Eighteenth report of the Derbyshire County Pauper Lunatic Asylum.

  • Derbyshire County Pauper Lunatic Asylum.
Date:
[1870?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Eighteenth report of the Derbyshire County Pauper Lunatic Asylum. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    quiet, yet earnest devotion, to feel and to appreciate the service, and to enjoy the building which had been provided for their benefit. A rich crimson Communion Cloth, adorned with an appropriate monogram in gold embroidery, was given by the Misses Compton, of West Ham, near London; and “ Pede” Mats, and Cushions for the Communion Rails, elaborately worked in coloured ecclesiastical patterns, were presented by Mrs. Hitchman. The Assistant Medi¬ cal officer, Mr. Reed, has artistically coloured four of the smaller windows, and decorated the walls of the aisles, and the transepts, with Scripture texts of “ The Beatitudes and the interior now presents a chaste and unostentatious appearance, free alike from the gorgeous parade of some modern chapels and churches, and from the cold and meagre baldness of a Puritanic asceticism. Prayers have been said, morning and evening, in the male and female sides of the Asylum, and Divine Service has been performed every Sunday with undeviating punctuality. The Holy Communion has been administered on several occasions during the }7ear, at which upwards of Thirty Patients have communicated at a time. The names of such Patients as are deemed by the Medical Superinten¬ dent to be in a fit intellectual condition to receive his visits, are given to the Chaplain, who imparts special instruction and advice to the intending recipients, and admits to the rite such as appear likely to receive it in a devout spirit. This year will be ever memorable in the annals of the Asylum from the loss of its able and courteous chairman, Sir Hugh Seymour Plane, Bart. Although the office is an annual one, the Chairman being chosen by the Committee from members of their body after their own election by the Quarter Sessions at each Epiphany Ses¬ sions, yet for upwards of sixteen consecutive 3^ears had Sir Seymour fulfilled the duties of the office to the satisfaction of his colleagues and the County. On the third of April last he was more than usually active, and after a minute inspection of the chapel [in the planning and building of which he had felt a most lively and intelligent inte¬ rest] and which was then drawing nigh to completion, he said to