Excelsior : being the Quarterly Magazine / of James Murray's Royal Asylum Perth ; October, 1904 ; special number: dedication of new chapel.
- James Murray's Royal Asylum (Perth, Scotland)
- Date:
- 1904
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Excelsior : being the Quarterly Magazine / of James Murray's Royal Asylum Perth ; October, 1904 ; special number: dedication of new chapel. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.
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![EXCELSIOR 'She <!]}narterlj) Jttagajjine of Jame0 Jfturrar/g ^ogal JUg-lam Vol. XIV (New Series) October, 1904 No. 56 rN the long course of this chronicle, which was inaugurated by Dr. Lauder Lindsay on the first day of January, 1857, we have had to relate many incidents of more or less interest. Our net has been cast widely, and the contents of our trawl have been of infinite variety. We now pass from gay to grave, from lively to severe. On this occasion Excelsior is devoted to the news of yesterday, and the kindly comments of our brethren of the pen. The Dedication of the new Chapel is our only theme. In 1821, when Mr. William Burn designed The Murray on the instructions of the original Trustees, he had explicit directions to include in the building a Chapel suitable for the establishment, and it was placed in the centre of the Asylum, next to the Board Room. In accordance with the usage of the time, a partition seven feet high divided the Chapel in two; for the idea of associating men and women in Asylums for worship, occupation, or amusement had not then been entertained. The Annual Report for 1838 gives an account of the appointment of the first Chaplain, and the Directors in the following year state that they have every reason to believe that his services have been of much advantage, and feel no hesitation in pronouncing their decided approval of the institution of this office. In 1858, it is recorded that the unseemly partition separating the sexes in Chapel had been removed. Consequent on the building of the Hospital Wings in 1887-88, the old Chapel was required for other purposes and a temporary place of worship was formed in the West Wing. It was apparent that such an arrangement was only tolerable as a makeshift; and the erection of a detached Chapel became more than ever desir- able. How this has been accomplished will be evident on perusal of the following pages. It only remains to us to express our heartiest thanks to the many friends who have so generously helped us to attain our desire. Their encouraging and sympathetic letters will be preserved with the most valued records of the Institution, and the Chapel itself is the memorial of their good-will. Indeed, it stands in great measure as a thank-offering, and in that respect a worthy tribute to Mr. James Murray.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21011576_0005.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
