ALL agree that the past year was one of unusual difficulty for any engaged in charitable enterprise. No good work, whatever its character or scope, can be carried on without money, and to obtain this necessary commodity in a sufficient amount caused every class of philanthropists during the past year more than usual labour and much anxious thought. The Life-boat Satur- day workers have not escaped the depressing influences of the times, but the hope of " better times," backed by enthusiastic zeal and a strong sense of the importance of the cause, has urged them on and encouraged them to work constantly and earnestly on behalf of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTI- TUTION. Quite outside the Institution's ordinary branches, which are the back- bone of the undertaking, the Life-boat Saturday Committees and the Ladies' Auxiliaries have continued to bring very directly and practically before the great industrial centres of the country the claims and needs of the LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, and few nowadays can fairly urge ignorance as an excuse for not giving a ready and liberal response to the strong appeal made to them for help.

It is most gratifying to know that notwithstanding the bad times and the many difficulties experienced—but frequently overcome—very encouraging results have been secured ; far better indeed than were expected, although not better than those aimed at.

Those, therefore, who have done so well i J ' in gloomy and unauspicious times and in depressing and discouraging circum- stances, may, we feel sure, look forward hopefully and confidently to brighter days and better prospects in this new year, and we would encourage them to do so. Failures in the past must and will give way to successes in the future, and the bad experiences—perhaps dearly bought—of bygone days will surely be succeeded by good ones in those to come..