Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-17
THE RETREAT FOR THE SICK.
The Exhibit Made I'm the Annuni
Report of Mrs. jenkins.

The LADY Board OF Managers OF the
for the Sick held their annual
meeting on Thursday, with quite iuii
Mrs w. A. Jenkins presented her eigh-
teenth annual report, which was as toi-
lows:
81 do not wish to detain you. dear
friends. from the business or the DAY
by a lengthy prologue introducing tne
time-worn subject OF the Retreat. ts
mast. present. and future. but, though
brought 10 your notice so frequently,
I think a short talk on this, its eighteenth
anniversary, may not prove whoily
stale and Improbable.
"Time has, I hope. endeared our lnsti-
tuition TO many OF its old members, ana
| trust ripening acquaintance with i's
glorious work will enhance the affec-
tlons OF it's more recently acquired
friends. In the youthful days OF the Re-
treat when we struggled TO keep life IN
II. like most fond mothers We looked
forward to a good time coming. when the
army of ills that usually attack baby
hood should be drawn Off and constant
anxiety give place to quiet and secure
possession: these days, / say, Of castle
building. became shorter and shorter, un-
iii gradually the truth was borne In
upon our minds that freedom from care
and trouble could no more be attained
in our public undertakings than In our
private homes.
Each year has brought forth new
causes for anxiety and occasion for re-
newed energy on the part OF the man
ayers but. while regarding this side OF
| the picture we turn to recount tlsa mer-
cies and blessings which Heaven Is
| continually vouchsafng us. This con-
Ag1
| ceasingIy for guidance and judgment In
all things, leaving the result with the
| higher Power for whose glory we
are working and whose commands we
| are striving h. obey, in caring for His
| sick and suffering creatures. Afte'
( drawing all our true comfort from the
| only true source. we may be excused foi
! indulging In some sentiments Of tho
| earth earthy-the pride OF primogeni
| ture. Yes. the Retreat may now claim
| the title OF mother of southern hospitals
| Hers was the first voice to awaken the
| spirit of charity in this line, not only
| in our community. but many nefghborins
| citles-Norfolk. Petersburg, Lynchburg
Danville, StauntOn and others-caught
| the echo and responded with alacrity
Many persons came or wrote to us
| from these distant quarters for desired
| information respecting this new object oi
| interest Seeds were sown and grew ra-
pldly. some OF the scions assuming ever
| the parental name, and thus proclaim
| ing the stock from which they had
| sprung. and now In our own city we
are surrounded with numerous minia-
lures OF the ancestral dome that beai
| too close o resemblance TO the fountain
head for any claim to originality. We
| ought to rejoice and be ex'
ceedingly glad that our influence
has been so widely extended and
| our mantle fallen upon so many shoul
| ders: falling TO attain this pure. disin
| terested unselnshness let MS write our
| selves with the weak, miserable sinners
| that are, and OF whom | am chief,
| Not waiting for GbSolution after this
| humble confession. ] will proceed witt
| the following statistics for the past year
| The whole number Of patients received
| from March 1, 1894, to March |, 1885, was
| 229: OF these, 127 were charity, and th'
| latter were given 5693 days of hospita
| treatment. The number OF charity pa
| tents each month were: March, q
| April, %: May, %: June, Is; July, 2l; Au
| gust. q; September. II; october, II; No
| yember, Is: December, IS; January, Is
| February. II.
There was a falling Off during tn
| year OF pay patients, but. owing to the sue
| cess OF excursions. entertainments, ant
| the generous gifts OF friends, We hay'
| been able to increase. rather than de
| crease, our charity.
"The following officers were elected 10
the year 1896: President. Mrs. william
A. jenkins; First Vice-President, Mrs
j. r. Ellyson; Second Vice-President
| Mrs. II. Swineford: Third Vice-President
Mrs. A. s. Lee: Fourth Vice-Presiden,
Mrs. l. NJ. Rosenbaum; Fifth Vice-Presi
dent, Mrs. ID. w. Moseley; Sixth Vice
President. Mrs. Gervas Storrs; Treasurer
Mrs. Jack Temple: Secretary, Mrs. Johr
r. I.ightfoot; Assistant Secretary. Mrs
| Ieunie Peasants"