The history of the first inebriate asylum in the world / by its founder [Jonathan Edward Turner]. An account of his indictment, also a sketch of the Woman's national hospital, by its founder.

  • Turner, J. Edward, 1822-1889.
Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The history of the first inebriate asylum in the world / by its founder [Jonathan Edward Turner]. An account of his indictment, also a sketch of the Woman's national hospital, by its founder. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    75/512 (page 71)
    ADDRESS OF PROF. ROSWELL D. HITCHCOCK, D. D., LL. D., DE- LIVERED AT THE BROADWAY TABERNACI.E, NOV. 7tH, 1855, IN BEHALF OF THE FNITED STATES INEBRIATE ASYLUM. Ladies and Gentlemen :—Tliere is sometliing of a coii- I ci-ast between a quiet Theological Lecture Room and this public assembly; and, to a. man of recluse aud scholastic habits, the contrast is somewhat appalling too. But the religion, whose history it is my vocation to teach, is pre-emi- nently a religion of philanthropic instincts and energies. Its birth song was not merelv “Glorv to God in the heavens,” but “Peace on earth and good will to men.” Not as some of the manuscripts read and Kossuth would have it “ I’eace on earth to men of good will,” but peace and good will to men as they are, destitute enough of good Avill themselves, but desperately in need of it from others. But not only is Christianity philanthrophic: there is, in truth, no other ]3hilanthrop3^ than the Christian. Athens had no retreat for the sick, and Rome had none, except the Temples of Esciilapins, where julests were the only physic- ians, and their patients were cm*ed by magic, if cured at all. Even Judaism was poorly furnished with human appliances. The poor man who fell among thieves and got so roughly handled,in going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, had to be carried to a caravanserai, and depended on an accidental charity for the payment of his bills. Hospitals, infirmaries, asylums, are all of a Christian parentage. The apostate Jnliau thought he discovered in them one of the main piops of the despised Galilean faith. Thej'are certainly-amongst tlie clearest tokens of its divinity. Christendom has now a vast multitude of these ])ublic charities; only less various than the forms of suffering which have (‘ailed and are calling for relief. Comparing nations, Europe in this regard has some advantage of ns; since there is, in so many cases the munificence of governments, while here it is the munificence of individuals, which undertakes these enter])rises of mercy. And yet, considering the circum- stances of our case, we have no occasion to be ashamed of what has been acconqJished among ns. We have no occa- sion to be ashamed of the coiintiy at large; none certainly