-
Articles/Ads
Article THE SICK POOR. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Sick Poor.
THE SICK POOR .
Among the numerous charitable institutions which have made London celebrated among the cities of the world , for the most useful benevolence , and ^ the most discriminating use of the means of well doing , the metropolitan hospitals undoubtedly carry off the palm . Some of these—of great antiquity , and possessing large resources derived from the piety and genuine Masonic feeling of deceased benefactors—pursue the even tenor of their way from year to year , continuing to benefit the suffering poor to an almost incredible extent , Avithout any necessity
arising to appeal to the generosity of the general public . But there is another class of hospitals , those wholly dependent upon voluntary subscriptions , Avhich are from time to time placed in circumstances of extreme financial difficulty , from the lukewarmness of the public in the cause of charity . An instance in point we venture to place before the Craft—believing that it is only necessary to draw the attention of the Brethren to a case of peculiar usefulness , struggling with extreme difficulty , in the instance of one of these valuable institutions—to divert into its impoverished treasury a portion of the stream of charitable assistance
which it is the pride of every genuine Mason to assist in swelling to the utmost of his ability . The hospital for which we plead is the " Great Northern /' situated in the York-road , at King ' s Cross ; which , though an infant establishment , ( having been established only two years ) , has effected an amount of good beyond the most sanguine calculations of its benevolent founders . The population of the surrounding district ( which is one of the very poorest , and from various local causes , the least healthy in London ) , consists , perhaps , of the lowest class of the industrious orders to be found in any part of the metropolis . They are such as
costermongers , hawkers , and other indescribable avocations , whose earnings are of the most precarious kind , and of the very smallest amount . To these poor creatures—whose wretched pittance barely suffices to supply their daily bread , and who are therefore utterly unable to procure efficient medical advice , and tho needful remedies in time of sickness—the boon conferred by the establishment of this hospital , has been incalculably great ; and that it is appreciated by the recipients , the list of patients will shoAv . The half-yearly return to January of the present year shows the number of 33 , 678 out-patients , besides Avhich every one of the limited number of beds which the institution can supply , is filled Avith an
in-patient . The applicants for advice and medicine now amount to three hundred a day , and their gratitude is expressed in fervent terms to the supporters of the institution . An additional necessity for an establishment of this nature is seen in the numerous accidents of a more or less frightful character Avhich daily arise from the proximity of the cattle-market , railway termini , gasworks , and other large manufactories , which almost daily contribute to fill the beds Avith in-patients . But we now come to the distressing part of our subject—the funds which' the most strenuous efforts of the committee and medical officers are able to gather ,
are inadequate to the support of the institution , though the demands upon it for relief are weekly upon the increase . There is now hanging over the establishment an amount of £ 700 debt , being the difference between the half-year ' s receipts and liabilities—ancl this , of course , if allowed to go on , must end in the closing the doors of the hospital . Let our readers picture to themselves the evil consequences of such an event—the thousands suffering from every variety of ill that flesh is heir to , suddenly deprived of a refuge Avhence they derive succour and tlie soundest advice—either suffering disease to take its fell course unremedied , or , becoming a proy to the ignorant and designing quacks who swarm in low
neighbourhoods . These facts have pressed forcibly upon tho attention of a few benevolent gentlemen , and at the London Tavern , on this day fortnight a dinner was given , with the view of benefiting the funds , under the presidency of Alderman Wire . Owing to the lateness of the season , and other causes , however , an inadequate sum only was contributed ( £ 400 ) , and there is as much reason as ever to urge the cause of the institution . The meeting , however , in other respects , was a very delightful one , and due praise was awarded to the generous sacrifice of time , skill , and energy , on
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Sick Poor.
THE SICK POOR .
Among the numerous charitable institutions which have made London celebrated among the cities of the world , for the most useful benevolence , and ^ the most discriminating use of the means of well doing , the metropolitan hospitals undoubtedly carry off the palm . Some of these—of great antiquity , and possessing large resources derived from the piety and genuine Masonic feeling of deceased benefactors—pursue the even tenor of their way from year to year , continuing to benefit the suffering poor to an almost incredible extent , Avithout any necessity
arising to appeal to the generosity of the general public . But there is another class of hospitals , those wholly dependent upon voluntary subscriptions , Avhich are from time to time placed in circumstances of extreme financial difficulty , from the lukewarmness of the public in the cause of charity . An instance in point we venture to place before the Craft—believing that it is only necessary to draw the attention of the Brethren to a case of peculiar usefulness , struggling with extreme difficulty , in the instance of one of these valuable institutions—to divert into its impoverished treasury a portion of the stream of charitable assistance
which it is the pride of every genuine Mason to assist in swelling to the utmost of his ability . The hospital for which we plead is the " Great Northern /' situated in the York-road , at King ' s Cross ; which , though an infant establishment , ( having been established only two years ) , has effected an amount of good beyond the most sanguine calculations of its benevolent founders . The population of the surrounding district ( which is one of the very poorest , and from various local causes , the least healthy in London ) , consists , perhaps , of the lowest class of the industrious orders to be found in any part of the metropolis . They are such as
costermongers , hawkers , and other indescribable avocations , whose earnings are of the most precarious kind , and of the very smallest amount . To these poor creatures—whose wretched pittance barely suffices to supply their daily bread , and who are therefore utterly unable to procure efficient medical advice , and tho needful remedies in time of sickness—the boon conferred by the establishment of this hospital , has been incalculably great ; and that it is appreciated by the recipients , the list of patients will shoAv . The half-yearly return to January of the present year shows the number of 33 , 678 out-patients , besides Avhich every one of the limited number of beds which the institution can supply , is filled Avith an
in-patient . The applicants for advice and medicine now amount to three hundred a day , and their gratitude is expressed in fervent terms to the supporters of the institution . An additional necessity for an establishment of this nature is seen in the numerous accidents of a more or less frightful character Avhich daily arise from the proximity of the cattle-market , railway termini , gasworks , and other large manufactories , which almost daily contribute to fill the beds Avith in-patients . But we now come to the distressing part of our subject—the funds which' the most strenuous efforts of the committee and medical officers are able to gather ,
are inadequate to the support of the institution , though the demands upon it for relief are weekly upon the increase . There is now hanging over the establishment an amount of £ 700 debt , being the difference between the half-year ' s receipts and liabilities—ancl this , of course , if allowed to go on , must end in the closing the doors of the hospital . Let our readers picture to themselves the evil consequences of such an event—the thousands suffering from every variety of ill that flesh is heir to , suddenly deprived of a refuge Avhence they derive succour and tlie soundest advice—either suffering disease to take its fell course unremedied , or , becoming a proy to the ignorant and designing quacks who swarm in low
neighbourhoods . These facts have pressed forcibly upon tho attention of a few benevolent gentlemen , and at the London Tavern , on this day fortnight a dinner was given , with the view of benefiting the funds , under the presidency of Alderman Wire . Owing to the lateness of the season , and other causes , however , an inadequate sum only was contributed ( £ 400 ) , and there is as much reason as ever to urge the cause of the institution . The meeting , however , in other respects , was a very delightful one , and due praise was awarded to the generous sacrifice of time , skill , and energy , on