The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-14
HELP FOR THE AFFLICTED
Rev. DR.. Ames' Plea for Aid for
Sibley Memorial Hospital.
President Mckinley Among Many
Who Listen to Praise of the Insti-
tutfon-HOw 1t Is ManaEed-The
Training of DeacOncsses IA Feature
of Its Work-LiberuI Contributions.

The services at the Metropolitan Memo
rial NJ. E. Church yesterday were con-
| Quoted by Rev. John c. Ames, d. D., who
spoke in behalf of the Sibley Memorial
| Hospital, asking for a special contribution
from the congregation in support Of that
institution. President Mckinley, who
stopped at the church at the end of a
drive with Mrs. Mckinley, was an inter-
ested listener.
DR.. Ames had read for the morning les
son the fifteenth chapter Of the gospel Of
John, and founded his remarks upon the
description of the vine and the branches
as set forth in part of that chapter. IF
the language of Christ in this story of the
vine means anything" he said, lit is that
the branch cannot abide apart from the
vine" So he thought all Christianity was
the outgrowth Of Christ that there was
nothing in him which was not in the
Church and that is not made manifest in
the life of the sincere Christian.
In like manner DR.. An1es took the
ground that benevolent institutions are
essentially an outgrowth of Christianity,
and he thought that no benevolent enter
PRISE, however well managed, would thrive
apart from the Church, or at least from
Christ.
Inc speaker then announced that by
special arrangement the day had been set
apart Tor collection for the Sibley Me-
mortal Hospital, and that he had been in
vited to represent the institution over
which he had the honor to preside. DR..
Ames explained that the institution had
been founded by layman of Washington,
William Sibley. 1t was managed, he said.
by committee Of 100, chosen from the
churches of the city, many OF whom were
women who gave time and thought to the
needs OF the hospital. The hospital had
no UNCONVENTIONAL connection In its
reception and treatment of patients
all were welcome, and the effort of
the management was to do all the
good possible with the facilities at
hand. 1t was shown that the institu-
ton had no endowment and that it
was dependent largely upon the contribu-
tons of the churches for support. In the
original building, DR.. Ames said, there
were twenty-five beds, fifteen Of which
were free, and in an addition lately built
there were sixty beds, forty three of which
were free. 1t cost, he said $3.50 a year to
support one bed, which might accommo-
date five or six patients within a twelve
month. Within eighteen months the rec
ords showed that about 700 patients had
entered the institution and upward of 100
difficult operations had been performed.
BY an arrangement of the hospital IL was
explained that by the payment of $50 the
donor was entitled to name a room, and
that by the payment of $50 bed could be
named.
DR.. Ames spoke OF one feature of the
work OF the institution, which was to train
nurses for the position of deaconesses. In
the sense in which the word is now used
lie
ordinary occupations and devotes her time
TO charitable or religious work In the
Methodist Church IT was shown that there
are two kinds of deaconesses One is n
visitor among the poor to aid them and TO
carry the gospel into the byways, and the
other is a trained nurse, whose mission is
to attend the sick in the hospital or in
the families of the poor. DR.. Ames said
that the nurses at the Sibley Hospital per-
form this hard and exhausting work for sS
a month and their board.
Dr. Ames gave many examples of the
good that is being done by the hospital
and by the good women connected with it.
He recited specific cases, some of which
were calculated TO show the hard and hit |
ter side OF life, and others which were IL
Illustrative of its better side. Pathetic ex-
amples were given of the prodigal and the |
magdalene who came at times to the hos
pilal, ana Wnom tney were enabled to help |
by showing them 1.-The way of life" The
hospital, he said, was full Of religious in
fuences. and people came to them at times
when they were peculiarly susceptible to |
the religious sentiment, and in that way |
many genuine reforms had been brought |
about.
Lies comedy" the speaker said. |
comes to the hospital ward sometimes |
and 1t seems as though its tragedy was |
always there. 1t seems to stand at the |
parting OF the ways between life and |
DEATH and it often happens that the last |
opportunity to help erring humanity is |
when their nerve-raeked bodies are laid |
upon the cot in the hospital" DIR. Ames
thought the work noble one and one
worthy OF the help OF people Of means
The address was listened to with great
attention, and the response in the collec-
ZION taken up at the close Of the service
was liberal one. ]