WASH AND BE CLEAN. 
249 
raised in vain, and in God’s mercy we have been entirely 
spared during the pestilence that has surrounded us.” 
This sermon on the prophet’s words to Naaman, “ Wash 
and be clean,” raised a great stir at the time. The Dean 
showed how frequent and repeated were the purifications 
and bodily washings “enjoined under the Mosaic Law,” 
and how important the small details of cleanliness are 
for us all. 
“ The greater number of the poor who perish,” he said, 
“ are the victims of the avarice and neglect of small land¬ 
lords and owners of the filthy, ill-ventilated habitations in 
which the poorest and most ill-fed and helpless are compelled 
to dwell. Fatal diseases are continually engendered from 
lack of adequate supplies of water, withholden from the 
dwellings of the poor by the negligence of the owners, or 
by the jealousy of interference by public officers or public 
Boards of Health with parochial or with city authorities, or 
with privileges or corporations, or with places and per¬ 
quisites of individuals, or with established companies. It 
will be the fault of man, of the selfishness, or the folly, 01- 
avarice of the owners of poor houses, or of the jealousy 
or pride of officers and interested individuals, and it will 
be the fault of Parliament also, if we do not instantly 
begin to remedy these crying evils, if in two or three years 
our city is not duly supplied with water. Above all things, 
cleanse your hearts, and not your garments only, and turn 
unto the Lord your God.” 
The offertory on this occasion was for the widows and 
orphans of those who had died of the cholera in West¬ 
minster. 
In medical science Dean Buckland felt a special interest. 
His son Frank writes :— 
“ During my career at St. George’s Hospital he took the 
