The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-06-14 00:00:00

HOSPITAL SUNDAY.

On Sunday the fifteenth of June over a thou-
sand clergymen of every shade of religious
thought within the metropolitan postal district,
will lay hide their sectarian differences, and
join in appealing from their altars, platforms,
and pulpits, for subscriptions in aid of the noble
inatittations whose mission is the relief of the
sick and suffering poor. During the past few
month., thanks to the efforts of Lord Mayor
Waterlow, the minds of Londoners have been
thoroughly aroused to the fact that they are in
respect of "Hospital Sundays" considerably
behind their provincial fellow-subjects, and there
is little doubt that fired with generous rivalry,
they will make the experiment, new though it
be, a perfect and complete success. To Bir-
mingham belongs the honour of having initiated
the practice of devoting one Sunday in the year
to Use making of collections on behalf of its
hospitals in every church and chapel in the
town. In 1859, the year it was first tried, its
promoters thought they would be extremely for-
tomato if they realised £l,OOO by the speculation;
to their surprise they found the sum of £5,200
at their disposal. About four years ago Liver-
pool followed the example of Birmingham, and
its last collection reached over the enormous sum
of £lO,OOO I Manchester also became wise in
it, generation, and an annual income of £5,500
is the reward for its good sense. Since then the
excellent system has been apopted at Sheffield,
Coystitry, and otter important commercial
centre with proportionate success, and it r,,-
tattius to be seen whether the capital of the
'add will vindicate its dignity and prestige by
e7dipslng, recruit as his, the goodly sums raised
by the veteran towns we have mentioned.
It is very far removed from our mind to anti•
eipate in may way the sulikiet matter of the x-
cellent discourses which Hundreds of eloquent
preachers wili deliver to-morrow (Sunda)), but
it i, on a theme like this, to omit
making • few remarks on the divine virtue of
charity. There is perhaps no instinct mora
deeply imbitod in the heart of wan through all
ages, and in alt countries than the desire to
aeviate the temporal suffering of his fellows.
T ne it is there are some unhappy people in
Mahn this I eavenle sentiment li, a withered and
Cad, but in the innermost nature of every
hisnori being, however corrupted, that nature
my be by intercourse with a harsh world or t!,e
debosiug effects of heathenish, ignorance, or
vice, chatiti lies latent like au nupoished jewel
w !Ping only the hand of Um skilful polisher to
canes it to beam with brilliancy and light. We
are netarally opposed on grounds of political
economy to the indiscriminate altos-giving in
which Boma good people indulge, although we
cannotmake up our minds to blame it altogether:
but what a splendid opportunity will be afforne
on the 15th to those who real!, wish to know
for a certainty that they are doing good with the
money they give sway. ThtTe can be no more
worthy recipients of th, " gentle dew fro ii
heaven' which "blesses bins that gives and him
that takes," than the hospitals scattered over the

metropolis. Many of these are entirely depend-
ant upon voluntary subscriptions, for their sup-
port and existence, and Cie thousands of pounds
which it is to be hoped will be at hand for distri•
itioa will be a god-send to them. It is unne-
c •ssary, were it even possible, to describe or
reckon the countless blessings these springs of
bancficence sprinkle over the poor who come to
them for relief; and we sincerely trust that on
1.11 air first " Hospital Sunday" the congrega-
tions of the churches in and around London will
qeuerous and liberal in their off-rings, for by
doing so they will diffuse more good than we are
capable of calculating.