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THE GLOUCESTER LEAGUE.

IMPORTANT LETTERS.

THE annual tea in connection with the Gloucester Branch of the National Anti-Vaccination League was held at the Institute, South-gate Street, Gloucester, on October 22.

In the course of the evening there was held a short business meeting, at which an encouraging annual report and financial statement were presented. Dr. W. R. Hadwen was re-elected President, and Messrs. G. Newman, W. Taylor, J. W. Hopkins, J. Rice, and J. Dainty were elected vice-presidents. Mr. G. Newman was elected hon. secretary, Mr. W. Newman hon. treasurer, Mr. W. Hodges assistant secretary, and Mr. Hodges and Mrs. Cross joint collectors.

Subsequently a crowded public meeting was held in the Glevum Hall. The Hon. Ernest Pomeroy presided, and was supported by Councillor Dr. W. R. Hadwen, Messrs. J. Dainty, T. B. Fox, J.P., J. W. Hopkins, G. Newman, A. Sibley, M.A., LL.D., W. Taylor, etc.

Mr. George Newman read letters from sympathisers unable to be present.

The Earl of Tankerville regretted his inability to be present owing to circumstances necessitating his presence in Edinburgh at this time. Writing to the President, Dr. Hadwen, he said:—

"I should like to record my entire sympathy with your desire to eradicate this ridiculous and disgusting superstition—this monument of ignorance and conservatism of thought. Although it is written, and although all nature affirms, that 'whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap', nevertheless, it is assumed, that by putting into living flesh the results of putridity you reap immunity from disease. Could there be anything more illogical—anything more blasphemous than such an assumption? For 108 years, a soi-disant Christian nation has been believing in this lie, and with hypocritical perversion has been trying to pose before the world as an example of the effective teaching of the gentle Man of Nazareth. Must

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we put the curse of impurity upon innocence to save it from the results of our paganism and ignorance? I am ready to do anything to take a stand against this horrible and filthy practice. I was ready to go to prison six years ago when my boy was born, and now that a friend has lost her child by this filthy inoculation I am still more ready to take my stand for enlightenment against ignorant superstition. I claim liberty as a citizen, just as I claim it as a child of the Most High. And what I claim for myself I claim for my fellow-man."

Viscount Harberton wrote:—

"Will you say on my behalf at the meeting that I am in thorough sympathy with its object, and I regard both compulsory vaccination and the means by which the lymph is obtained to be unjustifiable and immoral."

Dr. Charles Creighton, the eminent epidemiologist, wrote:—

"I cannot be at your annual meeting on the 22nd, but that is not from any want of will to help forward our cause. I see it more and more clearly as a very disgraceful thing that there should be an Act of Parliament bolstering up Jenner's poor old eighteenth century trumpery for all time, and creating a brutal prejudice against all and sundry who have the intelligence and the courage to examine it for themselves and, of course, condemn it. Everything else in medicine is allowed to find its level, but this absurdity has a protective statute all to itself."

Dr. Alfred Russel Wallace, F.R.S., the renowned scientist, wrote:—

"I wish you a very successful meeting. I recommend two things:—(1) Let every anti-vaccinator vote (at all elections) only for those candidates who promise to vote against all compulsory or state-aided vaccination; and (2) let the National Anti-Vaccination League make arrangements to be represented in the next Parliament by their tried and able friend Dr. Walter R. Hadwen, who is one of our most instructed and most eloquent supporters."

Lieut.-General Phelps, who could not be present owing to an engagement to lecture elsewhere, wrote:—

"The laughable plight of our adversaries, who nowhere dare meet public discussion, but can only trust to back stairs intrigue, should not lull us to sleep. Gigantic endowments are not lightly surrendered, however absurd the pretexts on which they depend; and the profits of cow-poxing were never so huge as they are today. The enormous voting power of our adherents could win us freedom at the next election. Will they use it and rid us of the incubus? God speed your good fight against filth and greed."

Mr. Russell Rea, M.P., wrote:—

"I have filled my time with engagements so completely for the next two or three weeks, I am quite unable to return to Gloucester. On the question of vaccination, as you are aware, I am confirmed in the opinion I expressed years ago against compulsion, and I am in favour of the liberty the law at present gives being freed from costly and humiliating conditions."

With regard to Mr. Rea, Mr. Newman said he "would have to come down here all the same. If that night was not convenient, another night would have to be." (Hear, hear, and applause.)

The Chairman having opened the meeting, Mr. W. Taylor proposed the following resolution:

"That this meeting of Gloucester citizens protests against the absurd and degrading conditions associated with the Vaccination Act of 1898; it further protests against the modicum of relief afforded by that Act being set aside by tyrannical Departmental regulations, which block the way of every conscientious anti-vaccinator to positions of all kinds, either in the Army, Navy, or Civil Service; and it demands the absolute and total repeal of the Vaccination Acts, so that vaccinated and un-vaccinated may stand equal before the law."

Mr. Taylor described vaccination as a monstrous evil, and enquired why doctors did not come forward to debate the question with them. (Hear, hear.)

Dr. A. Sibley seconded, and said they had great difficulties to cope with, but there were men and women throughout England who would see that justice was done and that truth should prevail at whatever cost. He believed the time would come when people would recognise not only that vaccination had done a great deal of harm, but also that it was a superstitious rite without the slightest value in it, but a great deal of danger. (Cheers.) The unfairness of some of their opponents had stirred up in them that spirit of manliness which, when exerted, would carry their cause to victory in the end. (Cheers.)

Dr. Hadwen, in supporting the resolution, said he looked upon vaccination as a wicked and loathsome practice. It was a practice upon which, he could not ask God's blessing, and therefore he could have nothing to do with it. (Hear, hear.) Vaccination, he contended, was the most God-insulting method that had ever disgraced the medical profession (Hear, hear.)

The resolution was then put to the meeting and unanimously adopted.

Mr. Hopkins, in proposing a vote of thanks to the speakers, described the meeting as one of the most successful ever held.

Mr. T. B. Fox seconded the motion, which was carried by acclamation.

A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings.

The Dorking and District Anti-Vaccination League have issued their eighth annual report and balance sheet, a most satisfactory document, recording much useful work in the past year, especially in the way of distribution of useful anti-vaccination literature.