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Prefatory Note. 3
Saint George the Martyr, Southwark.
TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE VESTRY.
PREFATORY NOTE.
This Report concludes the first decade of the Vestry's proceeding's. The accumulation
of duties which within that period the legislature has from time to time cast upon the
Vestries of the Metropolis is very great, and taken in connection with the exigence of public
opinion respecting the manner of their performance is more than sufficient to account
for the comparatively small increaso in the Expenditure disclosed by the Decennial Statement
on page 10.
The interesting Report (p. 13) of the Medical Officer of Health unfolds the condition
of the Parish and the ordinary operations of the Vestry in reference to sanitary
affairs. Since the conclusion of the year, however, to which that report relates, and while
this report is passing through the press, the Cholera has visited the Metropolis. This
district happily has been hitherto but lightly visited; and it is to be hoped that the
sanitary efforts of the Vestry in past years are now producing some tangible beneficial
results. The Order of Her Majesty's Privy Council promulgated to meet the emergency,
and bringing into operation the Diseases Prevention Acts, has been energetically put in
execution by the Vestry of this Parish. Amongst their measures have been these. They
have appointed an efficient Committee with full powers. They have engaged the services
of three fully qualified medical men as Medical Visitors; and of three others as Dispensers.
These, not being practitioners in the Parish, constitute therefore an addition, invaluable
under the circumstances, to the medical strength in the neighbourhood. It was thought—
and doubtless it was rightly thought—far better for the public welfare to import fresh power
to combat the foe than merely to subsidize the power fully engaged' and already on the field.
They have established at the Vestry a temporary Dispensary which is open day and night;
and Medicines and Disinfectants have there been given to all poor enough to ask for
them, who unfortunately are to be numbered by hundreds. This slight allusion to the
very multifarious precautions which have been adopted by the Vestry must here suffice.
Appended to this Annual Report will be found (p. 47) an elaborate Report on Constant
Water Supply ; and a copy of Correspondence between the Charity Commissioners, the
Board of Churchwardens and Overseers, and the Incumbents of Parishes for Ecclesiastical
purposes within the Parish of Saint George the Martyr, Southwark, on the subject of the
administration of the Parochial Charities, which the Vestry deemed would be highly interesting
and satisfactory to the Parish at large.
Any parishioner will on application be furnished with a copy of this Report.
DANIEL BIRT, Vestry Clerk.
vestry Hall, Borough Road.