Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-10-09
SHALL BRATTLEBORO HAVE A
HOSPITALS

Rev. Mr.. Days sermon at the Congre-
rational church last Sunday evening was
on "What the social life of Brattlcboro
ought to be. The text was from John
xI. 50: "What think ye that he will not
come to the feast?" The central thought
of the discourse was that the control of all
social life must be by the spirit OF the Son
of Man The word social is used, not IN
the narrow sense, as affecting labor prob
lens. the reorganization of the state, ETC.,
but i'm the simpler sense of its Latin de-
rivation as that side of life where we seek
pleasure, benefit and growth in companies,
circles, clubs, festivals and the ike, III
which personalities, taste and uncompeled
occupations are involved. First, the pos
sibiity of the social life in common was
defended. both historically, looking back
to the Brook farm and like experiments OF
years ago. and also ntrinsically, as involv-
ed in a statement of principles for Its de-
veopment. The two main aspects of the
subject, the inner circles and the general
spirit, were taken up. The inner circles,
as distinct from narrow cilques by the es-
| sential thought of a true friendship, were
| first insisted on as necessary to the general
! we'll being On the other side the true
social spirit of a community was described
| by its necessary elements. First sword
! edge against every approach of immortality
next, high thinking and high feeling, and
! a larger use of the means already locally
organized, together with strict censorship
of popular amusements Third, spirit OF
benevolence. and on this line an argument
was made in behalf of public hospital for
| Brattleboro. 1t was urged that there are
people enough in the town and county who
need the benefits of such an institution,
while none is near. Various cases were
cited i'm which the need of hospital treat
ment i, almost imperative, such As railroad
accidents the illness or injury of homeless
strangers. difficult surgical or other cases
from remote towns needing expert care,
poor mems children whose homes cannot
afford proper treatment and Others which
readily suggest themselves. An important
feature would be the opportunity for the
education of trained nurses whose services
are So often required in the homes OF our
people. All of these things the experience
of the hospitals at North Adams and
Northampton. Mass, and Concord, \. H.,
strongly emphasize. From these place.
letters were read endorsing such an enter
prise as a great and increasing necessity.
The establishment Of hospital in Braitle-
boro would require the combined wisdom
and the cordial union and cooperation OF
all our physicians, with careful management
on the part of the board of control. But
these being given success would be as
sured. 1t was suggested that the services
on next Thanksgiving day might see some
active and tangible development of the
movement in BrattlebOro.
! Rev. I. w. Illman, now of Concord, Y.
H.. spoke of the forthcoming dedication Of
the completely-appointed new PilisburN
hospital in that city, and promised a NOR,
detailed account in a subsequent letter
Mrs. Cady Of North Adams, the secretary
of the hospital board of ladies of thai
town. gave in her letter a very full accoun
of an enterprise which from small begin
nings. aided by charitable gifts. has grow
to be a large institution. meeting the need.
of wide area of country.