HOSPITAL SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9097, 25 May 1908, Page 5

HOSPITAL SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

VERY SUCCESSFUL REALISATION. GREAT FRIENDLY SOCIETIES' DEMONSTRATION. SUBSTANTIAL SUM COLLECTED. The promoters of Hospital Saturday and Hospital Sunday have every reason to be pleased at the consummation of their efforts in the assistance of a noble cause. All the minutest details were attended to with a preciseness that made for the success that resulted,, and the Friendly Societies, who organised the function, deserve the thanks of the public, and Hospital authorities in particular, for the amount of enthusiasm they displayed from the outset in the carrying out of the arrangements. Indeed the idea of holding the affair emanated from the Friendlly Societies, and they are entitled to the full credit of what was done, especially as the idea of Hospital days are less expensive and far more productive than the average method of raising public subscriptions.' ON SATURDAY. A band of fifteen ladies attired in nurses regalia and ten gentlemen in ambulance corps uniform went box in hand through the town, bailing up individuals and invading premises indiscriminately in quest of contributions, their persuasive powers needing little exercise in view of the worthiness of the object. The streets were thronged with strangers visiting Masterton to nee the English footballers, and it was a fortunate coincidence for the Hospital funds that Empire Day and the date of the Anglo - Wairarapa-Bush football match so nearly coincided. The football ground itself was, thanks to the generosity of the Rugby Union, thrown open to the Hospital Fund collectors, and those who manoeuvred round the boxes in the street had to face the ordeal during the intervals prior to and during the match. However, ungrudging support was forthcoming, and the boxes were substantially weighted with cash as the evening drew nigh. It was unfortunate that depressing rain set in almost immediately after the match, as collecting under such circumstances was not encouraging, but the elements were faced, and the stray coins gathered in. SUNDAY'S PROCEEDINGS. The procession arranged for yesterday was on a scale of magnitude rarely seen in Masterton. At 2 p.m. there was a gay assemblage of lodge members in front of the Borough Council Chambers, the starting point of the procession, the gorgeous regalia, band uniforms, and banners, making a brilliant spectacle. Punctually at the appointed hour the Masterton Municipal Band struck up a brisk quick-step, and with their customary precision headed the way into yueen street. Next in order were the members of the Oddfellows' Lodge, with a very fair rauater. The Masterton Fire came next, with member's attired in full dress uniform, and the Hibernian Lodge followed, their ranks being well filled also. The Masterton South Brass Band succeeded the Hibernians, the members marching and playing very creditably. Next name the Foresters' Lodge, with bright green regalia and banner, and after them the Fire Police with their less brilliant but Very effective.uniform. The Maafccr,ton" Pipe Band, with only a half master fo U°wed ; but the music waWellent, ~ *...'* the marching splendip. Following tho . * : ,i'r' the Rechabite Lodge, and the Druids' Lodge, each having an imposing display, the final organisations being the Salvation Armv Band and the Good Templars' Lodge, the Band, which included several "lasses," providing good marching music. Arriving at the Park the procession dispersed into companies, the Bands in turn giving selections in the Rotunda. Speeches were given at intervals. Mr J. B.Keith, Chairman of the Masterton Hospital Trustees, was the first speaker. He expressed the pleasure it gave him to see such a successful issue of the function, and said the Hospital Trustees were indeed under a debt of gratitude to the Friendly Societies for the excellent way in which they had carried out the arrangements. He felt sure the public would make a generous response to the appeal for funds for such a worthy object, and reminded them that every pound given by them meant £1 4s from the Government also. He referred to the necessity for more money to lay out the new Hospital grounds and like objects, and asked all to give as liberally as they were able. The Mayor (Mr P. L. Hollings) said the demonstration that day was a distinct credit to Masterton, and he was gratified to see so large an assemblage when it was" for such a deserving cause. He traced the histoi*y of hospital' work from its inception several 1 " centuries' ago, when it was 1 only an inconsiderable public institution, down to the present day. It was not, he said', until the 18th century that Hospi'tal work in England was established on a properly recognised 1 basis, and then the great hospitals of St. Bartholomew, St. Thomas, St.- Bride's and Christ's Hospital, were set up. In the Old Country now the many fine and splen-didly-equipped hospitals were doing a grand and'noble'work, and that work was still extending. The history of Hospital Sunday was equally interesting. There'wda one such day in Manchester in 1840, but it wss not until 1832 that regular Hospital Sundays were instituted, the day appointed being fixed as the 15th of June, or the nearest Sunday lo that date. In London the collections were enormous, amounting to many thousands of pounds, while Hospital Saturday was n day to remember. Saturdays and Sundays were new world-wide institutions, and having, as they did, such noble purposes the sjpport of the public was very great. Mr Hollings then paid a tribute to the work of the hospital n irses, contending that their sphere excelled in self-sacrifice and utility even other great and noble professions. Nothing was so grand as to alleviate the sufferings of stricken humanity, and he hoped the Masterton Nurses would see that their labours were rewarded by a handsome offering being made by the

public to the funds of the institution.

Mr A. W. Hogg, M.P., said that all were no doubt aware that the d.iy was not only Hospital Sunday, bat also Empire Day—a day set up to honour the memory of one of the noblest women that ever lived, the late Queen Victoria. He thought the occasion appropriate for such a celebration, which typified the sympathetic attitude of the nation towards one of those noble institutions of the peaceful kind, by which the British people had advanced to their present greatness perhaps equally with the arts of war. He compared the growth of the Motberlund to that of a spreading mighty oak, which had weathered many storms, and the foliage and branches of which 'had grown more vigorous year by year, until now the tree was an embellishment to the landscape. New Zealand, he said, was one of those branches, and though small yet, an important Lrjnoh. He dwelt with emphasis on the position of hospitals in British lands, and in New Zealand in particular, and the noble work done by ' them. Mr Hogg said that Masterton had displayed examplary public, spiritedness in regard to its institution, and the new hospital was a monument to their generosity in this respect Large subscriptions were not now required of the public, but just a unanimous and cordial contributon from the people at large—the "mite" being as acceptable as the largest donation made. He concluded by heartily thanking all those who had assisted for their services. Mr H. J. O'Leary, President of the Friendly Societies' Council, gave a short speech heartily thanking the public on behalf of the Friendly Societies' for their attendance, and specially mentioning Miss Giliespie and Mr Deugarde among those who assisted in the demonstration for their untiring efforts. The speaker said it was intended to make the function an annual one, and to make it more representative year by year. The respective bands gave selections at the conclusion, the Park proceeding closing about 4.30 o'clock. HOSPITAL SERVICE AT KNOX CHURCH.

There was a <fl-owded congregation, at Knox Church in the evening, when a hospital service was held. The service was characterised by sptcially selected hynns, while the Rev. A. T. Thompson delivered a stirringaddress appropriate to the occasion. He took as his subject Luke X, 25 to 37 (the story of the good Samariatan), and in the course of his sermon siid that the battle of life was inNested with the bitterness, of what was really a selfish instinct, the struggle for self-preservation. There was, however, the correlative instinct in the human composition to preserve the race, and in this the Christian nations by their hospital work were obeying the. command of Christ to "love thy neighbouras thyself." Christ, as the great and good Samaritan, had found humanity, as it were, beaten and robbed, by highwaymen, and'had. ministered to its wants. The ' rev. gentleman sriid thtrt the jiw fluence of the benign Saviour was j shown in foreign lands, such as India and China. These countries, with ■ i r, d islries ar.d arts showing them to be up with medtrn civilisation in many respects, found that the advent of the missionary heralded the era of the Samaritan organisations of Christianity. The offertories, which was in aid of the Hospital Sunday Fund, amounted to £6 Is dd. " .. RESULT OF THE CO'LLECTIONS.; i The sale of badges was afl import ant ti mmp m. mtmount likely to be derived from 'this source is expected to be from £25 to £3O. The amounts definitely ascertained are as follow: £ s. d. Saturday's collection 24 710 Sunday's collection 26 8 0 Hotel boxes 110 10 Kncx Church offertory 6 13 9 Total £6B 10 5 It is anticipated that a nett profit of £75 will be realised from the two days' collections, which will mean that the Hospital Trustees will receive £165 (inclusive of the Government subsidy). Mr S. Deugarde, secretary of the Friendly Societies' Council, and Miss N. Gillespie (lady helpers' organiser) deserve the hearty thanks of the public for the successful realisation of the celebrations, as both spent considerable time and went to a great deal of trouble in connection with the work.

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