The Express. — 1864-06-04 (London, England)

ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY.  The 90th anniversary festival of this society was celebrated yesterday at the Freemasons' Moire, a lapse of four years having takes *es also, the last beaqeet. The chair was occupied by Lord Dufferin, and aniciapt those who were numbered with his immediate supportre were, Sir W. Fraser Bert., Y.P. ; Sir Brooke Bridges, Bart., M.P. ; Yr. Edward Esetwick, Mr. W. H. debar,. Kr. Doseld Nicoll. The Bev. Cason Nepeaa, Oaptem Terhon, C.B. ; Hs. IL B. Sheridan, Y.P. ; Mr. T. Page, C.& The CHAIRMAN, in propoting the tosetof the evening. mid that nearly a century had elapsed since they,kied dint mitered on this conflict with the powers of the grave mad dared to dispute with the angel of death the spoils he bad already °muted as bin own. Each rooceesive year had stabled them to inscribe troth victories on their walla • nor seed they dread, like Orpheus, to look bath with d: „. and food's= on the triumphs they had achieved. undoubtedly had hew engaged is ensilages. efforts The advance of seems, the spread of reedit/lion. had doss mach to pieseeve the world from the inroads of disease. The citadel of human life was bettor guarded now then formerly ; bat the utmost that either mimic* or eivilisatios dared pretend to was a defensive attitude ; to them alone had it been given to carry the war into the seemy's country, and annex a proviso, of his empire, to pesetrete beyond the mysterious frontier which separated time from eternity, andreatore to the kindly light of day, and the pleasant love of friends, them who had tasted the bitterness of death, whose eyes bad peered into the dim border lead beyond the grave, whom feet bad wended one stage on that Journey not to be roiravellediutortal man. These results ad b been itemised by the aim mesas, and the humblest 'snoop& them might claim it share. Thank. to the admirable organimn of the society, the veriest child or the feeblest woman might be enrolled amongst their supporters. He hoped that the sphere of its menthe/se might be more ' widely enlarged every year, sad its operatics§ perpetuated through all time, until the day should come when the cry of despair sad agony should no longer rise from the bosom of the deep—when the human heart shoed cease to buffet with the billows of adversity—when they should mead on the shining weed beyond the Sleet river, sod become catimm ai that country whose only wawa were the waters of life. _ _  It appeared from the datisties presented oo the oecesiol that daring the past year 2123 (saes of rescuing or at. tempted rescue from drowning were brought vadat the mottos althea society, cosepriong 262 persoos. Of these 246 were seocemsfully treated. but 16 were unfortunately begood recovery when takes out of the water. Sixteen of the launcher wereceseeof attempted suicide. The society had also is the same petted conferred and distributed to those who were instrumental in saving life from drowning the following rewards, via.; four silver medals, 73 bronze medals, nine thanks of the society os vellum, 73 thanks I no parchment, nod 69 pecuniary rewards of various enionats. In the pest summer no leis than 255,142 persons were estimated to have bathed la the Serpentine river. It was sot surprising that 38 esmolties should have onerred out of so large a number of bathos; but it was satiefortory to Mate that, owing to the ettestios of the society's min, not one bad proved fatal. The speech in which the chairman made the above renarks, and introduced • mention of the condition and operations of the society, having been cordially responded to, the medal. weer distributed to the various persons who had distiegelebed themselves by the saving of human life duriag the past year. heirept the recipient; of these hooours was Mr. Doeald