The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-11-14 00:00:00

FORESTER-I' DISPENSARY SUNDAY.

The Foresters of the town and district held their
second demonstration with the view of benefiting
the funds of the above institution. The Foresters'
to the number of about 400, assembled on the
cricket field, where, after taking up their respec-
tive positions they marched to St. Thomas's
Church, where a special service was held for the
occasion. They were accompanied by the Cradley
Heath and Brierley Hill Brass Bands, both of
them performing selections of sacred music on the
way to the Church. The route was lined with
hundreds of spectators, but the strictest order was
maintained. The arrangements everywhere were
of the most satisfactory character. The service
was conducted by the Rev. H. Sherrard, vicar, and
a special cantate and anthem were performed by
the choir.

The First Lesson consisted of the 21st verse of
the 2nd chapter of the Book of the Prophet Job,
and the Second Lesson of the 9th chapter of the
Gospel according to St. Matthew. The Cantate
—"Dens Misereatur," by S. Simm;, in F; and the
anthem "God is our hope and strength," by Dr.
Greene; were very effectively rendered by the
choir. The latter was arranged for two altos and
two bassses, with chorus. The alto parts were
sung by Miss Richards and Miss Blakeway, and
the tenor solo by Mr. Pagett, whilst the bass were
entrusted to Messrs. Stringer and Bonnie. Mr. 8.
Simms presided at the organ, and performed the
various pieces in his usual masterly manner.
The sermon was taken from the 9th chapter of
the Gospel according to St. Matthew, and the 12th
verse, "But when Jesus heard that, he said unto
them, the whole have no need of a physician, hnt
they that be sick." The rev, gentleman remarked
in what simple and yet beautiful language was
the truth that our Lord wished to impress upon
his hearers conveyed. "They that be whole need
not a physician." To provide the phystian and
the medicine in the time of sickness and disease
was indeed a noble and a great work. He knew
no class of men who deserved so well of the com-
munity as that devoted band of men who made it
their business day by day to venture into the secret
haunts of disease, and to go into the poorest cot-
tage, so that they may be able through their heal-
ing art to succour the poor fever-stricken inmates;
and, who in the pursuit of their calling use much
skill in searching for the hidden causes of disease.
It was through their skilled treatment that lifeand
health was restored to mankind; and it was one
of the best signs of the day in which we live that
not only were there few bodies of men more devo-
ted to their work, but there was a growing sense
of the value of their labour, and there was a
general feeling in favour of helping, building and
developing the resources of hospitals, diepensarbs,
and similar institutions, so that when illness visits
the homes of the needy, the poor sufferers may re-
es.ive that skilful treatment which, by the blessing
of God, may restore them to life and health again.
And as he looked around on this land he considered
that next to the Church were those noble institu-
tions—our dispensaries, our hospitals, our infirma-
ries and our convalescent homes for the treatment
of sickness and disease, and for the recovery of
those who have been sick, and their re-establish-
ment in soundness and health. And so whether it ,
be the dispensary from which the medical men I
might go to the masses of the poor, there to ply
their skill; or whether it be the infirmary, where
a man who has incurred some terrible accident
recive the best scientific treatment; or,
whether it be the hospital, where the sick poor are i
waited upon and 'a home and medical advice