The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-11
NEW BETHESDA DEDICATED.
Lutheran Hospital the Scene of a
Glorious Service

One of the best equipped of local in
situations was opened to the public
yesterday afternoon when the dedica-
ton Of the remodeled and modernized
bethesda hospital on Wacouta and
Ninth streets took place. The insti-
tuition is one well known among the
Scandinavian residents Of the state Of
Minnesota, and is the property of the
Tabftha society of the state which
controls it. This society was organized
in the year 1880 and Incorporated I'M
der the laws of the state for the pIr-
pose of erecting and maintaining char
liable institutions. In 1881 the society
bought a beautiful tract of land on the
East side of Lake Como and fitted UP
large house already on the premises
where Bethesda hospital commenced
its work This location did not prove
suitable on account of it's distance from
the center of the city. The hospital
work was therefore discontinued for
several years. In 1891 Rev. G. A.
HultkranS, the present superintendent
accepted a call from the society and
the work was again taken up. The
former home Of HI. P. Uphan was Sc
cured and thirty-six beds placed in the
wards provided. In this location the
hospital has carried on it's work for
nearly five years During that time
1,400. patients have been treated. The
last years report shows 400 cases
treated, 257 cured, " improved, Is non
durable, and only ten deaths Ninety
per cent are residents outside Of st.
Paul During the summer the hospital
has been closed for four months. dur
ing which time it has been thoroughly
remodeled and modernized and en-
larged to more than twice it's former
capacity at an expense of nearly $1S,-
600. It's present capacity is sixtY-five
beds, including twelve private rooms.
The whole structure has been raised to
three stories instead Of two. Steam
heat has been put in and the latest
plumbing. An elevator is one of the
improvements, and it is said that the
three operating rooms on the top floor
are the best equipped in the state. A
room for the examination of the eyes,
medicine rooms, bath rooms, linen
closets, ETC., are among the improve
ments on the top floor, all of which
are lighted with the best system of
true of the operating rooms which are
so lighted from above as to be used
in the evening as we'll as in the day
time. In the basement are located
the kitchen, dining room, morgue, fur
mace room, enormous cold storage
room, cellar, etc. On the first floor
are the reception rooms, office, and
number of wards. Yesterday the ex-
ercises were held on the second floor,
and addresses were made by Rev. Mr..
E'0gelStrOm, the rector OF the Dea-
conesses Institution Of Omaha. and
the first president Of the conference,
Rev. f. Norelius D. D. The former
spoke of the love Of Christ in caring
for the sick, telling of its necessity in
the work of the nurse though skill was
that desired of the surgeon. He spoke
OF the distinction between the trained
nurse and the deaconess, the latter
being trained for her work by the
church and in the love of God. For
this work she gets nothing beyond her
board and uniform. Rev. DR.. Norelius
spoke Of the Duty of the Church in
Caring for the Sick" The Troubador
Male Quartette furnished a number
of selections. Supper followed in the
dining room, served by the women Of
the First Swedish Lutheran church
and the deaconesses Of the hospital,
and in the evening there was a pro-
gramne in the First Baptist church,
given by Rev. P. J. Sward, D. D., Rev.
John Paul Egbert, N. P. Void, and
the First Lutheran church choir.