PROCEEDINGS FOR 1897 CLIII 



I can only thus, in the short time at my disposal, give you a bird's 

 eye peep of the educational institutions of our city — they are now pretty 

 complete, and every boy and girl is afforded an opportunity of being well 

 equipped for the journey of life, without any cost to the parents, beyond 

 what they may contribute as their quota of the local rates. 



I have referred to some of the philanthropists who have endowed 

 schools ; but time would fail me to tell of the numberless institutions of 

 a philanthropic chai'acter which Ihe city possesses — instances seem to 

 meet you in every ancient street — alms-houses abound as residences for 

 aged people, and under the direction of the charity trustees, many old 

 people receive annuities to comfort their declining years. 



At this point it may be convenient for me to refer to a remarkably 

 extensive pile of buildings, situate on Ashley Hill, one of the highest 

 points in the city. They are known as MuUer's Orphanages. Mr. 

 Muller is a minister of the Plymouth Brethren sect and came to Bristol 

 in 1832 ; in 1835 he opened an orphanage for thirty girls, and although 

 he never asked any one for money, he received all he required. From 

 this humble beginning he has proceeded step by step until to-day 

 he has accommodation for 2,050 boys and girls. His buildings have 

 been erected in the plainest possible style, but still have cost £115,000, 

 and the weekly cost of maintenance is now about £500. He has received 

 for his orphans about £1,000,000 sterling. He has no endowment, but 

 depends for the future, as in the past, entirely on the prayers of faith. 



The sole conditions for the admission of an inmate, which have never 

 varied from the outset, is that the child shall have been born in wedlock, 

 shall have lost both parents and shall be destitute. 



Speaking generally, I may safely assume that a no more remarkable 

 or unique institution can be found anywhere. 



Mr. Muller is still living and vigorous, is well over 90 years of age, 

 and preaches regulai'ly every Sunday. 



The medical charities of the city are of a very tirst-class character. 

 The five great institutions are : the Bristol Eoyal Infirmary, the Bristol 

 General Hospital, the Bristol Children's Hospital, the Bristol Eye Hos- 

 pital, and the Bristol General Dispensary. 



At the first four named institutions persons are treated both as out 

 and in-patients ; from the last named medical men visit the holders of 

 tickets at their homes. In addition to this, the city is studded with 

 smaller dispensaries, homes for cripple children and friendless girls, and 

 has various other institutions too numerous to mention. 



Any one who has occupied the position which my friend Mr. Barker 

 and myself have occupied, and been made acquainted with the inner 

 work of these philanthropic societies of our city life, has often had 

 reason to be thankful that there is so much that is kind, sympathetic 

 and thoughtful yet left in human nature. 



