Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-08-22

Masons and by that order of Knights who
III tflaugua ar form are surrounding us, and
whose tensts and rltnal are essentially
Christian, the glory OF God and the bsnefi.
OF His creatures ara held In highest esteem
and reverence. And 1t therefore was with
aiacriTy, and out OF no mere desire for vain
display, that the invitation to attend rhts
ceremony was accepted by the Grand
Lodge of Della ware.
10 the admirable address already read
from the hospital's president (whose un-
avoidable 9bsencs we all sincerely reerst)
mention was made OF a fact to which mad
myself intended to alluds as reason why
as Christian bishopI may be especially
glad to be related to this work. want IN
lay especial emphasis upon that fact which
Ia that hospitals owe their origin to the
birth Of Christianity.
1t was no. until the Incarnation of the
Son OF God that men realized, that men
could realiza, the proper value OF the human
body and realizst therefore, their dnty IT, care
for and honor 1t as Of the same fash which
Jesus Christ took upon Himself. The re-
latlon OF our bodies to Christ's body gives
TO them adlsnity and value which other
wise could NOT possibly bslong to them.
And so when the great truth of the Ilcar.
nation was known and accepted the follow
ers OF Christ began TO recoynizs the duty
and privilege OF giving more propar attsn-
tlop TO their wants and ailments. Hence 1t
Is that hospitals may, undoubtedly, be
elias ed among the many benefits which
have accrued TO the world from the pro pa
CATION OF Christianity.
Indeed, there is hardly any one thing
that more distinctly marks the difference
between Christian aud heather rations
more than the din rent value they put upon
this human body aud human lifs. Let me
illustrate 1t by two pictdtes which l once
saw by tho site of each other-it may have
been by accident; It certainly was by an
instructive coincidence. Y1u may have
seen the same pictures yourselves, but
possibly not In the position In which saw
them. One represented gladlatorial con-
test In tha haathen amphltheatre. The
artist had depicted that part Of the incident
wherein the successful combetent stood
with ons foot on the breast of his van
quished rival aud with the other towards
The emperor, awaiting from him the nod
which should tell him whether or not with
his uplifted sword he shoald slay his pros
trate foe, whose eves were turned with In
tensest eRgerness towards the monarch Inn
ploring mercy. The vestal virgins, with
their thumbs turned downward, hal al
ready shown their desire for his death,
while on the wel-fled benches the holi-
day making multitudas were eager for a
bloody end Of this exciting and yet debastng
sport, Ths emperor Is apparently much
moro interested IN tina fresh lg which he 10
eating than In the fate or one of his fellow
creatures, however, so mental SUI jact he
may have been. This Ia to my MUD fair
Illustration OF tbs low value SET by heathen-
ism on the human body and life.
The other picture was Of an English mil
| itary hospital at Sautari. The ward witch
the artist dep cted was full OF beds. upon
which were lying many brave and suffering
men. The clock on the wall gives Us AN
hour past midnight. Passing up and down
between the patients Is q ministering
| woman, the nurse of thu ward, and as she
goes on In her loving offices patiently and
| gently she is altogether unconscious OF a
rough soldier using al his little strength
| to raise himself sufficiently TO kiss her
| shadow Oh the wall. rhisto me Ia an illus.
tratlon of the higher value sst by Chris
tianity on the human body and life.
| Let us again be very thankful that In the
| establishment of this hospital God gives us
an opportunity Of showing to the world the
| practical side oil our Christianity, and thus
| OF silencing some OF its advsrsaries who
would reproach us for our want OF real
| bensvolenoe.
At times do not wonder so much at the
reluctance which some people show In en-.
bracing the doctrines OF our holy religion
They 80 frequently ses our Inconsistencies
or lack Of real life. These certainly fora
one OF the greatest stumbling blocks ir
Ohristianity's way among the heather
people, who are very quick to detect Ii
others the lack OF practical religion, fol
which they have genuine respect.
IL Is related OF the Chinese during theil
war with the French a fsw years ago tha
an infuriated mob demolished one Of tn,
chapels belonging to the foreigners ant
proceeded to the hospital to destroy that
But when they saw IL the wards some o
their own countrymen Gas yet unconvertet
10 Christianity lying upon their beds, at
l.4 4,
aud then reflected how much OF good hal
already been accomplished by the hospital
they with one accord desIsted from attack
Ing 1t. 1t WAS a representative O
Christianity which they could understan,
ami appreciate much better than the In
consistency OF life which belonged to son
VINO frequ4nted the chapel. And 90 fee
that our molly religion will win from som
by means of this hospital respect for 1t
doctrines and Institutions which q lea
practical exhibition OF 1t might fail to CON
mAnd.
Nor will the benefits OF the hospital b
confined to those who may have the goo
fortune to be rs inmates.
Those who administer it's affairs, and es
pecialiy such as may give Of their time an
sympathy to the care and comfort OF II
patients, will receive many blessing l
retura. There Is nowadays 80 much {
aimless and frivolous ltvide that 1t is rel
benefit to the world to have some such ID
situtions US hospitals where the mora cal
nest and unselfisn hearts may find o5jec'
upon which they can probably exercis
their virtues and gracss, and 80 deepe
their own religious character.
II will not be possible for you, my dea
friends, TO give heartily OF your money an
time and labor to the welfare OF the sic
and wounded, who may be gathered here
without IN same way, directly or indirectly
being more than recompensed for all tina
you have expended.
A Swedish princess who was very ans
, ious to see hospital completed, IN whic
she WAS much Interested, gave her valuabi
, diamonds to be sold for the building fund
Afterwards IN Waiting the patients an
doing some kindly office she observed o
the cheeks of one of them tears OF grat
, tude. "Ahr' she exclaimed, "noW l Sc
, my diamonds again"
So you, dear friends, as you shall In tn
fu ure visit this Delaware Hospital and OF
serve the glad thRnkiulness OF such as
; your means and exertions have here r.
, ceived the blessings of comfort adj he4lt
: and strength, will SEQ again the preciot
! things which you may have sacrificed II
the erection and maintenance. and while
for the very Joy you feel in the welfare
your fellows you would on no account wis
;, to possess again.
DO not, therefore, begrudge what yo
have done and given. And do not wifi
hold your lapors and gifts IN the futur
- much Is yet to be accomplished. For o,
. most siscerelg h0pe-hattng all kinds
! debt as do-that there may be no de
!, either on the land or on the buildings,
!, thht all the income OF the Institution
!, when 1t shall have been put In operatio
: may BIO applied TO Its own many requtr
!, ments.
= y One word more: 1t may be that some
you will not be able personally TO minlst
within its walls, But there are none of "
y