The New York herald., 1872-10-11
THE PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL.

York Chartty-PIincely Gifts by MIR.
James LenOx-Dcscripti0n or the Build
ings-Addresses by Drs. Paxton, Adams
and willard Parker.
Mr.. James Lenox, Of this city, o most liberal
Christian gentleman, long ago conceived the idea
OF founding hospital in this city, which, while 1t
should not be sectarian. would yet be maintained
by and under Presbyterian auspices. lie saw that
other denominations and natonalities had such in
sttutions, and, while Presby terians were always
ready and are still ready to continue their sup
port OF those several institutions, they had none
which they might peculiarly call their own
or feel denOminatiOnal affection for. The ne
cessity for such hospital became every day
more and more apparent to Mr.. Lenox, until, on
January 49, 1858. he, with few other wealthy Pres
byterian friends, met IN the First Presbyterian
church, in Fifth avenue-Rev. DR.. Paxton, pastor
and there 1t was agreed that such an enterprise
should be conceived and brought into perfection
And yesterday 1t stood before the New York public
IN oil Its grand proportions-a lasting
- MEMORIAL OF CHRISTIAN BENEFICENCE
and an honor and ornament to the city.
On February 2S, 1868, the Legislature passed an
act OF incorporation Of the most generous charac-
ter allowing the directors and trustees hold real
or personal property In the and for the use OF
the hospital to an unlimited amount. Mcssrs.
james LenOx, John T. Johnson, Robert L. Stuart,
Morris X. Jessup, Marshall s. Bedwen, Edward s.
Jafray James Brown, william A. Booth, A. B.
Belknap,. William E. Dodge and several other
wealthy and wcll-knOwn metropolitan Presby-
terians were named managers and incOrporators
Mr.. LenOx generously donated the entire block,
Bounded ana ana
for the site OF the hospital and then literally sub
scribed toward the erection OF suitable buildings
thereon. These buildings consist OF square: the
main structures facing the two streets, and joined
together by corridors open and closed which may
In the centre Of this sqnare Stands the engine
house. over which is the laundry, with the neces-
sary rooms for dying, ironing, managing, &c. The
entire hospital isheated from this building also The
principal building fronts on Seventyfrst street, Is
about one hundred and fifty feet long, nfty feet
deep, three stories high, with basement and attic
In Mansard roo. The middle portion projects
little, to give very neat carriage entrance. On
the third floor OF this edince in the centre, is the
little chapel, where the inauguration services were
held yesterday II is very neat hall, finished In
maple wood, with seats for about two hundred
than three hundred packed into it. The basement
Of this building contains the kitchen, the bakery.
Ice and store rooms On
THE FIRST STORY
are the directors room, receiving, examination,
superintendent's, matrOn's, medical and other
rooms The second and third stories afford accom-
modat0ns for the house physician, his assistants
and other officers. This and the next story con-
tain public beds for about sixty patients, besides
several small rooms for paying patients. In the
attic are the servants apartments
The north pavilion, fronting on Seventy-frst
tains public beds for seventy-two patients and
private rooms for thirty more paying patients.
There are two wards on each n0or each ward con-
tanning twelve beds. The first nOor Is occupied by
private wards and the other floors contain the
public wards. spacious and welighted amphi-
theatre or dissccting room occupies the third and
fourth stories OF the middle portion Of this building.
The several ed1ces are built OF Philadelphia brick,
with Lockport limestone trimmings. Every neces-
sary precautiOn has been taken against fire. There
Is abundance OF light and ventilation In the hosp-
tai, and large campus on either end OF the build
q M nynf rf
COST OF THE HOSPITAL
building Is over four hundred thousand dollars. Mr..
Lenox is the President OF the Board OF Managers,
Mr.. A. b. Belknap Treasurer and Mr.. II. NJ. Taber
The friends OF the institution gathered in the
chapel yesterday at one O'Clock, where, after the
reading Of portion OF Scripture and prayer, ad-
DR.. Adams and willard Parker, M. D. The two
clergymen spoke OF the moral relations OF the hos
pitaI to the community and the debt OF gratitude
which the city owes 10 its generous founder, and
also contrasted this feature OF Christanity-the
benevolent-with Judaism and with the different
sketch OF the progress OF medical and hyNenic
science and OF hospital construction from the time
OF the building OF the first hospital In Paris In the
seventh century to that OF Bellevue quarter OF O
century ago. He also showed how accidentally the
Influences @ Of air ana d. sunlight came to be aPpre.
Hos pitaI tents were erected outside the building,
ani it was found that, with equal care, those within
died. while those without lived. This Presbyterian
Hospital he said is as nearly constructed upon the
best known hygenic principles OF this day as it is
possible for any house to be built Every patient
has at least two thousand cubic feet OF air. though
he would have preferred II had they been allowed
5000 feet instead.
THE DIMENSIONS OF THE PUBLIC WARDS
are each fifty by thirty feet and fifteen feet high,
and there are two convaleecent rooms In the pavi-
ion. The Doctor pointed out the educational and
scientific influence OF such an institution as this,
from which hundreds OF young men may 60 forth
to all parts OF our country dispensing the blessings
OF medical science wherever they go. What the
Saviour did by the touch OF His finger In the DAYS OF
His flesh Is now done by medical science, and such
institutions as these are the Betheseas Of fe which
contain not only hve p0rches but q great many,
and where not alone the first who steps In is likely
to be healed but the last also.
DIR. William Adams then announced that Mr..
Ienox had agreed TO give $125,000 towards perma-
ment endowment fund for the hospital provided q
like amount was raised by others. All save $4,000
OF this sum has been pledged or paid, and the men
of wealth present were kindly asked to lend their
aid, and at the close OF the exercises many OF them
did So And thus another has been added to the
many noble charities VI the metropolis Of the West
crn World.