The age-herald., 1900-11-30

that Father O'Reilly was the leader amongst all this community who had man. aged and made the hospital undertaking the grand thing that it was. He might well answer in the spirit of Sir Colin Campbell, q knew my bishop and my bishop knew me-"
 Father O'Reilly is-a kind large hearted mana wise ecclesistic and loyal friend" said Dr. Fitzsimons. "He is friend in prosperity and better friend in adversity."
 The speaker then emphasized this point: The work of the church today is how to overcome evil with good. This is the phil osophy of all this splendid work of philan throphy. The speaker said that if he were to ask which was the best church, the an- swer would come this one and from that, mine is the best" But the verdict of his tory will be that church is the best swhich does the most good. The church which Bishop Allen represents appreciates very fully this idea. It has been prompt to ap preciate what the vantage means. And we have this magnificent hospital. No dogmatic utterances or ecclesiastical de- nunciations will count like this work of the Sisters of Charity for here is the true object lesson.
 Dr. Fitzsimons closed his remarks by paying grateful tribute to the Sisters growing out of his personal experience. He was i'll and under their care for six weeks, and they skillfully and tenderly nursed llul DeiSh u
 Other Speakers.
 Dr. E. P. Riggs was to have been the next speaker, but he was not feeling well and asked to be excused until today, when he hopes to be able to appear.
 In-Dr Riggs place Dr. W. D. B. Davis kindly consented to make a speech in be- half of the medical profession. Perhaps no orator was happier than Dr. Davis. He ex- tended his own congratulations and said ha ,of erixr fnn n Sisters of Charity to Father OReilly, to Mr. Sinnige and the others who had as- sisted in building the hospital.
 St. Vincents, he said should aud would receive the support of the people of Bir- mingham It is the best equipped of the many fine hospitals in the United States. The medical profession is proud of it, and they should be especially proud that Ala bana, the home of Marion Sims, the man who systema tized that important depart ment of medical science, gynecology, has such institution as this. It seems to be peculiarly fitting.
 Dr. Days said no city of its size had such an able medical corps as Birmng- ham. Our physicians, he said. formed a noble band. He said the Sisters could not succeed without the sympathy and help of the doctors but this they had in a most decided sense. Such a hospital of course meant much to them and they were only F too glad to help.
 Rufus N Rhodes was the last speaker on the programme. He came forward with his characteristic good humor. He said that of the hundreds of times he had been called on for a speech he had never had to make an apology, but that this was a time when he would start by apologizing to his audience. What he had intended saying had he remarked, been said by those who had preceded him. He then went on and made a capital talk. He was not going to give the credit for St. Vincents to Bishop Allen or to Father Reilly or to any in- dividual, but to the people of Birmingham, for everybody has helped, and it is Bir- mingham's hospital. T am not going to fatter Father O'Reilly," MT. Rhodes con tinued. NO, am not going to do that But about Father O Reilly I just want to say. he is one of the best men, one of the truest souls in all Birmingham. He is an oak that has not been spoiled by the ve- neerer I have seen him in his priestly robes and I have seen him when he was not presentable to ladies, for I have had to ring him up at night errands of mercy, and he was always sympathetic and ready to respond to every call''
 MT. Rhodes concluded with an appeal to Birmingham to continue in the work of giving support to this hospital, of which all Birmingham is so proud.
 MT. Sinnige said everybody wanted to hear Father OReily, and explained that 1t was only the good fathers extreme mod esty that caused his name to be withdrawn from the programme. He (Mr. Sinnige) had written it on the programme, but Father Reilly had scratched 1t off.
 Father O'ReiIIy.
 There were loud calls for Father O'ReiIIy and the popular priest finally pushed his way through the crowd and made his bow to the bishop and the assemblage. He mod estly sketched the history of the hospital, giving credit to the architects, Walters & U1fman; to the contractors, to MT. Sinnige and his associates, to the, Ladies Auxiliary and to the thousands who had lent a help ing hand. He spoke eloquently of the Sis ters, too. and his remarks were received