New-York tribune., 1883-12-18
COLLECTIONS FOR THE HOSPITALS.

| (OLIEt IIONS FOK me HtNIIIHLN.
! THE TRIBUNE prints this morning the annual
statement and appeal of the Saturday and Sun
day Hospital Association. This statement sctS
| forth the aims and scope of the association, and
presents detailed report Of what the associated
hospitals are doing. In addition TO showing
what disposition was made of the funds con-
! tributcd last year, it exhibits the actual con
| dtion, financial and otherwise, of all the hos
pitals in the association so that the pu bile may
! form a correct estimate of the work and wants
Of each, thus putting contributors in the way of
making specific designations if they choose to
do so. With the approach of the Saturday and
Sunday collection for 1883 which takes place
on the last Saturday and Sunday of the year it
is important that the public who are expected TO
make their gifts to this fund should be placed in
possession of all the facts, for in these practical
and emil ightcncd days all confidence is based on
knowledge. This condition of the public mind
is fully appreciated by those having this move
mcnt in their charge, and they act upon it ac
cordingly TO an extent that cannot fail to secure
for them the confidence so essential to the sue
cess of 50 important movement.
Ncw-York Is a rapidly growing city, and there
is necessarily constant increase in the average
number of its sick poor. On the other hand
many of tho hospitals now find themselves not
30 well provided as in former years, because of
the reduction in tho interest from invested |
funds that has been steadily going forward ever !
since the crash of 1873. Because of this state |
OF things these charitable institutions, doing in |
tho largest and best sense the charity work of |
the whole community, find themselves more |
and moro dependent on a general public sup |
In bn full mo
from all classes, with the least trouble and in
convenience to the public, Is the task which this
association has set itself The machinery for
the collection of 1888 Is now fairly set up, and |
the processes by which the work will be done,
arc all well under way During the present
year some effective preparatory work has been
done, especially in respect of what may be
called the religious branch of this movement.
During the past few months personal calls were
made upon all ministers whose churches have
not heretofore co-Operated. As a result of this
the association hope the present year to secure
collections from nearly 800 churches and syna-
gogues, instead of about 100, as in previous
years. 1t is an altogether admirable feature of
this movement that I'm it all dcnomnatiOnal
differences disappear in the one desire to do
good, and had the association brought about
nothing else than this community of interests in
people of all shades of belief and, for that mat
ter non belief, it would still deserve the thanks
of all wcll-wishcrs Of the race.
From members of the association it is learned
that no part of our community is more Jealous
in its cooperation than our Jewish citizens.
They take hold of the work with genuine en-
thusasm, and besides giving in and through
their thirty or moro synag0gucs and the trade ,
auxiliary associations in which they are so
largely represented, they have brought into the
good work nearly all of their benevolent lodges !
ibOut 200 in number divided among such
orders as the Free Sons of Israel, Bnai Birth,
Kersher Shel Barrel, Birth Abraham, etc. Not
,nly has the movement the Endorsement of the
grand lodges of these orders but the work of ;
Collecting the contributions is performed through 2
heir organized machinery. q
Last year the Associated Hospitals treated d
IO,412 patients. OF this number 1888 were |
rec patients. To meet this great work nearly {
lalf million dollars is required annually, and a
If this amount S263, 402 1G is mprOyded for, q
md to this extent the hospitals are absolutely
dependent on the good will of the public. In =
lew of this fact their need be- urged no excuse .
ithcr FOR the existence or the appeal of the ;
saturday and Sunday Hospital Association, and
is to BE- hoped that its most sanguine anticipa-
ions as to its work in the future, and more cs- a