Bendigo Advertiser (Vic.

: 1855 - 1918), Friday 20 December 1872, page 3

THE BENEVOLENT ASYLUM

LAYING THE MEMORIAL STONE
The memorial stone of the Bendigo Benevolent
Asylum and Sandhurst Industrial School was laid
yesterday afternoon by the hon. J. F. Sullivan.
There was a good
attendance, considering

that is was

a business day, but not so as

many was
expected
taking into account the interest and importance of
the occasion. Among those present were most of
the members of the Board of Management of the
Asylum and several of the Hospital Committee; Crs.
Aspinall, Vahland, and Hattam were the only civic
functionaries whom we noticed; whilst the
Marong
Shire represented
was by Mr.
Marrack, and the

Huntly Shire by Mr Warren, the respective secre-

taries of those bodies. The clergy were
represented
by

the Rev. Dr.

and the Rev. Fathers Backhaus
McNabb and minister of O'Connell; no the Pro-

testant church put in an appearance. At one time

seemed as if it was going to be a
affair; but
it

by half-past two o'clock there

tame
was muster of

good a
ladies and gentlemen, and the initiatory proceed-
were
ings enlivened by some fine music discoursed
by arrived Hallas City Band, which
marched up Barnard

the asylum playing,

 

street,and at "Cheer,  

Boys, Cheer." The children of the Industrial
School, under the superintendance of Mr. and Mrs. quarters and

Dorman, were marched out of their

arranged themselves in semi-circular order in front
scene
of the building, close to the of the ceremony.
The memorial stone forms part of one of the right
hand pillars at the entrance, and it was decided
to lay it in connection with the completion of
some extensive improvements at present being car-
ried out. The original design of the front elevation
of the building is being carried out;
and hence the stone
necessity of laying memorial
in commemora- a
tion of the establishment of the institution. The
is of granite beautifully polished,
stone and bears
the following simple inscription, which is chiselled
interiors
the letters
the
and the
rock,
 
in of laid in
gold:-- "Bendigo Benevolent Asylum, founded 19th
October, 1857. This memorial stone laid 19th
December,

1872."   o'clock President

At half past two the of the

asylum, accompanied by several members of the

board, escorted the hon. Mr Sullivan to the stone,
"See conquering

the band playing the hero  

comes."  

Mr. James Burnside, the hon. secretary, read the

following document, which was then placed into
cavity:--
the
"This Institution,
the Bendigo Benevolent
founded October,

on 19th day
Asylum, was the of  
A.D. 1857, by the election of the following gentle-
men as office-bearers:--

"Trustees: William Harris, Esq.; Angus

Mackay, Esq.; Lewis Macpherson,
"President: Sullivan,
Esq.
J. F.

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Bendigo Advertiser (Vic. : 1855 - 1918), Friday 20 December 1872, page 3 (2)

"President: Sullivan,

J. F.  
"Vice-
Esq.    

Presidents: J. J. Casey, Esq.

Standish, Esq.  

 

"
Committee of Management:.Messrs. Peerman,
Gavin Gibson, James Skinner, Samuel Macord,
William Bannerman, Henry Marks, J. H. Abbott,
John Hasker, James Burnside; James Skene,
Daniel Grove,

George Elliott, J. H. O'Loughlin,

Henry Jackson, John Ganley, Thomas Carpenter,

William Gunn, T. Ballerstedt, jun., Robert Strick-
land, Thomas Swift, William Dunbar, Thomas
Ronald, and Dr. Callan.
"Previous to the above a date fund --as a

nucleus-had been; raised by voluntary contribu-

tions, through the exertions of a few gentlemen,
assisted by the perseverence and indefatigable in
dustry of Mrs. Caudle; wife of Dr. Caudle, of the
White Hills; and other ladies, which induced
the
 

committee to apply to the Government for a piece

of ground for a site, and a grant-in-aid to erect a

suitable building for the reception of the destitute.

"The Government having complied with the
request of the committee, plans prepared by Robt.
A. Love, Esq., C.E., were adopted, and a portion
of the building, as designed, was completed, and
opened for the reception of applicants on the fif
teenth (15th) day of March, one thousand eight
hundred and sixty (1860), Mr. and Mrs. William
Dorman being respectively the first superintendent
and matron.
institution
"At
first
the was as a   intended home

for the aged, infirm, and destitute; but afterwards

it was found that many deserving persons, such as
widows with families, and married people, and
others, required aid, although not entire support.
The committee then commenced to distribute out
door relief, which being given in kind (not moneys)
has to a very great extent prevented imposture,
while it has ameliorated. the condition of the
necessitous.
 

genuine  

"At the request of the committee a Crown grant

was issued by the Government in the name of the
trustees, dated the sixth (6th) day of June, one
thousand eight hundred and sixty (1860).
"From requirements
time, meet
time to to the  
of the district, additions have been made to the
building in accordance with plans prepared by Mr.
R. A. Love and Messrs. Vahland and Getzschmann,
architects.
November,
day

"On the fifth (5th) of one  

thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight (1868), a

portion of the building-the western wing-was

set apart as an Industrial School, and fifty (50)
girls received from Melbourne
were to occupy it;

from that time the institution has been named the

Bendigo Benevolent Asylum and Sandhurst Indus
trial
School.
   

"On erecting a portico in front of the building,

it
was deemed advisable by the committee of
management to insert a memorial stone, which was
laid this nineteenth (19th) day of December,
Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and
thirty-fifth
(1872),
two
seventy

reign
being the year  
the of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen

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Bendigo Advertiser (Vic. : 1855 - 1918), Friday 20 December 1872, page 3 (3)

reign

the of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen

Victoria, by the Honorable J. P. Sullivan, the first

institution; underneath:
the  
of
President

and this
stone are deposited, along with this document,
each,
Argus, Herald,  
one
copy the Age, and
Daily Telegraph, newspapers published in Mel-
bourne, and the BENDIGO ADVERTISER, Indepen-
dent, Evening News, and Evening Star,
newspapers

  current
published in Sandhurst;  
as also the coins
of the realm, sovereign, one half namely, one
sovereign (gold). one crown, one half-crown, one
florin, one shilling, one sixpence, one fourpence,
one threepence, one twopence (silver). one penny,
one halfpenny (bronze).
"The number of inmates in the institution at
this date are fifty-seven six women, and one
men,
hundred and fifty children.
"This

Governor colony patron this  

the
of and of  

institusion is Viscount K.C.B.

Canterbury,
"The Chief Secretary of the colony, is the hon.
Goodall Francis.
J.
"
The Member of the Legislative
Council for
this district (being the North-Western
Province)
are -The honorable Nicholas Fitzgerald, Alexander
Mitchell,

Fraser, Francis Robertson,, William H.F.  

William Campbell. Assembly for
"The
Member
of the Legislative
the Sandhurst Boroughs are -- Robert Burrowes,
 
Esq. hon. Angus Minister of
the Mackay,
J.P.;

Mines. For Mandurang--The hon. J. J. Casey,

Commissioner of Crown Lands and Survey; Thomp
son Moore, Esq., J.P.
The Mayor of the City of Sandhurst is Dugald
Macdougall, Esq., J.P.
"The George

Town Clerk is Avery Fletcher.  

Esq. bearers

Office- The of Bendigo Benevolent

the
Asylum and Sandhurst Industrial School are : -

"Trustees: The hon. Angus Mackay; James

Boyd. Esq., M.D., J. P.; James Burnside, Esq.
"President: Patrick Hayes, Esq. Vice presi-
dent Alexander Bayne, Esq., J.P.
:

"

Honorary Treasurer Andrew Williamson, :

Esq. Honorary Secretary James Burnside, Esq. :

"Honorary Medical Officers: Harry Leigh

Atkinson, Esq., M.D.; John Stewart, Esq.,
surgeon. Medical Officer, Industrial School: Harry
Leigh Atkinson, M.D.
"Committee Management:

of Aspinall,
George  
Esq., J. P.; James Burnside, Esq.; Andrew
Williamson, Esq.; Patrick Hayes, Esq.; William
Meader, Esq.; J. G. Dickason, Esq.; Alexander
Bayne,

Frederick
Esq., J.P.; Geo. Walter, Esq.;  
James Quin, Esq.; William Steane, Esq.; J. C.
Southam, Esq.: Moritz Cohn, Esq., J.P.
"Superintendent: Mr. William Dorman. Matron:
Mrs. William Dorman.
"Architects: Messrs. Vahland and Getzsch-
mann. Contractor Z. Button. Clerk of Works : :

William Burchill.
"PATRICK

HAYES, President.  

''ALEX. BAYNE, Vice--president.
"A. WILLIAMSON, Hon. Treasurer.
"JAMES BURNSIDE:, Hon. Secretary.

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Bendigo Advertiser (Vic. : 1855 - 1918), Friday 20 December 1872, page 3 (4)

"JAMES
"Clerk
BURNSIDE:, Hon. Secretary.
Storekeeper: Storey."

and W.  
Mr. Hayes, the he was some President, said
what disappointed the small attendance on the at
interesting occasion, but he was pleased to see Mr.
Sullivan present ready to lay the memorial stone.
(Applause.) Mr. Sullivan was one of the fathers of
local institutions, and in the early times had taken
an active part in the formation of most of them.
He was pleased, after the lapse of many years, to one of
Sullivan give finishing
see Mr. the to
stroke

their noble institutions, by laying the memorial

stone of the Bendigo Benevolent Asylum and In-
dustrial School. (Applause.) In the name of the
committee he had great pleasure in presenting Mr.
Sullivan with a trowel, requesting him to lay the
stone (Applause.) It was a silver trowel manu-
factured 1
by Mr. Swift, with the inscription: -

"

Presented to the hon. J. F. Sullivan, by the com

mittee of the Bendigo Benevolent, Asylum and
Sandhurst Industrial School, on laying the memo-
rial stone of the institution, 19th 1S72"
December,
The stone was then lowered into its place, and
Mr. Sullivan declared it well and truly laid, the
band playing the national anthem.
The Industrial School children sang "Say a
word

kind you can" after which    

when

The hon Mr. Sullivan, in commencing to address

capital

the company present,

said
philosophy
there  
was too in these word; the children had just sang
He could not the gratification he felt at
express ceremony--for

invited perform
being

to the various  

reasons. He had retired from the active arena of
 
political strife, and was now living in the shades of
private retirement, occupying no particular posi-
and
tion in society; it a to
one to think was
pleasure

that he had been remembered by his old friends

to think that he was not forgotten altogether when
absent from the scene of activity. The people of
Bendigo had been kind to him on every occasion,
for which he thanked them, and he recognised the
flattering remarks which the president had just was

 
made, and no doubt what he said a He fact.

had been identified with every movement of a

public character in the district ever since its com-
mencement; but although himself and others took
steps which secured the foundation of the institu-
tion,
yet its present flourishing and prosperous
condition was owing to the zeal and good judgment
of
succeeding committees of management. He said

honestly

  so
economically
a better
institution
and more carefully and

exist in

managed did not

the
it,
colony- (Applause)-of
Victoria.
Looking at

from every standpoint they found

nothing to be
dissatisfied
with,
fect us possible.
and was as per
everything
done

The children were healthy and

cheerful, which was a
happy and pleasant
thing to those

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Bendigo Advertiser (Vic. : 1855 - 1918), Friday 20 December 1872, page 3 (5)

thing to those see;

connected with the
management deserved praise for the judgment
they had displayed both in what
they had done and
what they were doing. (Applause) It was thirteen
years ago or more since he had the pleasure of
opening that institution. It was a sad thing that
there was any necessity for such
asylums at all--it
was a sad thing that there was
poverty in the destitution

world, and sickness, with all its and  

attendant evils and miseries-but seeing that they

were requisite in every civilized it was
community,
a pleasure to most men of reflecting minds to think
that they had the means and the will to adopt
effectual measures for the relief of those who were
in want, and the pleasure
experienced by him when
he witnessed the growth and satisfactory
that progress
of and the sister institution
(the hospital) should

be equally satisfactory to the people of the district.

 

They  
might he  
well satisfied
  with  
 
the  
reflection
that they had done
something at any rate to
assuage the misery which existed, unfortunately, in
all communities."
(Applause.) As long as they
lived such a thing as
poverty and sickness would
be in the world, and happy were those whom

fortune had favored in this life, and given them

the opportunity of exercising the finest disposition
of the mind,
whereby they would store up for them
selves happiness in the life to come in the relief of
the sufferings of others. In the fortunate times
they should think of their comrades, who had
in
started with them, but who fell the
race of
life  

-who were perhaps struck down on the roadside, of

with
 
bleeding  
hearts
 
shattered
hopes-men
   

ability equal to themselves, men

and
 
of
energy, and
indomitable in everything which they undertook,
hut unhappily, owing to circumstances which
neither zeal nor talent could control or resist,
they
fell in the tragic battle,
and now where were they
all? When they remembered their own good lot,
and the unhappiness of others, should they not
come forward and offer an oblation to fortune, and
think of others less fortunate? If there
was one
thing they should be proud of - no, that was not the

tern! if there
proper
-

was one thing with which

they should feel satisfied, it was thought
 
the
 

charity.  

of what they had done in the cause

of
In
no other part of the world had the people, as a
whole, done more for charitable institutions than
in this colony. They had every reason, therefore,
to he satisfied with what they had done; and
every
in the
man
community should, in this institution,
see an object which commands his admiration and
respect, and he would add, with feelings of pride
and satisfaction; and every man, when he passed
that noble building-the fruit of charity-
should be able to say, "There; that is
I
a part of my givings; gave something to- To

able it."'
wards it; and I don't regret be
 

to
say that was a pleasure which every one, who had
the interest of his country at heart, and who looked
with compassion on the woe of suffering humanity,
should be able to feel. (Applause.) The poet beauty
"A thing

once said, of is a joy

for-  

ever;" but a kindly action; a charitable deed-- ,and

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Bendigo Advertiser (Vic. : 1855 - 1918), Friday 20 December 1872, page 3 (6)

ever;" but a kindly action; a charitable deed-- ,and

as assisting to support such an institution as this
would never be forgotten, and would linger in
the recollection of some until the fading
beams of human life went out-an action of
charity, with greater certainty than a thing
of beauty, was destined to be a joy for
ever. (Applause and cheers.) On this important
occasion they would pardon Him for wandering to
matters outside of the subject under discussion:
but speaking for himself he had given his time
and attention and interest to the work in years gone
by, and he could now look back upon the distant
period in the past, when he was connected with
the Bendigo Benevolent Asylum, and he regarded
it with unmixed satisfaction and pleasure. Thirteen
Where

original
years had rolled away! was the  
committee? What had become of those men?
left behind the scene-Mr.
Only one was upon
Burnside, their respected hard-Working hon., secre-
their
the silent
tary. Some had gone
to long homes in  
others to their earthly homes, but all were
grave;
scattered. Those few left them were
among
beginning to feel the flight of time; their hair was
getting white, and the grim old enemy of humanity  
was already sounding the alarm that he was
marching close in the rear. Those who were

children then were now men and women in the

land a new -

generation had sprung up in the

places of those who were quietly and unobservedly
taking their departure. Material changes were
taking place; what was once a small township had
developed into a large city, characteristic for its
wonderful prosperity-the place, which
gave birth
to extensive and far seeing enterprises of energy
and industry. But with the increase of the
population there had had been a pro rata increase
of poverty and sickness, and he was glad to say
that their institution, which had a small and
humble beginning, was keeping pace with the
times. (Loud applause.) From giving shelter to the
homeless and infirm they had extended the sphere
of usefulness to administering out-door relief, and
lastly they got an adjunct to the asylum in the
shape of the Industrial School, which was a credit
to the district. He never saw a better, healthier,
and happier lot of children than those whom they
saw before them at that time; and the Committee
of management were entitled to praise for the hand
which conducted
 
some manner
they
in had the
asylum, and carried out the arrangements and
made provisions for the health and peace of the
poor things committed to their care. (Applause.)
institutions
greatest
Ho looked upon such as the
 
monument a country could -   produce monuments

of peace and charity, far dearer to his mind, and

more valuable and significant in his estimation,
than the tallest and most monument  
magnificent

which the world, in its strange continues   madness,

to raise to the glory of its heroic, warlike, and

business

bloody favorites. Men who made it their  

and delight to work for the benefit of their suffer-
ing and perishing fellow-men, went down to their

graves and were forgotten, having no other reward

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Bendigo Advertiser (Vic. : 1855 - 1918), Friday 20 December 1872, page 3 (7)

graves and were forgotten, having no other reward

whilst, engaged in the work than the satisfaction to
 
think that they had done their duty, and had

not lived in vain. They were neither admired nor

worshipped by the infatuated votaries of mundane
glory; but men who were the most successful in
killing the largest number of the human race had
been idolised, and made heroes of the earth, Going
back to the beginning of time they found men
" "
called great because they did the most injury to
human beings who, like themselves, were sprung
from the hands of the Creator. This had been one
of the false principles of mankind for thousands of

years, and until this absurd hero-worship was dis-  

missed and such an injurious system shattered

for ever, this work of slaughter would go on,
and the tide of bloodshed, and the flow of human
tears would roll on with increased horrors,
carrying with it all the elements of destruction and
unhappiness. There would have been not half so
much sorrow and sickness in the world for the
charitable to alleviate, and all to mourn, but for

the cultivation of these false principles which he

so much deprecated, all of which tended to accel-
lerate
death and augment the huge volume of
mortal miseries. The victories of peace, morality,

 
and charity were as signal and important as those
of war; and yet the votaries of peace received no
glory like the bloody conquerors -men even like
Clarkson, Wilberforce, Romilly, Howard amd
countless others, distinguished for their nobility of
character, had been cast aside for heroes of a war
like name. Monuments were raised to the memory
of men successfull in "the
destroying enemy''-for
"
-etting that die enemy" were their brethren -

men
worshipping the same Deity, and under the
same religion, which had for one of its leading
principles the proclamation with which its memor-
able advent was announced-"P'eace on   earth,

g00d will towards men." From all times the

 

slaughter of the human race had been going on to

the infinite; cities were raised and countries laid
waste to suit the caprice of a certain member of the
race. Mr. Sullivan here pictured to his hearers a

battle-field, and represented the scene of carnage

language
which it presented, and in a the most

graphic, and in a manner quite exciting, described

the Spirit of the Air as watching with savage
delight the work of death and the flow of blood,
and listening to the expiring wail of dying humanity,
and concluded this remarkable part of his speech by
a comparison between heroes of peace and heroes of
butchery. The effect was electrical, and
loud and spontaneous applause followed. Re-
suming, he apostrophized the pomp, the
pride, the circumstances of glorious war!
There war nothing of the kind about it; it was out
rageous to say that because a man is born on the

other side of the stream he is to he treated as an

enemy. But he believed the world was getting
1817
better, though very slowly. In the year a  

peace convention was held in Europe, at which Mr.

Cobden said there would be no mere Wars; but since
that time the world-had been convulsed with wars,

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wars,
and the nations seemed to be seized with a fiendish
thirst for each other's blood. The Italian, the
Crimean, and Austrian wars had occurred, and
above all the great epic war of history-the
American Civil War, and that was the only con
flict which, so far as he remembered, had resulted
in a benefit to any of the human family; that was
the emancipation of some men from being mere
chattels, and if there was ever an extenuation for
a war this had one. Last came that great tragedy -

the Franco-German War; so that, the days of blood

shed were not altogether numbered with the past.
as
years of

Still there were years peace well

as
of
war and the triumph of one was far more lasting,
glorious, than the
and soul-elevating paltry
victories of the other. And the institution before
them was one of the grandest monuments of peace
and charity, and he congratulated the district
thereupon. The- people of Bendigo were always
Characterised for being liberal and generous, and that

he hoped their generosity would continue, and  

everyone would assist to lay up a store of plea-

sure for themselves to realise in their declining
years of life. He would remember that day above
all others; and this trowel he would regard as one

of his proudest mementoes of Victorian life. (Loud

cheering.)
Bayne,

the
Mr. Alexander of of
on behalf
Board
Management, then thanked Mr. Sullivan for laying
the stone, and took occasion to refer, to the hon,
gentleman's connection with the district, and the
formation
the the Borough
took in of
part
he'  
Council, the Volunteer Fire Brigade, Mechanics'
and Asylum, Water
Institute, the Hospital the  
works, and the Gas Company, and in conclusion
said but for Mr. Sullivan they would not have had
the present prospect of the waters of the Coliban
running down their streets in twelve months. (Dr.
Backhaus: "Don't be too sure about that" -

laughter and applause.)

Mr. Sullivan returned thanks for the compliment

paid to him by Mr. Bayne, and

thanks to the moved a vote of
Committee of Management which
was carried by acclamation.
The President responded to
the vote of thanks
and invited the citizens of
Sandhurst to come and
see the institution at
any time; he was sure they
would enjoy the visit, and pleased find that

the internal
be to
arrangements were first-class. (Ap-
plause.)
The proceedings then terminated.

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