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Las diagrammes suivants iiluatrent la methods. 32X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 m A :\i m ~^,<>-^ r THE ']-^'0'— ^ospital forpickShilbren TO ROE TO. •^..Afc- /.A ^^aUi^M V ^nia^cPv V 23^b, v 1875. (2^ ^Msr -^ TORONTO : DUDLEY & BURNS, PRINTERS. 1881. A RETROSPECT, i^^. "' n • ^ip»"•, ■::.1 ^y%- '-'•V"^/. , i'«*, MMt^HWidU i^y V ' I ) V. (1 > -v. > f '■■■ ■■• M :■^ _.<,.^r THE ji^'O ospital f or^lck ^hilbren TORONTO. jM. SitaMwfveb •:• SKatcfv v 23ib, V 1875. -^ s^yi A RETROSPECT, I2r •x^i S^' TORONTO : DUDLEY & BURNS, PRINTERS. 1881. J ^^O^ V THE TORONTO. ESTABLISHED MARCH 23rd, 1876. L' anxious for nothing, but in EVERYTHING, hyprayer and supplication, Hith thanksgiving, let your requestn be made known unto GOD: .... and my GOD nhall supply all your need according to Ilia riches in glory by €11 HIST JESUS."— Pwh. A RETROSPECT, |)oU) it dommcnceb. There is something very touching in sickness and suffering. JHovv sad to witness a little gleeful life sinking down in the sharp [grasp of Suffering. But how specially sad, when instead of [beholding suffering Childhood, as we generally see it, tenderly lursed, and all its trials smoothed down by gentle care, skill land sympathy, we find it in a state of neglect and want, sur- rounded by dirt ; breathing foul air ; pining in stifling, sickening leat ; aye and absolutely dying, for want of cleanliness, fresh [air, proper food, and medical skill. Such were the sights that often met the eyes of those in our [city when out on friendly visits to the sick and suffering. ]" Alas ! they thought, what can be done? Can nothing be done [for these little neglected sufferers ? If some one would only lestablish a Hospital for sick Children." HOSPITAL FOR SICK CHILDREN. And one or two weak ones thought of the Great Physician, the Sympathizer with the suffering ones, and we told Him our cares, and our thoughts. He said to us, "Try"; a .d a state- ment was made of the needs of these little ones, and soon letters came pouring in, commending the project, sympathizing wit'^ us, and offering aid. One wrote — •'Toronto, January nth, 1875. When your Child's Hospiiul is fairly in operation you and your co- adjutors can look to me for a preliminary subscription of $20, and I will also give a smaller sum annually after this year. Yours very truly, D. B." Another said — *' I read with pleasure this morning in the Mail about the Hospital for Sick Children. Any help that I can give, either in money or work, I shall be niosc happy to contribute. Will you kindly send me a note, through the post, saying when and where I can meet you, a;; I should like so much to know what is doing about it, and in what way I can be of use in this good work ? Wishing you success in your under- taking. I am, yours, &c., F. S. M., Box 1694, Toronto." But a letter came from Fergus with no name attached, expres- sing sympathy and faith in the Lord, and enclosing us our first precious gift of money in the sum of $20 : — how our hearts went forth that morning, in praise for this cheer from Him who had said " I will perform My good word toward you." Our joy will not be forgotten. The " good news was as cold waters to a thirsty soul." With this our first instalment from The Faithful Promiser, we, in order to make the matter known through the Churches in Toronto, printed. ? ■ !■ at Phvsician, told Him our ; a .d a state- id soon letters lizing wit'- us, ' nth, 1875. u and your co- of $20, and I , D. B." t the Hospital loney or work, :nd me a note, 3U, a.-, I should I'hat way I can in your under- )94, Toronto." ched, expres- ig us our first ir hearts went iim who had Our joy will waters to a The Faithful through the A RETROSPECT. OUR FIRST CIRCULAR. "(CIRCULAR). THE HOSPITAL FOR SICK CHILDREN, TORONTO. To the Christian public : ♦, 1, As long as two years ago, it was deeply impressed on . he hearts of a few Christian women in this city, that a Hospi- al for Young Children had become a great necessity. Instances had come to their knowledge, where many little ones were lan- guishing and dying for want of proper care, because their 'T u-,T'^ compelled to go out and toil for them and the other children. But these ladies saw no way to found an Institution for the rehef of Sick Children, yet they could not dismiss the subject from their thoughts; it followed them night and day till at ength they felt it clearly the Lord's will Ihat they shou d a least make a beginning, and furnish benevolent and Christian people an opportunity to assist, just so far as the Lord might incline them. In this enterprise, they desire to be guided wholly by the indications of Providence, and go neither further nor faster than God opens the wav for them Insecuring means to establish the Institution, they do not intend to solicit help from any one, further than to give infor- ^ ^T^f f^^l'-^^.'^^^t^the.r wants, plans and purposes f believing , that, if this is of the Lord, He that holdeth The hearts of all men in His hand will dispose them to assist in such manner as may be needed. There will, therefore, be no canvassing ?he I voluntar'y ' '°"'"''"''°"' "^"'^' '" '^^ ^""est sense, be ,1 They will NOT go in debt, but will commence in a small and ^, economical way, believing that, if this is seed of the Lord's ' planting, it will grow. ^^^ ^ 6 HOSPITAL FOR SICK CHILDREN. They have mentioned the project to several of the most prominent Physicians of the cit)-, who cheerfullv promise their regular and gratuitous services. . , . ^ , , ,, • ^; In speaking of it to a few of then- friends, the following arti- cles, towards furnishing the Hospital, were cheerfully and spontaneously promised :— r • i. j -.u ^ * 6 Iron Cots, made to order; 2 Cots, furnished with mat- tresses, pillows, etc.; $20 worth of Cotton, for sheets, pillow- caseb .nd Httle night-gowns ; $10 in Medicines for the Dispen- sary ; all the Coal Oil required ; 2 pair Cot Blankets ; Scrap Books lor the little ones ; 2 pair little Socks, to draw on when they sit up ; besides $86.96 Cash in hand. Thus encouraged they feel bound to proceed. As soon as they have enough promised lo furnish a house of moderate size with suitable comforts for the care of sick children, and suffi- cient to pay the rent, wages of the Matron and servant for three months, they will at once open the Institution, in full confidence that God will incline the hearts of His people to provide for the little sick ones, as their needs arise. And that this Institution may not encourage pauperism, these ladies think it but right, that parents who are able to support their children, but who may desire to secure for them the benefits ot the Hospital, be required to pay, say, 20 cents per day ; on no other condition will such children be received. In connection with the Hospital, there will be a Dispensary, one of the physicians of the staff" being present each day, to attend to out-of-door patients brought by their mothers. The Managers of the Hospital simply wish that all who can take this work on their hearts, as one of the agencies by which the Lord would comfort and heal many little sufferers who cannot plead for themselves, will speak of it among their Christian friends, and give it a place in their prayers. They would particularly request Ministers to make its existence and principles known in their churches and Sunday schools. Thus the Managers of the Hospital for Sick Children state their case, but they send with their appeal no solicitor ; none wi'l feel under a necessity of contributing, unless from the direct prompting of their own hearts, guided by God's good spirit, the Comforter. Donations in C^oods or Money may be sent to Secretary of the Hospital for Sick Children^ Toronto." and A RETROSPECT. - Among the responses to this were the following : — '• TORON-TO, January, 1875. Dear Madam,— I am just in receipt of your printed circular with regard to the Hospital for Sick Children. I have attended he Sk children of poor patients for several year, in this city and pret'y well know the requirements and can assure you that you are estaSin^an excellent and most needed Charity. Though you will find heclifef difficul y IS in providing food and clothing, two thirds of the deaths sfve word" ""''"" """'"'' ^^-"-^-^ -' Pe^haps. a more expres" Yours most respectfully, c. B. Hall, M.D." This revealed to us, that physicians in their endeavours to relieve pain and suffering had encountered similar experiences and thus warranted the need of such a work for the Lord To this letter of Dr. Hall's we would add the following statement, since gathered from other sources :— FACTS ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE NEED OF A CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. 1st. The mortality of children under ten years of age is only 2 per cent, less than it was fiftv years ago. Of 50 ooS persons fhatige""" ' "' ^°"^°" ^^"^•^' ^^'°^ ^'' chiCn^un'der dadot f^"s\a'clSZn'^^ ^" ^"^'^^"^^^ '' ^^-^ —-0. 3rd. A special Hospital for Children is needed, because the ^Th ' ruif '}%'^^^^^T :^^"'^^^ ^P^^'^1 arrangements ^ 4th. Children's Hospitals have been established with success m seventeen of the chief cities of Europe ; but this is the first Institution of the kind in Canada The opinion of the medical profession is almost unanimous m favor of such Institutions. ctxiimous " I will venture to say that the poor, as a class will ?ain eTes thr'th'^'^'tf '."^ '' ^ "'^i^^^^^ ^- ChTdrln's Dis" La^/iam ^"^ General Hospital."— Z>r. "The proposal to establish a Hospital for Sick Children is a measure so fraught with prospective"^ benefits to eve v ckss of the community that I cannot but regard it with deep inSres ^nd sohcaude."-Szr George Burrows, Bart MB 8 HOSPITAL FOR SICK CHILDREN. ..!: ;! i J: ; " The establishment of a Children's Hospital, while proving an estimable boon to themselves and their distressed parents, must also tend greatly to the advancement of medical know- ledge In this important department of infantile diseases." — The late Sir John Forbes. The next letter brought us great gladness, not only for the gift, and the proffered valuable aid, but for its hearty tone. February ist, 1875. Dear Madam, — In my place in Church yesterday I found your admirable appeal to the Christian public on ? ehalf of the Hospital for Young Children, and I now beg to enclose herein the sum of $5 as a first contribution towards this most excellent and Christian undertak- ing ; at the same time I beg leave to say that the firm to Vvhich I belong (W. & S.) will be most happy to present to the Hospital, when required, a cook stove, either for wood or coal, with all necessary fur- niture, etc., only making this condition, that no public recognition be made of this small gift. " He that giveth let him do it with simpli- city." Your proposed work is indeed "seed of the Lord's planting," and will most assuredly grow and prosper, a blessing and comfort to all who interest themselves in it. Hoping to hear from you that the stove, which our men will put up for you, is required at once, and wish- ing you all succe.ss in this most excellent work, I remain, dear Madam, R. S. And now ANOTHER THOUGHT came into our minds, as the vision of our friends' stove in some cosey kitchen rose up to view, viz., " What about sheets, and pillow-cases, and night-dresses, and all sorts of such like mat- ters for these little ones who will be sent to us ?" Why not ask the Lord to send us " some material, and some kind fingers to put it in shape ?" So we did ; and laid these requests before Him, with thanksgiving. By-and-by the Lord sent us cheering letters from distant friends, about this very matter. Lakefield, .Ont., N. Douro, Feb., 1875. Dear Madam, — We are about to try to get up a Juvenile Dorcas Society amongst the Sunday School children in the parish, and the charity for which your circular (received yesterday) suggests help, seems to offer a good object for which to work. May I ask what kind of things would be most useful to you, and also of what materials ? Allow me to offer you and those ladies with whom you are acting in this matter, my hearty sympathy and my best wishes for your success. I am, etc., G. S. E» A RETROSPECT. g COLLINGWOOD, Feb. i2th, 1875. T ^/^r ^i^°^M,-I address you as the Secretary of the contemplated Institution for the nursing of sick children. Mrs. R. has a large Bible class of young ladies She was telling them about your movement on behalf of the sick children. Some of them purposed that they should do something. Several things have already been oflFered-a pockI crib pillows, night-dresses etc. They purpose getting up the bed com- plete, and perhaps sending a little assistance further when the Institu- tion is fairly started. * ♦ ♦ '"'' ^"^luu Yours sincerely, R. r. Lakettield. Dear Madam,— I have packed and sent off a small parcel of clothes etc. for the Children's Hospital. They will leave Pete?- borough I hope by to-morrow's (Wednesday) express, all charges paid and I shall be glad to receive a line from you to say that thev I^^'^fl' 'i^K ^}^'V^ ^ ^'"'^^ f"^ ^3 garments of different stages and sizes and besides these several small articles, which it was consid- Soi?.^ T "^.'gl^t find useful for some of the children outside the Hospital, if not inside. I am afraid after waiting so long you mav be expecting more and better things, but we are only a small community, and have aone the best we could. We shall not fou et that you will require a constant supply of such things for carrying on the Hospital, and If at any time you have any special needs we hope you will let us know, and if we are in a position to help you, we will try to do so. VVishmg you m the meantime every success with the work you have taken m hand, ■' I am, yours, etc., G. T. C. Toronto, Feb. 27th, 1875. Dear Madam,— Will you kindly use the accompanying small sum of money for the use of the Hospital for Sick Children.^ It is the pr^ v^rv'n?/.n "^^'i^ tfJ'^^^L^''^ "i"^ y^^'' °'^' herself a delicate and, very often, a sick child She wishes her little books and texts to be given to any suffering little one who may care to have them. Mav every success attend this Institution in aid of poor helpless children, lliis letter had no name or Post Office box. . Toronto, Feb. 19th, 1875. Ihe following was received enclosing $8, Dear Mrs. McM.,— h,nclosed please find what was handed me last evening for " The Lord's Hospital for Sick ChilJren." «=-«-f'«j Yours, J. p. Having progressed thus far, our receipts amounting to $277.79, besides materials of various kinds, and some articles of furni- 10 HOSPITAL FOR SICK CHILDREN. ture, we called a meeting at Shaftesbury Hall on February 12th, 1875* to give information relative to our "wants, plans and pur- poses," and to show how far the Lord had answered our prayers. Now, all this time we had not engaged our Cottage, nor had we made any arrangement about our Nurse ; a little cottage and a nurse being the extent of our vision at first ; but as money began to flow in, and encouragements in the way of furnishing were added ; we began to feel it would never do to take less than a fair-sized house, and look out for a good matron ; so we were soon praying and looking around, in every quiet street through which we walked, for a house. We made very satis- factory arrangements with a Christian woman as NURSE, who cheerfully agreed to cast in her lot with us, and the house was also found soon after, No. 31 Avenue Street. It contained eleven rooms, and was sufficiently well adapted for our purpose- And now, in March 1875, came a ver>- practical test, viz., to sign uie lease thereof for two years at a rental of $320 per an- num. The stove, so kindly and cheeringly offered, was taken in and set up, together with another ; and our furniture and six little iron cots for the sufferers, of which we had had a promise of nine, were soon nicely arranged ; each little cot had its tray, which is made to slide up and down at the pleasure of the patient, with its toys or books within reach. With our Hospital thus sufficiently furnished for a start, all arrangements were made for a dedication of the work and the workers to tlie Lord, when another demand on our faith was made, in seeing our Matron laid low on a bed of sickness, and within ten days " the Lord who had given, had taken away ;" and instead of having her to do the work of a Nurse, we had to nurse her. She left her furniture to the Hospital, at her death, for the purpose of aiding' the work; and the woman we engaged to nurse her, we retained as Matron On the 23rd March, 1875, .'> A RETROSPECT. j| a day long to be remembered by us, the Hospital was opened with a Service of Prayer and Praise by many Christian friends assembled, who sympathized with the work, and entered into our joy at thus beholding the long thought of and much prayed for work fairly started in the Name of the Lord. And now a word about OUR LITTLE INMATES. We had gone to many places in Toronto, telling the poor all about the contemplated work ; and from them we had received the promise of nine little sufferers. But when the House was opened, not one of them came. Again and again we went, begging the parents to send them, but all to no pur- pose : till at last we betook ourselves to prayer concerning the suffering little ones, and very soon came answers. Our first patient was little Maggie, aged three years, who had fallen backward into a tub of hot water, and was badly scalded. She had been left in the care of an elder sister while the mother was earning bread for the family. This case seemed an answer to the oft put question, "Are not the mothers the best ones to take care their children when sick.?" Our hearts would say "yes," but our experience too often says "no," they have neither the skill nor time to nurse the little ones, and hence the latter often suffer from severe accidents, or grow up cripples, and a large percentage of them perish be- fore they are able to tak« care of themselves. A party of nine young ladies who had ;.;; n working during the winter for the Tsenefit of the Hospital, immediately claimed Maggie as their special charge, and agreed to keep her cot, by a payment of one hundred dollars a year— the estimated cost of each patient. It is now known in the Hospital as " The Consolidated Cot:' The next day brought Albert, a little German of four years, with a complication of diseases, and altogether a sad, sick little fellow. He was followed by Alice, a poor girl of about 1 5 years. 12 HOSPITAL FOR SICK CHILDREN. 1 f IH frightfully burned by the explosion of a coal oil lamp. She was brought on a stretcher, utterly helpless, and sufifering agonies. After constant care night and day, with unremitting attention from the attendant physicians, Alice recovered completely, and left the Hospital a short time since to take a situation as an under nurse. We must here bear testimony to the truths of the promise : " If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in Heaven." The doctors had said that a water-bed for Alice would give her great relief We felt that this was not a neces- sity, and that therefore money, sent for the support of the children ought not to be used for such a purpose. But " God will provide" — and the want being laid before Him, a few days after, one of the consulting physicians hearing of the patient's case, offered the use of one he had, as long as she should need it. " Call upon me and I will answer," saith the God of Abra- ham and Elijah. Next came Willie and Joe, from the General Hospital, both cases of hip disease. Many who visit the General Hospital will remember bright-eyed Willie ; he remained with us five months and a half, and was sent home very much relieved and able to walk with the help of a splint. Then came Tom. A fall had changed this poor little fellow from a bright healthy child, to a forlorn little creature ; not able to raise himself from the floor. His intelligence and winsome ways have made him a household pet, and the care and good food he has had for nine months have done wonders for him, and now he can walk about, and enjoys life immensely. Tom so won the hearts of the young ladies of Rolleston House that they decided "to keep a cot," choosing Tom as their first patient. Space would fail us to write of each one ; but we cannot pass our little Emily, a sweet child, who had been confined to her bed for three years, just half her short life. This was another case of A RETROSPECT. 13 hip disease. After treatment fcr several months, it was decided by the consulting physicians that an operation was necessary. When everything was ready, it was very touching to hear the dear child ; her beautiful eyes raised to heaven, prayincr " Lord Jesus, help me to bear it." *" The operation was most successfully performed. ^^ We had been also much exercised about the thought of a " Committee " to assist in the work. Many had offered their services, both to work and to collect funds. Many had urged us to put the Hospital under very distinguished Patronage • with a select Committee of wealthy influential personages. Of course we saw one side of such instrumentalities, but with it we saw the usual machinery of collectors, and appliances, and urgent appeals to the public ; so we declined all offers of such service- Just at this time we received the following from another worker of the Lord ; which cheered and strengthened us : Chicago, Oct. 27th, 1875. Dear Madam -Your kind favor of 24th Inst, is just received with a great deal of pleasure. Thank tlie Lord who put it into your heart to begin this work m the way in which you did ; I am convinced it is the true way to carry on benevolent enterprise, though it meets with much opposition from people professedly Christian. God rvill bUss such Sr'* 2"^!^ '^py°"r experience is like mine, if will not be without and all engaged in u!'""^ ' ^"^ '"'^ abundantly bless your work, I remain yours very truly, Geo. E. Shipman, " FoundHngs' Home." Although we had not accepted the offers made to us in kind- ness to form an influential COMMITTEE, For the reasons above stated ; yet we received varied help at different times from Christian women, and eventually several of them were allied with us, so that from two, we became a little band united together in this work of Faith. This we found helpful ; not only because of the increase of work upon our I m m j^ HOSPITAL FOR SICK CHILDREN. hands, but also in our mutual approaches to the Throne of Grace These Christian women aid in many ways. Some can work; some can pray, and gather others to pray ; some can nurse well, feed and care for, and tend the little sufferers. What we needed, was a band of praying, working Christians, who had simple confidence in God. Such will ever aid whenever He shall send them. More Love ! More Faith ! More Prayer ! is our need. What- ever we need we have learned to ask for it. Towels sheets, quilts, whatever we require, to the needed number. We were sadly in want of a mangle. We asked for it ; it was sent. If we need such things, we do not take the money that comes for daily bread ; but we make known our special requests to God, and await replies, which are sure to come in due time ; and then our joyfu^ hearts flow out in praise. Wrote a lady to us from Sarnia. concerning the effect this work had upon her school children's minds : " zi seemed to waken new thoughts in some of them as to the power of prayer:^ It has done so in our own case, with the additional experience of new joy in praise. It awakens blessed thoughts in the minds of the little sufferers also. A Lady writes, (in her account^of a visit to the Hospital), that whilst sitting by a little patient, the door bell rang, and several voices in conversation were plainly discernible. ' Oh !' said one very sweet and winning child, ' I know what it is ; the ladies are coming to prayJ' Still bent upon the acquiring of information by the use of all legitimate means, we cautiously inquired,-" and what, can you tell us, do these ladies come here to pray for ? " At this manifestation of our deplorable ignorance, a little prattler looked up mysteriously, and said : " They come to pray, for money, to get us all the nice things we want to make us well." " Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise." No need to doubt, that, in after years these children would despise the pri- vilege of prayer, or lose faith in its efficacy." A RETROSPECT. 15 ■ In this little retrospect of the way in which the Lord was leading us, and has still led us, it may not be out of place to record a few of our many ANSWERS TO PRAYER. Some talk of wonderful answers, as if it were " wonderful " to get answers. The way may be wonderful whereby the answers come, but not so are answers. It surely would be wonderful if answers did not come from The Faithful Promiser. Said one of old, after making his morning prayer to Jehovah, '^ I will look out^^—i. e., for the favor requested.— Ps. v. : " I stood amazed, and whispered, ' Can it be That He hath granted all the boon I sought ? How wonderful that He for me hath wrought ! How wonderful that He hath answered me ! ' O faithless heart : He said that He would hear And answer thy poor prayer, and He hath heard And proved His promise. Wherefore didst thou dou])t ? Why marvel that thy Lord hath kept his word ? More wonderful if He should fail to bless Expectant faith and prayer with good success. " Delays are not denials ; and denials, when everything seems fair to bring about our desires, are answers ; and, as Dr. CuUis stated concerning his well-known work of Faith and Love in Boston, U. S. : "I never found a thing denied or thwarted by the Lord, but something better was given in its place." Our Hospital had, after a while, been removed from ji Avenue street to 206 Seaton street, where a detached house, with some ground adjoining, was found apparently more suitable for the little ones. The property was valued at about $6,000. Much and special prayer was made that, if in accord- ance with our Heavenly Fa 's will, a fund might be opened foi its purchase. We prayed long on this subject, but not one cent came for it ; and so we were set thinking. After a while,, on more careful consideration, it became apparent to the i6 HOSPITAL FOR SICK CHILDREN. m managers, that the house on Season street, though detached, and possessing the hixury of a large and pleasantly shaded play-ground, was unsuitable in every other respect for hospital purposes, being wholly destitute of conveniences, especially necessary for the medical attendance and careful nursing of sick children. After much serious and prayerful consideration, it was decided at one of the monthly meetings, that at the earliest possible opportunity, the Hospital should be removed to more desirable premises. On the evening of the same day, one of the members of the Committee, when retiring to rest, was led to seek very earnestly the guidance of God in this important matter, and to specially request, that, if the decision of the afternoon was according to His wili, the Lord would direct to a more suitable building. The last remembered feel- ing, before sleep visited the eyes, was, of entire and constant dependence upon God,—** Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you." Some hours after, in a moment of wake- fulness, the following thought was very vividly presented to the mind : " The building formerly occupied by the Protestant Sisterhood, on Elizabeth street, is vacant, would it not answer for the Hospital ?" This suggestion was at once taken to God, with the additional request that if the impression was from Him, some friend might be sent in the morning who, at this critical juncture, might be both able and willing to give either advice or assistance. This prayer was also answered ; before ID o'clock a. m. a friend did call, and the first question after the interchange of greetings was, " Can I aid you in any way with the work of the Hospital ?" The experience of the previous afternoon and evening was related, immediate inquiries were made, and before night it was ascertained that the building referred to, on Elizabeth street, was particularly adapted for an hospital, and available upon easy terms. Negotiations were at once entered upon, so that the above- mentioned property, consisting of land running from Elizabeth street to Emma street, with the buildings thereon, viz., the main I! A RETROSPECT. '7 building, now used as the ** Hospital for Sick Children," and a cottage fronting on Emma street, could be conveyed to Trustees for the Hospital. At one of the usual meetings for prayer, this report was considered, and the Committee decided to secure the property; though they possessed not a dollar, cither for the purchase or the needed alterations. Prayer for money for the building was now made ; and God was entreated to send, through His people, the sum requisite, but especially the first payment due on the ist May, 1878. No response came to this urgent cry| but we continued instant in prayer for the funds till the first Thursday in April ; and on that day we decided to cease asking ; for, said we, " it is a deep need, the Lord knows it, and has heard us." But we said to Him, " Be graciously pleased to send us some earnest money, even though it be but one dollar, towards this greatly needed object." The days passed on ;— Monday, no rt^\y '—Tttesday, gth April, a letter came, and, with joyous hearts, we read : — " jARVis Street, April 8th, 1878. " Madam,— I have much pleasure in handing you the enclosed cheque for $50.00 towards the amount required for immediate exigen- cies m connection with the Elizabeth Street property. "Yours, C. S. P." Our next day for meeting was Thursday, April 11, and the Diary of that day thus records :— " Met for prayer and sincere thanksgiving for the striking answer to our supplication received during the week. We are satisfied that the $50 just contributed, is but an 'earnest' of the entire cost of the property, which ir God's good time will come into our treasury. While engageo united prayer, a lady (one of the members of Committee)' cau in with the comforting intelligence, that a few kind Christian friends had made known to her their intention of contributing the $500 needed for the first payment on the property." The next day, April 12^ the Diary reads : " A simple state- ment of work accomplished by the Hospital for Sick Children, having been handed to the City Council, by request, through A 2 18 HOSPITAL FOR SICK CHILDREN. f. one of the ladies connected with the Committoe, the sum of $250.00 was given by the Council to the Institution. Decided to apply this amount to the Building Fund, and not make use of any portion of it, to defray current expenses." The request came from the Mayor, who asked why we never applied for assistance, as did others ? We replied, " We don't ask people for money for this work, we believe it is a work of God, and we ask Him to supply our needs." He requested a plain state- ment of the facts respecting the Hospital, what work it had done, etc. ; and the above gift was the result. " Only believe.' The city voted an additional $100 to this amount in 1880. In connection with this Building, into which, with much kind help, by the good Hand of our God upon us, we removed the little sufferers in May, 1878, the following statement may be of service :— " March 1st, 1878. «' My Dear Madam,— The amount to be paid to clear off all demands on the House 011 Elizabeth Street is under $2,500. The building actually cost $3,400 and the land was a gift. There will be no difficulty in arranging for the transfer of the property to the Children's Hospital, if the Managers of that Institution decide to accept it. The debt, or at all events $2,000 of it, car f main secured by a Mortgage to the Imperial Building Society, and you cun .ay by monthly instalments, if that should be preferable to at» -lopfuig raise the money at once. The instalments and insurance wuula be about $^0.00 a month for about ten years. ^ o t> n ^^ "Yours truly, C. S. P." When the property was assumed in April, the monthly in- stalmertti ^i't, to fall due amounted on the first mortgage to $2,52(', v;«' on ^'ae second to $139 50, being in all $2,659 50 for princi]- uJ .ind interest, representing a principal sum of about $1,800. Besides this, however, there were instalments in arrear to something over $140, and the $300 debt, making the whole amount assumed apart from interest, about $2,240. The alterations and additions necessary to adapt the build- ing to the purposes of the Hospital involved an outlay of about $600 ; and heating apparatus had to be provided at a further A RETROSPECT, 19 expense of $250 ; thus bringing up the total cost of the premises to the Hospital to about $3,100. The immediate exigencies have been met by money contri- buted by friends of the Hospital to the liuilding Fund ; the amount so contributed including a grant of $250 from the city has been $950. The monthly instalments upon the mortgages, which are $28 30, are paid as part of the ordinary expenses of the Hos- pital, and do not much exceed a moderate rent for the pre- mises. At the end of 1878, the instalments yet to fall due upon the mortgages, amounted to $2,433 10. The amount which would be rec|uircd in cash to pay this off would be about $1,800. It has been suggested that if this state of the account were known, the friends of the Hospital would prefer paying it off, and leaving the property free of debt ; and in fact a portion of the sum of $950 above mentioned was contributed expressly towards this scheme. Mr. Henry O'Brien, Barrister, one of the trustees, has acted as Treasurer of the Building Fund, and contributions may be sent cither to him or to the Secretary. The Diary continues. " Oct. ig—Meeting for prayer ; Hos- pital very cold ; stoves or furnace required immediately. Cost of new furnace $250 ; and we have nothing in the treasury save what is needed for daily bread. After a prayerful considera- tion of the matter, have decided to order the furnace, trusting God for the means wherewith to pay." The following corres- pondence is piesented to show that our Heavenly Father has many ways of answering the prayers of His people : Toronto, Oct. 19th, 1878. "Dear Sir,— Your tender for putting the furnace in the ' Plospital for Sick Children' has been accepted, but before you commence work we think it but right to make very plain to you the principle upon which our Institution is worked, and the source from which we get our money, wherewith to pay for work like this, and all our incidental expenses. We send by same nost our last report (to save much writinj'i and beg that you will read it carefully through. As you will observe,' I ( 20 HOSPITAL FOR SICK CHILDREN. we get our money only as the Lord sends it, and that is in answer to believing prayer. Since the beginning of the year we have undertaken the purchase of the house on Elizabeth Street. The first payments have been made, and all the repairs and alterations to the extent of $700 ; and all this money has been received in answer to prayer. When we said we would buy the house we had no money. We le.t the matter before the Thro'e of God, and though we asked Him, be- lievingly, to send this money for three months, it came to us cnly a few days before the payment was to be made. The case stands the same now,— we have no money. The Lord seldom sends us a surplus, but He has never let us want any necessary thing. We consider it right to make this statement to you before you commenced work, that you might either work, trusting God for the money, as we do, or not at all. We would like to hear from you by Wednesday noon, as our committee meets for prayer in the afternoon, when your letter could be read, and, if agreeable, work commenced at once. May God lead you to a decision that will be for His glory, and your good. Sincerely yours, , Secretary J" Toronto, 21st Oct., 1878. "Dear Madam, — I have your note of 19th inst., and feel very certain that He who has stood your friend so far, will not forget the promise we all have, that He will hear the prayer of those who ask faithfully in His Name. " The furnace has been ordered for you, and you may rely on my waiting patiently until your Committee are in funds to pay me. "Wishing your work all the prosperity and success it is worthy of, " I remain, " Yours sincerely, "R. S." Money in answer to our petitions came in for this object ; and our last payment of $65 was made on August 5, 1879. One more glance at the Diary for the past six years in this Retrospect, and we have done; for neither time nor space will allow us to tell a hundredth part of the Lord's goodness, nor our thankfulness for the much joy we have received in His work, and in waiting upon Him in confidence ; for it has been sweet work to see His Loving and Wise Hand in all things. These CONCLUDING EXTRACTS We give for the cheer of any fellow Christians who may be N A RETROSPECT. 21 either working for Him, waiting on Him, or pondering some path of Faith which seems to be opening up for them to walk therein. " Among the bed-ridden sufferers, one was an idiotic boy of tender years, a case for an Asyhun rather than for a Sick Children's Hospital • as the presence of such a fretful, moaning, helpless, little suffered, had a depressing mfluence upon the occupants of surrounding cots This boy had been deserted by his parents, who had run away from the country; and was reported as too young for admission into an Idiotic Asylum," consequently the child, from all we could ascertain, unless cared for by ladies connected with the management of the Hospital, must have been shelterless, or as an only alternative confined in the common Jad. For months we corresix)nded with all the different institutions in Canada, in order to find him a proper home ; but all was unavailing. We would have to keep him at least two years longer, they said At wlr.rr'^f.!'" I'T '^'^ i^^'J-^e^ of special prayer; and although letter after let er had passed with officials, it was agreed that the Secretary should there and then go and see the Inspector of Asylums. Ihe Secretary went down, saw the Inspector ; and though he had ab- solutely refused before to receive the lad on account of aje, he acceded to our request ; and wf. were made glad both for ourselves and the child." Again,— H.il A'"* ^^'^l' , ^"''^ """'I ""^ T^^ ^""^ P^'^yer to ask each day our daily bread : tmly we need to depend on Thee, O Father, for no money has been received all this week, except fifty cents. We again laid our wants before the Great Creator, and resting on His own word claimed the promise, "As thy .lay so shall thy strength be" 'Oh Lord we are needy there are many sick little ones depending on Thee for all necessaries.' ^ *• April 28th. Letter received from Mrs. , of Toronto de- siring to keep a cot in memory of four little children whom God 'had taken to Himself, and enclosing first quarterly payment for same, $2