204 THE BRITISH HOM(EOPATHIC J O U R N A L

B R I T I S H HOM(EOPATHIC CONGRESS, 1953

T H E ROYAL LONDON HOM(EOPATHIC HOSPITAL (October lst-3rd) )

DR. ALVA BENJAMIN, M.B., Ch.M., F.F.HOM. {President)

in the Chair

Friday, October 2nd

Morning Session

The PRESID~XCT, in opening the session, said it was a very great honour to be asked to preside at such a gathering. I t was particularly pleasing to be President during the year of the Queen's Coronation. The Council had sent the following message to Her Majesty:

"The British Homceopathle doctors, assembled in Congress in London, beg to thank Your Majesty for your gracious patronage of their London Hospital. They tender to you in this your Coronation year their most loyal greetings, and pledge themselves to do all things possible to safeguard and improve the health of your poople.--[Signed] ALVA BENJAMIN, President."

I t was hoped that a reply from Her Majesty would be received in t ime to be read at the banquet tha t evening.

A message had been received from Dr. Pierre Schmidt, who, unfortunately, had sustained a rather severe accident. While cycling, he was knocked down, breaking some ribs and injuring his thighs in several places. The message read:

"Honour and success to Congress for promoting true Homceopathy from faithful Swiss Hahnemannian . - -Dm SCHMIDT."

The thanks of the Congress would be sent in reply. Dr. Julian was prevented by illness from attending the Congress, but

a letter received from him the previous day stated that he was progressing. I t was agreed tha t a suitable message should be sent from the Congress

to Dr. Julian.

T h e PRESIDENT, in introducing Dr. Robertson, said tha t a request had been received from the Veterinary Branch of the British Homceopathic Associa- tion, asking if members of the Branch, who were also members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, could attend the Congress. The request had been conceded and the two veterinary members who were present were cordially welcomed. I t was a pleasure to call upon Dr. Robertson to present his paper

" T H E PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF DERMATOLOGY."

The President thanked Dr. Robertson and a short interval was followed by discussion.

The session then concluded and was followed by the Business Meeting.

Afternoon Session

The PRESIDENT, in introducing Dr. Paterson, said that it was time for them to take in more intellectual food and he was pleased to call upon Dr. Paterson to deliver the first course. A letter had been received from Dr. Boyd, of Glasgow, wishing the Congress success.

T H E B R I T I S H H O M ( E O P A T H I C J O U R N A L 2 0 5

Dr. JOHN PATERSON read a paper on:

"'HAHNEMANN'S DOCTRINE OF PSORA AND THE HOM(EOPATHIC TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASE."

The PRESIDENT proposed a vote of thanks to those who had presented papers and to those who had opened and taken part in the discussions.

The vote was carried by applause and the session then concluded.

Social Activities

THE Congress opened with a Reception and Dance held at the Normandie Hotel, Knightsbridge, on Thursday, October 1st. The guests, about a hundred in number, were received by the President and Mrs. Alva Benjamin. Many young people helped to give a cheerful atmosphere to the proceedings and the whole evening went with a swing and apparent enjoyment.

The excursion to Hatfield which had been arranged for Friday, unfortu- nately had to be cancelled owing to the few bookings received; so Mrs. Benjamin entertained the Ladies' Committee to lunch at the English Speaking Union, before they all went on to hear the Presidential Address.

The Banquet on Friday evening also took place at the Normandie Hotel, and some 120 guests were welcomed by the President and Mrs. Benjamin. The Guest of Honour was Hon. John Fremantle, Chairman of the N.W. Metro- politan Hospital Board. Other official guests included Lord and Lady Grenfell, Dr. Wm. P Alexander, Ph.D., M.A., B.Sc. and Mrs. Alexander, Miss I. D. Benzie, B.B.C. Health Education Talks Producer, Major Gilbert Dennison, Chairman of the British Homceopathic Association, Lord and Lady Amwell, Sir Adrian and Lady Boult, Major Clifton-Brown, Chairman of the Hospital Management Committee and Mrs. Clifton-Brown, Sir William and Lady Dobbie, Mr. J. Robertson, Chairman of the Glasgow Homceopathic Hospital and the Rev. A. T. Houghton, President of the Missionary School of Medicine.

Before proposing the Loyal Toast, the President read the following message which had been sent to the Queen:

"The British Homceopathic Doctors, assembled in Congress in London, beg to thank Your Majesty for your gracious patronage of their London Hospital.

"They tender to you in this your Coronation Year their most loyal greetings, and pledge themselves to do all things possible to safeguard and improve the health of your people.

(Signed) ALVA BE~j~_~r~, President."

And Her Majesty's gracious reply:

"The Queen sincerely thanks the British Homceopathic Doctors assembled tonight at their Banquet for their kind and loyal message of greetings, which Her Majesty, as Patron of the Royal London Homceopathic Hospital, much appreciates."

The Toast of "Homceopathy and Homceopathic Institutions" was delight- fully and humorously proposed by Dr. Alexander and replied to by Lord Grenfell. The health of "Our Guests" was proposed in his usual felicitous style by Dr. W. Lees Templeton and was replied to by Hon. John Fremantle and Miss I. D. Benzie. Mr. Fremantle showed a definite understanding of the difficulties confronting the Royal London Homceopathie Hospital and made clear his desire to help to overcome these with fairness to all concerned.

In his speech of thanks for the toast to his health, the President included the following words which emphasize the spirit of the Congress:

206 T H E B R I T I S H H O M E O P A T H I C J O U R N A L

"You have heard tonight that we homceopathic doctors have given a : pledge to Her Majesty to do everything possible to safeguard and improve the

health of her people. Tonight too, we have toasted Homceopathy and the Homceopathic Institutions. Now it is for us, lay as well as professional, to translate the abstract into the concrete and .to prove that pledges and toasts are not mere empty compliments, but can be inspirations for effective action."

All the speeches attained a high level, the food was excellent, and the surroundings charming, so that everything con~bined to make a highly successful evening.

The social s ide of the Congress concluded wi th a v is i t to Cambridge on Saturday. In perfect weather some twenty members explored the Colleges and appreciated the beauties of that famous University city.