Wilson, Alexander Montgomery Bell, and Samuel Davidson,
but these having all died, the management of the estate has,
as provided by the testatrix, devolved on the Keeper, Deputy-keeper,
and Commissioners of the Signet, who, having assumed the administration
of the trust, are now carrying it on, as in the case of John
Watson's Hospital, and other similar institutions. The trustees
have taken a lease, for a period of twenty-five years, of
the building at Preston hitherto known as Schaw's Hospital.
Miss Isabella Meikle, formerly of Donaldson's Hospital, was
appointed matron, and the first selection of children made,
the number being limited to eighteen, but that number may
be doubled, perhaps trebled. The purpose of the bequest, however,
will be best explained in the words of the testatrix, who,
after giving power to her trustees to invest her estate in
certain securities, directs that the proceeds of the same
are to be applied: —
" In the establishment and maintenance of an hospital
for the education of female children of poor but respectable
parents; for house servants, for their encouragement during
service, and their ultimate provision in old age; children
of the name of Murray being admitted to the benefits of the
institution in preference to others, should their claims in
other respects appear to my trustees to be equally deserving;
and I appoint the following rules to be observed by my said
trustees in the management of the said hospital: —
" The children shall be admitted between the age of six
and eight, and remain till the age of fourteen, when they
shall be put to service.
" They shall be instructed in reading, writing, and arithmetic,
sewing, spinning, knitting, and such other plain useful acquirements
as my trustees think best calculated for them; and above all,
in the principles of religion, honesty, and truth, for which
end a portion of the Scriptures shall be read to them evening
and morning with prayers.
" Such of them as remain in their first places till the
age of twenty, and have conducted themselves with propriety,
shall receive a present, not exceeding £10, on their
being married, or on their attaining the age of forty; and
if at the age of sixty any of them shall have no home, they
shall be received into the house again, and remain there as
long as they please, proper work fit for their age and strength
being assigned them, to keep them from idleness; but on the
condition that their behaviour has been correct and respectable
during their lives, which must always be held out as the only
chance of their
returning to the hospital.
" I desire that no male teacher or chaplain shall be
em ployed in it, but the whole establishment shall be under
the immediate charge of a proper mistress or matron, to be
ap pointed and paid by my trustees, " etc.
The establishment is under the management of eight directors,
viz., the Keeper and Deputy-keeper of the Signet ex officio,
and six Commissioners of the Signet.
The institution is under the management of Miss Isabella Meikle,
who, as matron, has been in charge since the opening of the
Institution. Miss Thomson, as teacher, has served a term of
over sixteen years; while Miss Pockney, as sewing mistress,
has been over that department upwards of five years.
When the institution was opened in 1882 twenty girls were
at once admitted. At the present time there are sixty-eight
inmates.
It is now over eighteen years since the institution was opened.
Since then over sixty have gone forth to service, and two
of these are at the present time within sighting distance
of gaining the £10 prize for remaining in one situation
from fourteen to twenty. Eight have got married. Not a breath
of scandal has ever been raised against a single inmate connected
with the institution; and so well are the funds being managed,
that the trustees have been enabled to spend £10 each
on the whole of these sixty inmates on their going forth from
the institution.
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