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

Delaware Hospital, Fourteenth and Wash
lngton streets, Saturday afternoon, was
witnessed by large concourse of people.
The event was interesting and conspicu
ous from the fact that with the single
exception OF the laying of the corner
stone of the Masonic Temple, 1t was the
7rst timethe brethren had laid the cor
1er-stone of public bailding since 1S49
when they offleiated ct the old Union
Church, on Second strest, near Washing
ton.
The ceremonies of Saturday afternoon
were participated in by the M est Wor-
ghipful Grand Lodge of Delaware, A. +.
Il A. M. The officers and members met
at the Masonic Temple and at 345
Y o'clock started for the hospital grounds,
escorted by ST. Johns Commandery, No.
I, Knights Templar, of this city The
First Regiment band headed the process
sion. Arrived ut the grounds the Mo.
sonic brethren took position upon tenn.
porary platform erected for tho purpose
and the exercises began. DR.. L. P.
Bush, president Of the hospital board of
trustees, was down for the opening
address. but as he was away from the
city and could not possibly return in
sims, the address which he had prepared
was read by J. Parke Postles, as follows:
DR. pusH's ADDRESS.
Friends and Fetop citizens; We have
come here 10. day TO lay the corner stone OF
the Delaware Hospital.
The contributions which have been made
up TO this time, and the prudAr for the
future support OF the institution Is herewith
gratefully acknowledged by the board OF
trustees. The interest which exists In the
erection of this building has been shown
by our cttizAns at varlons times and pinces,
and the anxiety which has been expressed
for tho earlyprosecution ofthe work has not
only been appreciated but has also been felt
by the whole board; but It was not deemed
judicial to commence the work until there
was sufficient evidence OF mems to COM
plete 1t.
Had the desire OF the physicians OF WILL
mtnyton been carried out there won,d b tve
been plaos long ago to which tho stcS and
wounded OF ou- city who, we're IN need OF
such assistance might be- taken for atten-
ton. But It ls happy event which has
brought Us hsre to-day TO attempt to sup
ply the deficiencies Of tho past and to help
to wipe away whatsver of cdiuul may have
rested upon the reputation OF our city by
this neglect.
In our opinion the building which we
propose TO erect will meet the wants OF this
community until such times as funds may
be available Tor Its extension.
Hospitals may be sgld to 5e the miiestones
of Christianity. Prior TO the advent OF the
Lord Jesus Christ man as man was es-
teemed OF tut little value. Wealth, power
or Influence were required to give man n
place in society. Hence, neglect, hard
ships, slavery and suffering were tho in
I heritanee OF the masses. No helping hand
was stretched out to relieve the sick and
dying, except az II were incidentally. Even
the Jewish priesthood had no ears for the
means Of tho distressed OF other nations
than their own, out passed b7 on the
other side" The word "hospital" does MOI
N occur in Josephu ; history. In Judsa. In
the time OF our Saviour. the sick were
brought on conches into the most frequented
places In the cities that they might recsive
assistance from the most benevolent. Tina,
country seemed to De fall OF lams
n malmed, blind, leptons, sick OF fsvers, aud
"A of oil manner OF diseases to watch tina
u region was suNjsot, AMI they hosked ir
great numbers TO the Great Physician fol
relief.
Among the Greeks the sick we're exposed
along tho streets In order that they Nigh,
D have this benefit OF the experience OF tno3e
N who hive been similarity Affected. Thu
was as far as the ordinary humanity of mar
IA carried him toward the suffering, 30 far ii
4 l Know. In all the world prior to gu
M 5avlouf's time. sueh an institution as
IA hospital (as We understand the word) va
IT, not in ex Sterca, The first oa record WA
"A founded bv st. Chrysostom In tho fourth
VI century. / say then that the hospitals ar,
3H the Indicators OF Christianity; aud where
ri ever Christianity has seat there, soone
4 or later, viii be found the hospital.
M Disease and death are the lot OF our race
and inasmuch as d very large part of man
4 kind are destitute of the means OF properly
providing for the sick 1t Is inevitable thai
N unless those who have means eau and wi
~ snccor them, they must bear their hard 10
Without sympathy or relief. The principle
@ at our holy religion cannot admit OF this
va When the Great Teacher sont forth His dis
& eiples on their ilrst mission the leading son
tance OF their commission was "heal tn
szMNN. NanF a.k,..e
# ever before HIN given such u charge to hi
VII disciplesf Thii Charge has come down I
lM us In these ends OF ear n and although tn
a& need ia not so crest here as In some othe
parts OF tho world, we know that there al
sick and wOundAd among us who need tn
M care and provision which can hs found In
we'll ordered hospital. No physician VIII
gu has been but tew years Ia practice ca
ltM fail to appreciate the necessity Tor the con
fort, ventilation and attendance which Gu
be found in puzzle institution, and whic
t is often impossible 10 be fur2tshed In man
W dwellings. Nor is 1t alone in the homes
ahiect poverty that this need exists. Tt
great number OF our houses have been bui
f for the well-'he BEST arrangement for tt
SICK OF the family Is seldom thought O
and hence dis-ases become chronic or fat,
which might have been cured In favorab
conditions. This Is fact which Is ofte
Sa nowadays appreciated In our large Glide
i@ where persons In the best circumstance
H. are found there.
WHAT we VINO favor this effort want IS
lN hospital where the system OF practlc
s which Is wrongly called "Allopathlc" wi
be carried out III conjunction with all th
4 appliances which appartaln to an inetit
iH tiou founded and administered on the mo
f scientific system OF the present day.
As regards the questan OF support
iU would remark that there are In this ci
it between thirty and forty churches 4
WI religious worship, all OF which are SUI
sN ported by the contributions of tho member
XII which Is done for the worship of God, ar
for the moral and spiritual benefit OF q
VA worshipers; and IL ~ n service which
founded On our duty TO God. Is not II
obligation also to obey the injunction
s'heal the sick" of sufficient weight to CT
for the means to support this hospital?
think there should be, and believe there
In constructing such Il hospital attentlC
to the ventilation is OF the frat importanc
Each patient shall be allowed wall space
ia feet by II tGet, aEd OF sufficient height
iA make ,4i6 square feet of air space. III
Nj lowest estimate puts 1t at 200 square fee
.N Without proper ventilation, that Is, fr
|W quant change OF air, corresponding to D
W nunoer o! inmates, the valuv OF a hospit
Is lost In q great measure, and the pla
k becomes source OF disease instead
N health.
t The plan Of this building has been pr
1oN pared by General j. Parka Postles al
Henry @. Jones, OF the building committe
' in consultation with several physicians
'of this city. General Posties, chairman OF I
N building commltte', will explain the pla
..H cost aud time when the building will