The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-16
Methodist Hospital at Kansas
City, Has, Gets a Windfall.
Bethany Institution Receives a
Bequest of $4,000.
ENDOWMENT OF 100000
To Build the Finest Hospital In
the West.
Name OF the Generous Donor
Withheld at Present.

Kansas City. Aug 16.-Bethany hos
pital, in Kansas City, Kan. has been
pledged a gift of $4,000, and will pro-
badly be endowed with 100000 more.
The name of the donor is withheld by
the management of the hospital until
the final terms OF the gift are decided
upon. This viii be reached about the
10th of next month, when the hospitals
benefactor will arrive in the city and
meet the board of directors.
Rev. Mr.. S. z. Belts, general SUPER
intendent of the hospital, said today
that ne was not at liberty to divulge
the name OF the man who has promised
the money, but says ne is Il western
man, and that the gift may be a great
deal more than SAC, 600. According to
the statement of a friend of the hospi-
TAI winch was practically cOrroborated
by Rev. Mr.. Belts, a wealthy westerner
has decided to give the hospital at
least S4OOO0 to be used in the erection
OF a handsome new structure The
board OF directors and Rev. Mr.. Belts
the general superintendent, have been
instructed to have plans and specifca-
lions drawn up for the new building
The man who is to give the money will
meet with the directors in Kansas
city, han., on or about September 10.
at which time the plans will be ap-
proved and the money turned over The
building will be an artistically designed
structure, modernly equipped from
basement to garrett. Should it cost
more than $40, 900, it is more than pro-
bable that the gift viii be raised to the
sum necessary to complete the hospi-
tai and make it one of the best in the
western country.
When the new hospital is completed,
the present building, which is a big
two-story brick. will be converted into
deaconess home and training school,
the entire structure to be used for this
purpose exclusively. It will be branch
or the hospital, and the two will be
under the same management, making
one OF. the biggest institutions of the
kind in the United States.
Bethany hospital was founded in 1892
by the Methodist Episcopal church of
Kansas City, Kan, and was later
adopted by the Methodist conference of
Kansas. 1t is now under the control of
the Kansas conference, but is managed
by a board of directors elected each
year. 1t is a charitable institution and
every person contributing as much as
$40 a year to its maintenance is termed
a stakeholder and is entitled to a vote
in electing the board of directors. The
directors, after being elected by the
SO-called stockholders, are confirmed
by the state conference. The board then
proceeds to elect the hospital officers.
Since the establishment of Bethany
hospital in 1892 it has grown beyond all
expectations. Although it is purely a
Protestant institution, founded by the
MethOdists, yet it is unSectarian in
caring for the sick and wounded. Out
of the so wards at the present hospital
IS are in the free department, only Is
being in the pay department. When
patients are willing and can afford to
pay for the treatment and care given
them at the hospital they are placed in
what is known as the pay department.
However, those occupying free beds re-
ceive the same care and attention as
those who paw.