THE ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTI- TUTION is certainly deeply indebted to the ladies and gentlemen who, under the able guidance of Mr. CHARLES W. MACARA, the energetic promoter of the "Life-boat Saturday" move- ment, brought the first " Life-boat Saturday'' (to which we have so fre- quently drawn special attention) to such a successful issue in Manchester in October 1891, thereby giving to the other cities and towns of Great Britain a practical illustration of " how to do it." Had this movement been started in a half-hearted way, it is more than probable that by this time—the third year—it would have been in a moribund condition.

But what are the actual facts ? Up to date, every town that has held a " Life-boat Saturday " has kept its organi- zation together and repeated its efforts annually, showing conclusively that it is not a spasmodic development, but has a firm foundation, with permanent machinery established; this is a pretty good index that the organization is on the right lines. That it has succeeded in obtaining the sympathy and financial support of all classes of the community is abundantly demonstrated by comparing the pecuniary support given by a town before and after the introduction of " Life- boat Saturday." It must not be thought from this comparison, however, that the Honorary Secretaries of the Branches were apa- thetic—far from it! Many were heart and soul in sympathy with the work of the Institution ; but the effect of " Life- boat Saturday " has been to break new ground and to bring in the popular element by means of an object lesson.

Any one who has witnessed a " Life- boat Saturday " demonstration will prob- ably never forget the ringing cheers that greet the Life-boat men as they pass through the densely-crowded streets, or fail to note that the poorer the district the greater the enthusiasm. Every coign of vantage is occupied, pleasure is de- picted on every face; children are held up to see the men who actually do the gallant work they read of in their story- books and to have a glimpse of the tri- coloured Life-boats in which the work is done. It is indeed a popular and im- pressive manner of appealing to the unselfish feelings of what is called the " general public." Perhaps no nation so thoroughly appreciates a street procession as much as we do, and certainly hardly any nation has so few opportunities of gratifying this taste.

Not only are the towns which held "Life-boat Saturdays" in 1891 and 1892 repeating their good work in 1893, but the movement has made great strides this year, indeed it can almost be said to be engaging the attention of the people from " John o' Groats to the Land's End." In nearly every instance the new recruits owe much to the help they have received from Mr. MACARA and several members of the Manchester com- mittee, who, though they have many calls on their time, seem always ready to lend a helping hand.

Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh are among the recruits in Scotland, Glasgow and Aberdeen having already held their demonstrations, and Edinburgh is com- pleting her organization. Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford, Nottingham, Leicester and Southampton are a formidable addition to the English list, all of these having either held or decided to hold a " Life- boat Saturday," whilst Ipswich and Lin- coln are giving indications of wishing to join. In Wales, Cardiff and Barry Dock are shortly going to have their first " Life- boat Saturday," and Swansea is showing a desire to follow suit.

These cities and towns, in which will be found perhaps the hardest-headed men of business in the kingdom, do not rush into this movement, taking everything on trnst. Quite the reverse. The financial position of the Institution is most care- fully gone into. The general management, expense of administration, salaries of the officials, pay of the Life-boat men, &c., are all carefully examined and many searching questions asked. It is not until satisfaction has been given on these points that the names and support of those gentlemen who form the Council and Executive Committee are obtained.

A word as to the organization of a " Life- boat Saturday" may now be not out of place. The Mayor (or Provost in Scotland) is, almost without exception, to be found as having given his consent to be President of the local " Life-boat Saturday " organi- zation ; a council is formed, on which will be Been many of the best-known names in the locality, representing " all sorts and conditions of men," for to ensure success every business, trade and occupation should have its representatives. This council is formed more as an official recognition and guarantee than for actual work, because it is often found that the gentlemen who compose it have too many public calls on their time to be able to take an active part in the organization.

It is on the secretary and executive com- mittee that the real work falls; and when once the movement has received public recognition, it is astonishing how readily young men offer their services, and with what zeal and energy they throw themselves into the matter, for there are five or six weeks of pretty hard work, especially the first year, required to start a " Life-boat Saturday " demon- stration in a large town.

The executive committee is judiciously split up into sub-committees to manage the finance, advertising, collecting, and organization of the procession, and if the helpers are carefully selected for these sub-committees much of the weight is taken off the shoulders of the secretary, but even then the office of secretary is no sinecure.

A most important and necessary ad- junct is the " Women's Auxiliary Life- boat Saturday Fund." In all cases where gallant deeds are performed and great suffering endured, women's hearts are touched and sympathy aroused, and this has been notably the case in connection with Life-boat work. It is therefore not surprising to find how nobly they are helping the " Life-boat Saturday " move- ment. In many towns they have given themselves " heart and soul" to the work, and shown an. organizing capacity •which, ought to put to shame many of the rougher sex. They map out the town into distiicts and form committees to work them, doing everything in the most business-like manner.

We will quote two instances to show what can be done. In Manchester, in 1892, the Ladies "Life-boat Saturday" Fund collected 902Z.! Mrs. MACARA, who is the originator of this movement among ladies, is their secretary, and she seems to vie with her husband as to who shall work hardest for the cause.

In Leeds this year the ladies, by their efforts, enriched the " Life-boat Saturday " Fund by 6801.! Their organization was under the supervision of the popular Mayoress, Mr?. WARD.

Certainly the above form two excellent examples of what can be done by ladies if done in the right way.

Most "Life-boat Saturday" organiza- tions are formed on the above lines, and it is an undeniable proof of the popularity of Life-boat work, of the sympathy with the gallant Life-boat men, and of the con- fidence that the public place in the Life- boat Institution, that so many earnest workers are forthcoming who enter into the movement with a fixed determination to make it a success and the result a credit to their town.

There is one powerful agent to which the success of the " Life-boat Saturday " movement is due in a marked degree, namely, the Press. The support the Press has given is incalculable. In many instances it has actually insti- gated tho movement, and there are several towns now where the local press is continually reminding the inhabitants of their duty to the Life-boat service, but unfortunately so far without response.

In towns where the movement is already in progress, we have ever found the local press ready to assist the organizers, not only by reporting their meetings but by continually putting in helpful paragraphs, occasionally telling leading articles, and otherwise doing their best to stimulate enthusiasm.

It seems to us that the result of the labours—for labour it has really been—of all those who have pioneered this immense movement, is that they will at no distant date have the satisfaction of seeing "Life- boat Saturday'' become as National in its scope and on as firm a foundation as its elder sister " Hospital Saturday." We trust that the great successes being chronicled weekly by the cities and towns which are holding their first " Life-boat Saturday" this year, will act as a powerful stimulus in causing others to " fall into line" and join the " LIFE- BOAT SATURDAY" MOVEMENT.