The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1860-07-19
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HIS MAJESTY KAMEHAMEHA ".
Laying of the Corner Stone of the queens
Hospital. July II. 1880.

Laying of the Corner Stone of the queen.
Hospital. July II. ls6O
The QUEEN's HOSPITAL. established for the re-
lief and comfort Of the INDECENT sick, has already
taken IL place among the prominent institutions
OF our country. Founded, as it mainly was. BY
individual charity. It's existence bears honorable
evidence 10 the feeling with which this community
regards the necessities Of its humber members at
the time when they are least able TO express their
wants. Contributions towards the support Of a
hospital, are declaration OF Kindness aforethought.
and Of a long sighted policy oflove toward those
who need other hands than their own, 10 smooth
their restless pillows. The means az our disposal
are not drawn forth by the sight of any particu-
lar case that shocks and haunts Us. We do not
offer up our aims a. I prayer 10 God. that He
will save US personally from such anguish as
We see before u, but quietly ana with mistaken
nerves we provide against misery that needs must
be. though we see nothing OF Ii. In a word,
there was nothing sTasmodic or ftful in the feel
Ing which prompted those who assisted in the
establishment Of the Queens Hospital. What
their hearts suggested, their Judgment recon-
mended. and they acted because they knew what
sufe-ings, 50 far a. human for~e-kn0wledce can
calculate, are in store. t. alleviate these latter,
these miseries that are 70 be-was their end
and aim, though they even who assisted 10 afford
the relief, before that relief could be administered,
had themselves passed beyond the pale Of this
worlds suffering and, let me ask, what noJler
legacy could man devise than To be virtually
pouring oil into the wounded flesh when his own
flesh has gone beyond the physicians skill. and
turned 10 dust and ashes? Writing in the
agonies Of dissolution. such a benefactor TO his
-3.a r,;-I- c-,S1a =, -LT-7 -L.- =,-,. - 49,
known to him might find one hours respite from
pain, or even escape premature death, involving
perhaps the death of many others hopes. by
means Of PRESIDENT sympathy on his part.
On an occasion such as this. it becomes me, the
Sovereign Of these Islands, 10 express. in the name
of my people, the sense of gratitude with which
the l~iberality and fellow feeling Of those who helped
20 establish the Queens Hospital have filled
their hearts and mine. Ignorant as some OF them
are. and still more or less possessed Of prejudices
which they have inherited. they may fail, for the
present. fully 10 appreciate the service that you
have rendered them ; but l feel assured that the
time will soon arrive when those Treiudices will
cease 10 exist. Already We see passing away the
misgivings Of those who doubted that q hospital
would ever be resorted 10 by pure Hawaiians.
The trial has been made, and it has succeeded.
not perhaps to a wish, but beyond our expecta-
tions. Therefore it is, that in the name of the
Hawaiian people, of humanity, and Of that char
ity which levels all ranks and sets all distinction
at naught, l tender my hearty thanks to those
who have assisted in this enterprise. In the name
Of the wretched and miserable, l thank you. In
the name Of the otherwise ~sleepless. | pray YOU
may be at ease, and in the name of the dying,
who die more painlessly for what you have done,
l desire from the bottom Of my heart, that long
years of happiness may be in store for you.
But let me remind you that 50 long as sickness
shall exist, there viii De a duty imposed upon Us.
like taxes for the commonwealth, have
20 be met from time To time. There is no COM
for a given sum, and claiming exemption
all time to come. You give according to your
means for the time being. When the next call
comes, your capabilities may be greater or less.
and according 10 your capabilities YOU viii settle
with your c~onscieuces. | do not envy the man
would wish Cf such a thing were possible)
- pay at one instalment all the claims Of hui
manity. There Is something wholesomei in being
2alled upon from time TO time u acknowledge,
however strong or own health may be. and
prosperous our fortunes. that. after all,
The destitute and the sick are our brothers and
isters-our lot happier for the time being. but
'ur liability to want and suffering the same.
This it Is that makes Us human. and members Of
he human family. Society makes distinctions
road enough, but strip Us Of our artificial robes,
nd we are one and all equally naked and equally
exposed 10 the keen winds Of want and the tor
nents Of disease. l trust, therefore, and indeed
eel confident, that you viii continue your sup
70 this praiseworthy Institution.
Since the hospital was established in the month
+ August last year, some fifteen hundred differ
Mt cases have been treated. The proportion Of
eaths has been small, and no doubt some even Of
hose deaths might have been prevented had the c
atients made earlier application for relief. As I
he Institution becomes better known the sick viii 7
oubtless resort 70 il while their maladies are in
be i~ncipient stages and therefore more s~uscepti-
lie Of cure. Already however. you have enough
D be proud Of. Already YOU have decreased the i
verage Of suffering. if only in a slight degree. u
now you may say that, under Divine Proyi- =
ence. you have been instrumental in saving hui J
ian life. There are persons moving among Us, r
perhaps here present, who but for your +
harity would never have lived 70 see this dav. :
tut it were needless for ne 70 detain you upon
MS theme. Your own hearts that prompted you y
, assist while the scheme was still an experiment. J
teach you = rtJice, and 70 further exert y
our beneyOlence, now that your aspirations are c
-5wned with success particularly, viii you "a T
ice on this day which sees us met together Z.
y the corner stone Of a solid building. which - {
ourselves viii be an earnest Of the pe-mauercy Il
the labor of love to which You have lent YOUR Il
Ives. while u = future generation, il viii be a
onument u your memory. which viii proclaim j
u for many years 70 come 70 have been, in your
-~neration. henefac-1r= IL the human race al