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CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL SUNDAY.
Many years ajjo the fir?t Sunday in
March was designated as 'Children's Hos
pital Sunday' by tbe concurrent action or
consent of the heads of churches. The ob
ject was to specify a time for presenting
the «ise of the institution, which has the
interests of sick children especially in ita
charge, before tbe young people in the
Sunday schools, and making collections
in behalf of its funds. Absolutely simul
taneous' action is impossible, because of
conflicting local arrangements, but in cases
where the particular Sunday is unsuitable
it is usually practicable to select another
for the purpose. Tlie Roman Catholic
Church, for example, finds March, incon
venient, and a later period is chosen, the
tame being appointed by the Archbishop.
There is a double advantage in Uie obser
vance of a Children's Hospital Sunday, for
the development of active sympathy for
afflicted . little ones on the part of boys
and girls is a good thing, and substantial
assistance is obtained in their behalf. Part
ly for this reason the, movement has taken
Btronu hold on the Sunday schools. Last
year '425 of them took part in it, and the
amount collected— almost entirely in small
sums— was £335. It happens that the cen
tenary of the British and Foreign Bible
Society, will occur -next Sunday; but,
to prevent two worthy objects interfering
with each other, it ia eugRested that Sun
day- schools taking place in the centenary
celebration should select another Sunday
in March. The claims of the Children's
Hospital are too well known to require en
forcement. Last year the daily average of
in-patients was 71, and of attendances at
the out-door dispensary 26, the total num.
her in tbe one ca?e being 704 and in the
other 8,329. There were 460 surgical ope
rations, and even when stated in. their
baldest form, these figures impressively in
dicate the importance of the work which
.is being- done for, the suffering children of
the poor.
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