Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1898-10-14

and helping to comfort the suffering and
the sick.
From the first systematic course of in
structon given by DR.. Valentine Seaman
in the New York Hospital in 1898, one
hundred years ago, the work has grown con-
stantly until now there are over six-thous-
and graduates, 4, 500 students and over IT'S
training schools The first Bellevue Hos
pital Training School was founded in 1873
Mr. Henry Dunant, Swiss gentleman, be
ing in Italy at the time of the battle of Sol
ferino, June ~, 1850, visited the battlcfelds
Appalled, by the needless suffering, he re-
maned many days, doing all in his power
to relieve IT. During these terrible day
Mr.. Dunant conceived the idea of system
of organized relief whereby aid could be
given under such circumstances. Return
ing home, he published little book called,
"Recollections of Solferino," that aroused
great interest, His appeal touched a re-
sponsive cord in all hearts Being invited
to address the Geneva Society of Public
Utility on the subject, he unfolded to them
his plans From that time forward he la
bored indefatigably to win adherence TO his
cause, writing articles, consulting officials
high in authority at the European Courts.
By the provision of the Red Cross Treaty,
surgeons, nurses, ambulance trained and
all hospital societies are considered neutral,
provided they display a uniform badge and
flag, accompanied by their national flag
"In compliment to Mr. Dunant and the
Swiss Government, the protective sign and
flag agreed upon was red Greek cross on
a white ground. The reverse of Sw iss
flag Turkey alone has objected to this.
Her soldiers, IN their intense hatred of the
Christian symbal, refused to work under a
banner with a cross and they were allowed
to use a red crescent in its place. Mr..
Dunant is now II years Of age. He spent
his fortune in establishing the Red Cross
and lived many years poor and forgotten in
a plain intlrmary in Switzerland of which
he himself was the founder. He is now
enjoying comfort and plenty through pen
sion from the Empress of Russia the Coun-
Gil of Switzerland and citizens of Stuttgart
his home.
In 1888 Theodore Fliedner excited by
the needs of the sick poor in their homes
and believing they could be best served by
an organized body of women devoted to
this work established the first Deaconess
House at Kaiserworth, a town on the
Rhine Just below Dusseldorf They were
called the Protestant Sisters of Mercy and
founded probably the best institution of the
kind in the world. 1t was here Florence
Nightingale the mother of the great nurs-
ing sisterhood. studied and gave evidence
of her desire TO live for others than herself
In 1889 in Liverpool help to the sick .was
begun by a single nurse in a small district,
but the work was so successful under the
inspiration of Mr.. Rathbone, NJ d. that il
soon spread throughout Great Britain and
Ireland. In 1877 the New York City Mis-
sion began sending trained nurses to the
sick in their homes and the work has spread
all over our broad land through organized
societies, institutions and churches.
The most recent is the Victorian Order
of Nurses founded in the Queens jubilee
year, to supply the poor IN towns and the
poorly settled parts OF Canada.
These beginnings on the battle field, in
the hospitals and the homes have set in
motion a system f caring for the sick and
afflicted that has brought light and comfort
into more dark places than any other
movement of the century.
Ladies and gentlemen you have enlisted
in this great Health Army, you have passed
and are TO be mustered into the ranks, and
will soon experience your first engagement.
You are now The man behind the gun
The experience and trained intelligence in
the man behind the gun holds good in
every condition of life.
You may literally have devoured every
text book you may thoroughly understand
the science of physiology, hygiene, hydro
therapeutics, electricity, massage, cookery
| and nursing, but If you do not know how
| to apply your wisdom TO the care, comfort
and cure of the sick, as a nurse you are a
failure 1t is the art behind the science,
the skill behind the knowledge, it is the
individual himself the Man behind the
gun, that wrings success from any calling
Success has only to do with individual
character, study and training Experience
and things are of value only for their in
| fuence on character.
Education, position and place are oi
value only for the opportunities they give
for the expression of character. The Who'll,
world indeed must be interpreted from thi,
basis, the individual character. Accepting
the proposition that character is the essen
tal thing it is easily seen that Cbrstiapiu
is the best definition OF character Itillus
trates the true life best Patience, self
control, kindness, gentleness truthfulness
honesty and self-sacrihce are attributes o
the only character worth living Relianc
on God surrender to Him, trust in Him
worship and praise of Him prepares tn
life ground for the growth of these virtues
1t follows then that a successful nurs
must be a Christan.
While this is true even this charaete
does not come for the asking, but is tn
result of panstaking, continuous effort il
the cultivation of those gifts and grace
that make for us that composite unit, ind
vidual character.
knowledge was joined to labor whe
man left the first Eden Ever since it ha
| UContinued ON eighth Dape