The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-04-15
MARY WASHINGTON HOSPITAL.
Corner stone Of the Building Laid Will
Masonic Ceremonies Ramsay's Ad
dress,

The corner stone of the Mary Wash
ington Hospital was laid yesterday af-
ternoon at 80 o'clock, in the presence
of large gathering. by fredericksburg
Lodge No. 4 A. +. K A. Nj. with the
usual Masonic ceremonies, District
Deputy Grand Master James Parke
Corbin officiating.
Rev. DR.. f. r. Ramsay, President of
Fredericksburg College, who had been
selected by the association as the speak
er Of the occasion, delivered an elo-
quent address.
He first sketched the character Of
Mary Washington. showing that to her
distinguishing characteristic, she added
genuine tenderness and q sincere
piety. The interest in this part OF the
address lay in incidents and scenes OF
her life. many of them belonging to her
life in Fredericksburg. He then point
ed out that the ideal nurse in hospital
should have just this combination Of
qualities A hospital is strong heart
obiectified into efficient ministration
on the border-line between the seen and
the unseen world. And only on the
basis Of religious faith can the tender
care of the dying be defended at oil.
Thus the name Mary Washington Hos
pital was justified
The ladies, by their work as an asso-
citation, have raised means for this
modest beginning 1t is intended to
admit both pay and free patients, seek
ing to give needed help without pauper-
ling. The hospital and its operations
will be enlarged as donations and lega-
cies may make possible This is but
beginning.
The undertaking, DR. Ramsay said,
was commended upon three grounds
| First. an efficient institution Of this
kind will be needed more and more as
Fredericksburg increases its manufact-
uring enterprises and other institutions
and increases her population. This the
old city will do because Of its advan-
tageous situation and the attractive and
impelling power of its historical memo
ries. Such an institution, properly
conducted, will furnish for rs better
facilities for combating disease in our
own loved ones. And such all institu-
ton VIII enable the community TO ex-
press in action its better life, and that
better life will grow by expression.
The speaker closed with an inyoca-
ton to the spirit of Mary Washing
ton to come from lowering over the
dust Of her great son, or from linger
ing by her own monument near y.and
walk in it, sweetness and might
through these chambers OF pain
The exercises closed with prayer by
Rev W. ID. Smith.
The hospital is situated on the corner
Of Fauquier aud Sophia streets and
faces the east. Ii Will be a modern
structure, with a porch in front and
al extention on each end Two rooms
open upon the entrance hall, one Of
which is to be the operating room
the other, a nicely furnished room for
an especial patient, the furniture for
which has already been donated. Back
of this is cross hall running north
and south, beyond which is the kitchen.
housekeeper' room, bath rooms andlstore
room There are two large closets opening
into the two halls. In the extentions
are respectively the two long, well
lighted and ventilated men and women
wards. There is large cellar under
meath the house. and plenty of room in
the back for any additions which the
future may warrant being made.
1t is an interesting fact that the ar
chitect who drew and donated the
plans for the hospital was Mr.. George
Washington Smith, OF Fall Hill, and
the superintendent Of the building,
also bears the honored name being Mr..
George Washington Wroten.
1t is q well authenticated fact that
April 14th, 1889, was the day that
General Washington last visited his
mother here. She was suffering from
an incurable disease, and upon the very
day upon which he received the notice
OF his election as President Of the Uni
ted States he rode to Fredericksburg to
tell her Of this new honor and to bid
her what they both knew to be a final
farewell. 1t is fitting that such an an
niversary should have been chosen for
this ceremony.
The corner stone itself is portion OF
the old incomplete Mary Washington
monument, and was donated by MIR. j.
H Myer, Jr The inscription on the
stone is as follows MARY Washington
H spital. Laid by Fredericksburg Lodge
No. A. A. F. & A. NJ, Washington
Mother Lodge, April IA 1899 "