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4 Parish of Saint George the Martyr, Southwarlc.
and I do not hope yet to meet with such a body of men. There is, therefore, no rea.so
why vestries should thus be particularised.
A man may sit in his closet, and map out the clearest and plainest of theories; a
theory that would meet every case, and satisfy the varied needs of humanity. But how
altered becomes this beautiful woven design, when endeavours are made to carry it out
into practice; it is speedily rent into shreds and patches, and only fit for the rag-bag.
And it is an unfortunate event for many, that their theories never are tested, for they
go on through life and to death, believing in their panacea, and abusing and wondering
at mankind for not adopting it. Ideals can never be carried out into practice: indeed we
may derive much comfort, if we can only make some due approximation to them. The
work of man "must not be measured by the scale of perfection." The work done is
limited; that which is required to be done is unlimited. The good that has been accomplished
is accepted and forgotten; the failures remain, and are not forgotten. But these
failures are frequently but the evidence of the unwise expectations of sanguine men. The
progress which has been made, has been greatly undervalued and underrated. All change,
if it is to prove beneficial, must be gradually brought about. The lightning and the earthquake
are sudden, but destructive and terrifying.
How much is forgotten of our sanitary condition, when Vestries began their mighty
task. They had to contend against evils and prejudices, which had their origin, in far
away back generations, and which have cast down their roots deep and intricate into our
social system. No body of men can prove abiding; they must necessarily be succeeded by
other bodies, possessed with fresh designs, hopes, and energies: time itself, the chiefest
of innovators, bringing this about. This law of change, however, affords no reason why
abuse should have been so freely lavished on men, who, for the most part, have honestly,
zealously, and voluntarily done the work which was given them to do. To a certain extent,
the statement of a popular essayist is true:— "that the sanitary reformer must make
up his mind to see no fruit of his labours, much less thanks or rewards. He must die in
faith, as St. Paul says all true men die, "not having received the promises."
I may be allowed here, then, to bring before you in as short a space as possible, some
of the works which have been carried out by you, and especially those which have come
under my own division of duty. The Metropolis Management Act was passed in 1855, and
you commenced your duties in 1856. Then sanitary writers and workers were laughed and
sneered at, and looked upon as a sort of monomaniacs. People had been born, had grown
up to manhood, and had reached a good old age. During that life, great deeds had been
accomplished: works written that shall remain co-extensive with the language : footprintS|
had been left by them on every land: and what more could possibly be done or required
under any changes'? An Alderman then, since a Lord Mayor, and now a Member c
Parliament, could and did make use of the following words:— "The fact was, that the
sanitary schemes were got up; talk was made about Cholera, and people became alar???
Now, it was said that burial grounds were highly injurious to health, and a great ???
been raised against them. He did not know such to be the fact, that they were in ???
to health. He did not believe one word about it. There were many persons who ???
raising up bugbears of this description in the present day, and those persons were always