The record-union., 1897-06-09
DEDICATED TO GOOD DEEDS.
The Sisters New Mater MiSeriCOrdiae
Hospital.
Bishop Grace Officiates-Interestin
Ceremonies and Addresses
Yesterday.

A large concourse of people gathered
yesterday to witness the dedication OF
the Mater Misericordiae Hospital at
Twenty and Q streets, conduct
ed by the Sisters of Mercy.
The religious ceremonies were con-
Quoted by Bishop Grace, assisted by
Fathers Walsh, Hunt, Mulhan and
Plus Of this city, Father Hyns of
Woodland, and Father Griffin OF Dixon.
A great many of the physicians and
surgeons of the city showed their APP
probation of the institution by being
present at the ceremony. Messrs. Kent,
Devine and Pennish of the City Board
of Trustees were present, also Superior
Judge Hart and District Attorney Ry-
an.
The Christian Brothers College Band
furnished the music, which was ex-
ceIent and of a nature appropriate to
the occasion, and the girls of the two
Sodalities of the Society of Children of
Mary were present.
Bishop Grace, preceded by the Cattle
dral altar boys and the assisting min
listers, passed through the building,
and in the central hall on the first
floor the services of blessing the build
ing We're conducted.
On the conclusion of the religious GER
emonies those present gathered before
the veranda on the east side of the
building to listen to the dedicatory ad-
dress.
DR.. SIMMONS REMARKS.
In introducing Hon. Judson Brusie
DR.. G. L. Simmons said: Il am glad
of the opportunity to say few words
on so interesting an occasion as the
dedication of large general hospital in
Sacramento, built as all can see on the
most approved plans and with the best
sanitary surroundings. AS one of the
older practitioners, I know we have
long hoped for just such place as
this, and in years gone by have made
fruitless efforts to establish in our city
a large general institution for the care
OF the sick and wounded. With a
County Hospital for the support of the
INDECENT, that has no superior in our
State, and a specially good home for
the great army of railroad employees
when sick or injured. we yet were sadly
in need of accommodations of the best
character for those who desired to take
advantage of the most approved means
offer for the relief or care of disease.
Fortunately, after many years of
waiting. the Sisters of Mercy came for
ward, and in the most generous spirit
entered upon the work the fruit of
which we behold to-day. 1t would in
deed seem but natural that this sister
hood should take the initiative in pro-
viding for our city and section a COM
Iar,r,s =, a
of years the different orders of sisters
have been in charge of leading hospi-
tails throughout the civilized world, and
the advantages of having an organized
body of good women, whose whole lives
are devoted to the service of the sick
and suffering, to take control of this
new institution, are well known to med
zeal men everywhere.
Bound as they are to receive at all
times, and without distinction, the sick
and wounded of every creed and every
nationality, they have expressed them
selves ready in this instance to go still
further in a liberal effort to secure the
cooperation of the people and of the
entire medical profession. Contrary
to the general custom, they have APP
pointed no exclusive medical or sur
gical staff, and each physician or sur
geon is welcome to attend his patients
or perform his operations with the as
sistance of the best nurses, and COM
plete sanitation. On this generous and
humane plan they commence their
work, and [ am sure will receive the
support of all who can appreciate self
sacrifice and Christian charity.
But it is not alone as doctors that
we should do all that lies in our power
to advance this enterprise. AS citizens
of Sacramento, the work commends it
self to us in a marked degree. 1 doubt
If there be a town of thirty thousand
census population in the American
union that has not within its limits a
large general hospital, and yet Sac
ramento, the capital of a great State
has been obliged to content herself with
inadequate quarters for her sick and
suffering for nearly half a century. The
result has been that within this long
period of time thousands of our own
and neighboring citizens have felt
obliged to seek other places for relief
where more public spirit had been man.
ifested in this direction and more gen
erous accommodations provided for
particular surgical operations.
Large sums of money have been lost
to this community from this cause
alone, and a love for our home and a
desire to aid every good cause that may
tend to build up our city should prompt
us to give this institution our undivid-
ed support.
1T may be said that the chances of
success in important surgical opera
tions are increased by sending suffer
ers to a proximity by the sea, when the
reverse is most certainly the case. The
clear, dry air of this great valley is
always to be preferred for this purpose
to the moist and changeable atmos-
phere of the coast. 1t is also certain
that with all the disadvantages of lin