The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-10-23
MAINE GENERAL. HOSPITAL


before the time set for the services the build
ing was well filled with persons who wished t
participate in the exercises. The first ward il
the East Pavilion in the second story was uset
for the opening services. AT 8 o'clock th
room was filled TO repletion, many being obliged
to stand, There was large number of gen
tlemen present from different parts of the
state. but the audience was composed chiefly Of
ladies,
At half-past three the Presdeat,J. B. Brown
stepped upon the platform and called the meet
ing to order. He spoke of the building as being
something that the whole state could we'll be
prond of. He referred to the fair last fall that
realized nearly $4,000. He spoke Of the
splendid location Of the building and thought
that it was in the midst of city destined to
number half million souls. His remarks
were brief and very appropriate. At the close
of his remarks he introduced the Rev. DR.. Hill
of this city, who read portions of the scriptures
and offered the prayer Of dedication.
The First Parish choir then sung tha follow
ing hymn, composed for the occasion by Rev.
Samuel I.engfellow. Music by Herman Katz-
SEMINAR:
'Unless TIE Lord build the house they labor in vain
Tia. build it,
Where from far hills the healtlful breezes blow
Ger woodlawn. river. vale and harvest plain,
Our House of Mercy crowns the city's BROW
Unless Thou build Lord we build in vain!
Where once war gathered his death dealing stores,
His iron balls, his sharp and fatal steel.
Feet swift to shall softly tread these floors,
And kindly hands shall only wound to heal.
Their skffu touch shall charm the sting of pain,
Calm the wild nerves, the throbbing Pulse con-
The paliid check shall glow with health again.
The lame shall walk, the wounded be made whole.
Then Comforter and Healer of earth's woe,
Oliver of life, Redeemer from the gravel
Bid Thou, through us Thy strength and mercy
flow,
And make us servants of Thy will to save!
Gov. Dingley then delivered the dedcatory
address, which is as follows:
OBLIGATORY ADDRESS.
Mr.. President, Ladies and Conference.-The
occasion marks an event of no ordinary sig
nifcance. Its importance arises, not from the
fact that it is public proclamation of the
completion of one pavilion of a beautiful
structure,-for more costly and magnificent
edifces are every year springing up around
us; not from the fact that it is formal dedi-
cation of substantial and commodious build
ings to public uses; but because it is the Of
fetal opening of the first General Hospital in
this State, designed as an asylum for those of
our citizens who, stricken down by disease or
accident, require such medical treatment as
their homes or their means may be unable to
furnish. The inauguration of such noble
charity in the State where I was born, where
l have thus far lived and where I hope to spend
the remainder of my days.-is to me, person.
ally cause of sincere satisfaction and pride.
And am sure that, speaking officially in be-
half of nv fellow citizens, may congratulate
the Trustees and benefactors of the institution
which you have assembled to dedicate, on
the success which has thus far attended their
efforts; and may tender to them the thanks
of the men and women of Maine for founding
a hospital set apart for objects which COM
mend themselves to every heart
Before the separation from the parent Com
monwealth. the Old Bay State had founded
her Massachusetts General Hospital; but
nearly half a century of our existence as a
State closed before the idea which has been
realized in the Maine General Hospital, found
utterance at the annual meeting of the State
Medical Association. Six years since char
ter was granted by the Legislature; and four
years since the State laid the foundations of
the enterprise by generous grant of land and
money. But the benefactions of the State,
although since increased by another appro-
priation of money, would have availed little
in an enterprise of such proportions, had they
not been supplemented by the generous sub
scriptions of the citizens of Portland, literally
enlarged by contributions from other parts OF
the State. All honor to the men and women of
this large hearted and public spirited city,
and also to the men and women of other
towns and cities, whose generous and timely
donations have made the Maine General Hos
pital possible. This stately ediice, dedicated
to the relief of the wants of suffering human
ity, will be the monument of your hberality
as long as brick and mortar shall last Nay,
the wounds which will here be healed, the
sufferings which will here be assuaged, the
heart-agonies which will here be soothed, and
the tears which will here be dried up, will
bear constant testimony tq your generous be-
nevolence.
Not the least important benefits which are
to flow from institutions like the Maine Cen
eral Hospital, arise from the opportunities
which they afford the medical profession Tor
acquiring prohclency and ski! IN the dlHerent
departments OF medicine and surgery. De-
pendant as every human being Is at some time
In his LIE, on the skill OF the physician and
surgeon, now important 1t is that fhey should
have every appropriate facility for making
themselves familiar with the laws OF health
and the best methods OF treating disease.
Ordinary schools OF medicine can give little
more than rudimentarry knowledge; observa-
ton, investigation and experience must be left
to perfect professional skill. 1t is obvious
that public hospital treating large number
OF cases, including almost every type OF dis
case, especially such as are most difficult and
dangerous,-must afford unusual opportuni-
ties to members OF the profession for OBJ
servation and investigation. Such an insti-
tuition, as has been well said, necessarily "be-
comes school of instruction to every physi-
clan and surgeon in the State and central
source of learning, fidelity and skill, from
which light and relief may be extended to the
humblest patient in the remotest village"
The story is told of an eminent oculist, that
when complimented on his wonderful skill,
he replied, Il shouldn't care to tell you how
many eyes this skill has COST" It may be
safe to predict that the Maine General He's
pital will be the means of saving "many
eyes, and many lives which might have been
sacrificed by inexperience in acquiring skill
in the medical profession.
So well established is it that the greatest
professional skill, particularly IN the highest
departments of operative surgery. can be at
+o;nad orly in and +bro,rb sroh n bor,;+o1 =,