THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL. 
SECOND SERIES. 
YOL. VIII.—No. VI.—DECEAIBER, 1866. 
THE BENEVOLENT EUND DINNER. 
Our readers will see in the Transactions published in the present number of 
our Journal a resolution of the Council proposing that a public dinner shall 
take place early in 1867 in aid of the Benevolent Fund. 
It is nearly nineteen years since the IMembers of the Pharmaceutical Society 
dined together, under the able chairmanship of Mr. Morson, with the view of 
enriching the exchequer of this Fund ; therefore it cannot be said the Council 
are precipitate in the matter,—indeed the very opposite accusation has from time 
to time been heard among the Members, but from various causes it has not been 
thought expedient to hold such a festival until now. 
Our readers are familiar with the good that has been effected,—that a few of 
the aged have been provided with annuities of £30 each; that two orphans 
have been placed in homes, where they are boarded, clothed, and educated; that, 
in numerous instances, persons whose age is under fifty years have had sub¬ 
stantial donations from the Council; aud that in no one case, proper and eligi¬ 
ble for relief, has it been asked in vain. 
As time rolls on, however, some of the earlier Members and Associates of the 
Society, who have been unsuccessful in life, or by sickness and affliction incapa¬ 
citated for business, may be expected to stand in greater need of assistance from 
this Fund, and the pressure consequently will be sensibly felt unless an effort 
be now made to augment the invested capital to ten thousand pounds, the 
sum originally contemplated as a Foundation for annuities. 
It is absolutely essential, then, that we should be prepared to meet the de¬ 
mands upon our resources which each successive year will assuredly bring forth ; 
and we fervently hope that the opportunity of joining in the good work will 
have the hearty co-operation of every Member and Associate of the Society, and, 
judging from evidence before us, of non-members also. 
From those in slender circumstances we have no right to expect more than a 
small contribution ; but this we may fairly hope for on the twofold grounds of 
duty and prudence. From the more opulent we devoutly hope we shall have 
energetic assistance. If, through the kindness of Providence, they have looked 
on better days than their fellows,— 
“ If ever been where bells have knoll’d to church, 
If ever sat at any good man’s feast, 
If ever from their eyelids wiped a tear. 
Or know what ’tis to pity and bo pitied,”— 
then, indeed, we are assured that the reflections induced will “our strong 
enforcement be ” in enlisting their best sympathies and most strenuous exertions 
in the cause before us. 
A communication to the Secretary during the present month will procure the 
insertion of the names of those willing to serve in the first List of Stewards. 
The liability for the Stewardship will be confined to the cost of the Dinner Ticket. 
YOL. YIII. Y 
