Chapter 2 Summary

This chapter examines the history of Hiram's Hospital. Hiram's Hospital was established many years earlier by a wealthy benefactor who donated money for its construction after his death. It is not a hospital in the modern sense, but more of a retirement home for older men who can not longer work. Originally, the hospital was supposed to have twelve such old men along with a warden to run the establishment. About five years before the current story begins, there was a great scandal about how the money for the hospital was being spent. Many people felt that the warden at the time, Dr. Harding, was paid too much for the amount of work he did. Under public pressure, Dr. Harding resigned and has been living in shame ever since. Many of the other members of the Barchester church leadership, however, are very anxious...