitted. London has its
Hospital Sunday, on which special offertorit F;
are taken at chu •cues, chapels, and other as-
sembly places; and its Hospital Saturday
when workmen are asked to contribute ac-
cording to their will and ability, and when
supplemental collections are made at street
corners from those not in receipt of weekly
wages. The work of gathering the gifts of
the various sections of society thus ap-
proached is performed gratuitously by ladies
and gentlemen actively disposed to assist so
good a movement; and the annual result is
a substantial addition to the exchequer of all
the great hospitals, general and special, thus
greatly increasing the usefulness of these in-
\ alaable institutions. And what is done in
London in this respect finds an echo in
almost every provincial town. There is,
therefore, no valid ground for complaint
that hospital managers and other benevolent
persons are not placing every possible op-
portunity of contributing to the funds be-
fore the public, and that in a manner which
cmnot be overlooked. Yet we do not con-
sider that the community at large subscribes
to the hospitals as extensively and system-
atically as it ought, despite all these direct
appeals. Every person, according to his in-
come, ought to place a charge upon himself
for the maintenance of these splendid halls
of healing, whose doors are open to all. He
should accept it as joyful daty to contribute
his quota, either through the offertory box
at divine worship, at the pay-table when re-
ceiving his wages on Hospital Saturday, in
the outstretched street-side sheet, or the
boxes of the fair alms-gathers ; or should all
these vehicles of giving he inconvenient, lie
should give to t e fend direct at head-
quarters. It is morally quite as incumbent
upon the good citizen to do his share in sup-
porting the hospital as it is necessary that
Lie should help to pay the cost of local and
sational government ; and just because the
law doos not compel him to discharge the
i:ormer obligation though the latter is ex-
acted from him whether he be willing or not
we consider that the annual almsgiving to
the hospitals should never be neglected
under any pretext, but always carried out
with cheerfulness and large-hearted liberality.
otwithmtanding that munificent folk in time
past have enabled our hospitals to embrace
1 heir present wide scope of usefulness and
blessing to society, there is no institution of
Ihis character in London or elsewhere so
t qnipped with funds as to be ahead of the
loca.l requirement; and much sorrow and
suffering n3w inevitable mi ;ht be obviated
were the hospital system extended as those
most intimate with its working desire. There
is no need here to plead the cause of the
Ii )soitals by any argument of their value in
a philanthropic or merciful serse, for every
one is convinced of tint. The hospitals of
to-day are the vast embodiment and system-
atisation of the beautiful parable of the Good
Samaritan, giving skilful and tender assist-
ance in pain's most trying hour, and that to
all, irrespective of creed or station. Their
doors are cpen to each poor afflicted one ;
t ic efore t iey sho ild not appeal to any or
pport in vain. The returns of the work-
hes. of the host). tat- show how tremendous a
boon to the community they are. Taking
14)nd0n and the large towns collectively, we
tied that as many as one in every six persons
receives medical advice or treatment each
year; and when we reflect that such advice
seal treatment is of the very highest quality
we get a good general idea of what an eaortn-
ons amount of disease is prevented by hos-
pital agency. Tee advantage ot this is not
to be measured al me by the benefit it gives
to those treated; but should be viewed also
in he light of the many saved from conta-
gion and consequent suffering by the arrest
of malignant maladies in others, who have
h-en su(xlessfullv dealt with in the hospitals.
'C e more we think of hospital work the more
we recognise its importance and indispensa-
bility, aad the snore we see that it is every-
me's concern that they should le kept up to
t It highest standpoint of efficiency, and sup-
ad with the necessary endowment for
arying on with vigour and completeness
t• ,eie splendidly practical work. And the
pnblic, which ought to thus support. onr
l4o4pitals with no nieseserd hand. has a right
to expect that the most should be made of
asmey it.sn bseribes for their sustenance.
Want of economy and good management
have been spoken of in connection with some

o our hospitals ; and while we trust these
uzly reports will not cause any to hold back
w t 13, would give to the general ca-se, we
would i rppreis upon the leaders of charitable
w;Jrkth necessity for placing the control of
very institution aided by the Hospital Fund
in the hands of governors and officials who
are abovo suspicion, so that public confidence
may not be shaken in any way.