Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-10-09
The Need raPro,estant Hospital.

Attention is called to the communica-
ton in another column headed "Protes-
tant Home and Hospital" written by one
of our most estimable ladies, who has done
much in a quiet way for the cause of the
orphans, the sick and wounded soldiers,
and the homeless and friendless.
The suggestions contained in her arti-
Gle in regard to the establishment of a
Protestant Hospital is well worthy of the
consideration of our citizens, and we hope
they will receive the attention that their
Importance demands. As the matter now
stands, We have no hospital where a o
scientious Protestant patient will be al
lowed the privilege of attending worship
in the hospital chapel after the form of
his own faith. 1t may be considered by
some a kindness to take a Protestant pa
tient to a purely Roman Catholic hospital,
but, in many cases, it would be absolutely
an unkindness. st. Vincenfs Hospital
would be a most eminently appropriate
place to take patients of the Romish
faith where they undoubtedly would re-
cieve the best of attention, and be allowed
to exercise their own peculiar religious no
tions to their hearts content. But
it is not the proper place to take
a Protestant patient, and Oblige him
to be surrounded by the paraphernalia
Of the Popish Church. Take the case of
a friendless Protestant, who may be con-
fined there for months, wasting away with
disease, who is there to converse with him
on the subject of religion, excepting the
Sisters of Charity and Catholic attendants?
Who is there to read the Bible to him ?
The Sisters of Charity certainly would not.
They can only read the Romish Prayer
Books, or the life of some canonized Cath
Ole Saints. To be sure Bishop Rappe
makes great pretension to hberality land
we must say it is great liberality for a
Ramish Rish~ry r. -L;~I4-Ls is-e-ti.le5
to credit, in consenting that the patients
shall have the privilege of sending for Pro-
testant clergymen. But this privilege, gra-
granted by the Bishop, does not
meet the case. He will not allow a Protest
chaplain to be connected with thehospi-
tai for the benefit of the patients ofhke faith.
He will not allow Protestant service to
held in the chapel of the Hospital for
he convenience of those patients who pre-
rar that form, H. I'LL ut o1Io- D,o4o-
ant nurses for those who prefer to be at
by women dressed in the costumes
If their mothers and sisters. Neither will
ne allow Protestant books in the reading
DOM of the hospital, consequently it is not
N unsectarian institution.
st. Vincent's is simply a Roman Catholic
Institution. The fundamental basis upon
which it is founded in reality, is prosely-
ism, although ostensibly it is claimed to
,e purely benevolent in its origin. 1t will
rebound to the credit of the Protes-
ants if they do not provide a hospital
where patients of their W faith can be
with a decent regard to their reli-
lous vIews-a hospital, the fundamental
biect of which is not to make proselytes.
In connection with the above we would
ay that the Government will probably
ell the Marine Hospital. This, of course,
7ill have to await the action of Congress.
t has been suggested by many that it
would be an excellent plan to purchase
he grounds and buildings and turn it into
general hospital. The building was
tanned and erected especially for a hos
ital, and we presume it is most admirably
dapted for that purpose. 1t can undoubt-
be purchased at a low price, and it
rould be well that the matter be taken in
and, and funds raised for the purpose, in
he event the property should be sold.