Report of the Committee of Visitors, and seventeenth annual report of the medical superintendent, of the asylum for the insane poor of the County of Wilts / Wiltshire County Lunatic Asylum.

  • Wiltshire County Asylum.
Date:
1868
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Committee of Visitors, and seventeenth annual report of the medical superintendent, of the asylum for the insane poor of the County of Wilts / Wiltshire County Lunatic Asylum. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    20/54 (page 20)
    OF THE 'CHAPLAIN. To the Chairman and Visitors of the Wilts County j Lunatic Asylum. Gentlemen, As I have before had occasion to notice, the low ] standard of intelligence prevailing amongst pauper inmates j of an Asylum in an agricultural county, will seldom furnish much variety of feature for a Chaplain's Report. Such simple instances, however, of the blessings of the means of grace as we find amongst poor of the same j class not afflicted, are in no wise wanting amongst the insane, j Thus in our own case. The Chapel Services are > attended by manywith every symptom of devotion ; whilst ! the conduct of the rest is at least most quiet and orderly. The singing in particular is much enjoyed by our !, patients; and, as contributing to the same, I feel bound to ji mention the praise-worthy efforts of the young man-—an attendant in the wards—who plays the Harmonium. Our number of communicants has slightly increased ; and I may mention a touching instance of humility in an u aged man during the past year, who interrupted me in the ii moment of giving him the sacred elements, with the earnest & enquiry, “ Oh, Sir, if you think me worthy.” I have only further to add that the Chapel Services « have been duly performed throughout the past year. I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, B. C. DOWDING, Chaplain, ii