CHAPEL AND RELIGIOUS SERVICES.

The Rev. Julius A. Reed officiated as chaplain of the Hospital for one year ending the first of October. His services were well appreciated, and he left us with the good wishes of all our family. He is a plain, practical preacher, sincere and honest in his efforts to do good, and succeeded well in winning the affections and securing the confidence of his hearers. His services were always judicious and solemn, well attended to, and influential on the conduct of his audience. No disturbance ever took place in the chapel during his ministrations, and universal regret was felt in our household at his departure.

After Mr. Reed decided to leave his charge, immediate application was made to the Rev. George Allen to supply the vacancy. He received the appointment of chaplain and commenced the duties of his office on the first of October. From our knowledge of Mr. Allen we were led to suppose that his good sense, experience and practical wisdom would qualify him for the station. In this we have not been disappointed. We consider ourselves fortunate in having obtained a chaplain of such talents and varied attainments, and have strong confidence that, under his auspices, increasing good will result from our chapel services.

We have now had regular religious worship on the sabbath for more than three years. In the course of that time nearly six hundred patients have attended meetings more or less, and less than ninety have been in the Hospital who have failed to attend.

Our expectations of benefit from the chapel have been more than realized. From one hundred and twenty to one hundred and fifty patients assemble on each sabbath, and no congregation is more orderly and attentive. There is a solemnity visible in the countenances of those present which clearly indicates that they know for what purpose they have come together; and even those who are at first disposed to be restless and disorderly catch the influence which is every where prevalent around them, and become calm and sober themselves.

The instances of self-control manifested in the chapel, by those who are often greatly excited, restless and noisy in the halls, are truly remarkable.

The sabbath previous to the day on which this sheet was written, a woman, who had been greatly excited, very profane and noisy, requested to attend chapel. All efforts at self-control while in the halls were unavailing, except for a few moments at a time; she would promise to be quiet, but, in a moment, be as noisy and talkative as before. Knowing, however, her reverence for the sabbath, and the strength and sincerity of her resolutions to be quiet, she was permitted to attend. The most careful observer would not have been able to detect any thing in her appearance and conduct that would distinguished from the most dignified and rational person in the house.

During the evening previous to the same sabbath, a patient, furiously mad, was brought to the Hospital in the care of a sheriff. He had been considered quite dangerous, and the sheriff, hesitated whether it would be safe to come with him unless he was confined in irons. He appeared calm on the following morning, and it was proposed that he should attend chapel; he seemed pleased with the privilege, attended the service all day, and conducted with the utmost propriety. These occurrences, which were of yesterday, are happening almost every sabbath, and show most clearly the propriety and importance of religious worship to the insane.

The truth is, that many insane persons are rational on religious subjects, and a few are insane on these subjects only. Both classes are often benefited by religious instruction.

It is through the healthy avenues of the mind that religious truth is received and makes its impression upon the feelings. On most subjects the insane can reason and feel the force of reasoning as well as others, and, even if insane on religious subjects, plain and forcible illustrations of truth may weaken their confidence in insane impressions and throw light where darkness only has been prevalent.

The habits of New England people require order and decorum in the place and time of religious worship. The insane feel the force of this habit equally strong; they frown upon those who work or trifle upon the sabbath, and are particularly indignant to those who are disposed to disturb the quiet of our religious assemblies. There is a feeling of pride extending over our whole household in the quiet and orderly observance of the sabbath in the Hospital. The good counsels of the chaplain are treasured up and often repeated in the week time, as motives of self-control to themselves and as admonitions to others.

When patients have recovered and are about to return to their friends, they often speak of their enjoyment of chapel exercises, express their regret at leaving those interesting services, and implore the blessing of heaven upon future ministrations.

An excellent woman who recovered from dreadful melancholy at the Hospital, a year or two since, writes in substance thus, after inquiring after the general welfare of the family :-" How do you get along in

your beautiful little chapel? I shall ever feel deeply interested in your religious meetings, as I feel sensible that one of the first rays of light that entered into my benighted mind was in the solemn worship of that house."

CONCLUSION.

I cannot close this report of the Hospital without expressing my gratitude to all who have aided me in the administration of its affairs. I have ever found the trustees ready to assist me in my labors and counsel me in my difficulties. The duty is more arduous upon them, particularly upon those who are in our immediate vicinity, than the public are generally aware. Their advice is sought, or they are called upon for some information concerning the institution, almost daily, which must be a heavy tax both upon their time and patience.

The services of Dr. Chandler, the assistant physician, are identified with the institution and indispensable to its prosperity. We have now been associated nearly eight years in the arduous duties of the place. We have met and surmounted many difficulties together. On his good judgment and sound discretion I have ever relied with confidence and safety.

To Mr. and Mrs. Ellis, the steward and matron of the Hospital, we are indebted for most valuable services. They have carried into every duty a zeal and ability worthy of all praise, and are ever ready, with a cheerful spirit, to anticipate the wants and to contribute to the happiness of all associated with them, or who rely upon them for aid and counsel.

All persons employed in the Hospital have seemed desirous to promote its interests as far as practicable.

For whatever of prosperity or success has attended our efforts in the management of the Hospital during the past year, we are greatly indebted to the industry, vigilance, faithfulness and devotion of those who have labored in subordinate stations.

Surrounded by such faithful auxiliaries the duties of superintendent are rendered pleasant and comparatively easy. If zeal in the cause of the institution and devotion to its interests will secure future success, relying on Divine aid for a blessing we pledge to it our best efforts for its continued prosperity.

State Lunatic Hospital,
Worcester, Nov. 30th, 1840.

SAMUEL B. WOODWARD.

}

REGISTER OF THE WEATHER, kept at the State Lunatic Hospital, Worcester, Mass., Lat. 42° 15′ 49′′-Elevation 483 ft.

Sunrise 2 P. M. Sunset Sunrise 2 P. M. Sunset. Sunrise 2 P. M. Sunset. Sunrise. 2 P. M. Sunset.

THERMOMETER.

BAROMETER.

WIND.

WEATHER.

1 Wednesday 1 below 8

29 4 29.46 29.45 N. W.

9 Thursday 12 28

29.41 29.41 29.39

29.85 29.73 29.66 do do do Cloudy Snow
29 53 29.46 29.42 S. WS. W.S. W. Rain
29.11 28.96 28-82 Ν. E. S. S. do

Snow

Rain Foggy

do Rain

25 28 25

29.16 29.45 29.49 N. W. N. W.N. W. Fair Fair Fair

High wind in the night.
Aurora Borealis.

The weather during the past month has been very cold. Much snow has fallen.

Snow squalls.

Snow storm commenced at 10 A. M.; 2 inches of snow
[fell.

The Thermometer has ranged from 9o below zero to 39° above. Barometer from

REGISTER OF THE WEATHER-Continued.

THERMOMETER.

BAROMETER.

WIND.

WEATHER.

REMARKS.

Sunrise 2 P. M. Sunset. Sunrise 2 P. M. Sunset. Sunrise 2 P. M. Sunset. Sunrise. 2 P M. Sunset.

29.65 29.62 29 63

N. E. N. E. Cloudy Snow Cloudy Snow storm commenced at 8 A. M.; 3 inches of snow

29.72 29.63 29 59

Fair

Fair

High wind.

[night from 12 to 3 o'clock.

29.35 29-40 29.41 N. W. N. W. N. W. Fair

Wind changed in the night; cleared off cool.

29.42 29 40 29.39 do do S. W.

Light snow, A. Μ.

29 44 29-20 29.20 8. W.S. W. do Fair Cloudy do
29.44 29.50 29.59 Ν.

Ν.

N.

33

39 39

29.58 29-42 29.43 Ν.Ε. Ν.Ε.

36

40

42

29.48 29-54 29 54 N. W. N. W.

Ν. E.
W.