New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-04-10
4 GENIUS FOR HOSPITALS.

No man could desire better monument than
a hospital well endowed and likely to be the
refuge of the poor and sick through many
generations. ST. Luke's Hospital, established
through the labors of Dr. Muhlcnberg, who is
lust dead after long life of philanthrOpic
labor. fuflls these conditions. From the be-
ginning it has been admirably managed and
for its Unusual success it has been indebted to
the personal supervision Of its founder-a man,
it would seem, with positive genius for such
laborS There have been so many scandals III
connection with church charities recently, in
volving not merely negligence and self-seeklng,'
but even cr;lelty to the young and positive
financial dishonesty, that we may well improve
the occasion of Dr. Muhlenberg's death to sug-
cest that conscience and honor and honesty
are as necessary in managing hospitals as III
any other practical undertaking.
1t is taken for granted that those to whose
care guilds, asylums retreats, refugees are com
mitted have their hearts in the work, and are
doing it with singlcness of purpose; and when
it is discovered that some who are thus en-
gagged have manly their own interests and
material comfort at heart, great many who
have been cheerful givers are indignant, and
think seriously of Withholding future dona-
tons. The suiicrings of the sick, the eXIgen-
cies of the poor, the wants of the fat'erlesS,
however, remain the same though supern-
tendents have proved faithess or cruel,
and though ovcrseers have Ovcrseen to
little purpose. 1t is when we are
shocked by revelations of the dubious
management of charities that we feel the in
estmabe worth of man like DR.. Muhlen-
berg He was wisely benevolent, for he be-
lieved in happy homes as well as hospitals.
lie not only toilcd to build up st. Lules, but
in his old age he was enthusiastically earnest
in establishing the Christian Industrial Com
munity. at st. Johnand with the purpose of
providing comfortable places of residence for
deserving families and of caring for frendless
children, and especially cripples. There Were
good sense aid thorough trustwOrthincss
about all which DR.. Muhcnbcrg did which
secured the public confidence and success,
sometimes under circumstances anything but
encouraging. He was one of the few who have
talent for wcll-doing. Every year, for
lack of executive capacity to supplement
good intentions and the public Ebcraty,
there is money thrown away in this city and
elsewhere sufficient greatly to diminish the
aggregate of human suffering if properly man
aged and expended. The charitable nstitu-
tons which really flourish win prosperity
through the .ctual ability which is brought to
their administration. The charities which do
not succeed, or only half succeed, owe their
failure sometimes to want of interest shown
by their supervisory committees, and some
times to the gross sellishness and negligence
of those who are intrusted with their over
sight. DR.. Muhlenberg as superintendent and
pastor of st. Luke's was, day and night, the
most devoted servant within its kindly walls.
He was not there because he had failed to
find profitable employment elsewhere, nor for
any purpose except to do the good work to
which his life was devoted.
We should not have thought it necessary to
speak here of good works which are so well
known if the public had not been so recently
panied and discouraged by bad work on be-
half of the poor the sick, and the fatherless.
1t is not given to every man to be q pllilan-
thropist of practical skill and we really think
that too little attention is sometimes paid to
the characters of those TO whom charitable in
stitutions are confidod. The managers of hos
pitals and like establishments shoU!d be men
born for the business and though Muhlenbergs
are rare, there is a chance of improvement i'll
their selection.
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