New-York tribune., 1900-03-27
DIR. G. s. BAKER RE7IRE,S.
MADE PASTOR EMERITUS OF ST. IUKE'S
Observation-Disclosures OF TROUBLES
DECLARED TO HAVE BEEN
EXAGGERATED
EXAGGERATED.

The Rev. Dr. George S. Baker who has for
twenty-three years been IN the service of ST.
Lukes Hospital and has been pastor and super
ntendent OF the hospital for twenty-five years
of this time, will retire from active service
May l. Hereafter he will act in the capacity of
pastor emeritus for the institution at salary of
$1,000 a year Announcement of this made
after meeting of the Board of Managers of
the hospital which was held yesterday afternoon.
DR.. Baker wrote letter to the Board explain
Ing his reasons for wishing to retire. He said
that he had grown old in the service, that the
hospital had meanwhile grown in size and activ
ity, and that institution OF such wide and
complicated scope St. Luke's Hospital should
be managed by younger man. who could give
more energetic and personal attention to the
many details arising. The hospital now
in most fourishng condition, he said, and he
thought the time proptious for his relief. He
did not send in his resignation, but asked per-
mission to retire. at the pleasure of the Board.
The Board took the matter under careful con-
sideraton and decided to acquiesce with DR..
Bakers wishes and arrange for his retirement.
They further agreed to reward him for his long
and faithful service by appointing him pastor
emeritus a salary of $1,000 year.
"Dr. Baker told Us that he in roor health
and that he becoming too old to attend to
the increasing duties of his post as he should
attend to them," said Hoffman Miller, secretary
of the hospital last night. we acquiesced and
that is all there to It,"
The report that friction among different mem
bers of the hospital staff had led to DR.. Bakers
retirement was guardedly denied by MI Miller
The Board of Managers knows of no such
friction he said. "and If anybody ought 10
know of such things ought
But Mr. Miller would not say that there had
been no trouble in the working Of the hospital
tempest In teapot" he said.
Whether the internal troubles in st. Luke's
Hospital have been big or little. IL Is certain
that there have been troubles Of some sort.
One story had it that Mrs. Quintard, the
Superintendent of nurses had caused i'll feeling
by showing favoritism to the Canadian nurses
in the hospital at the expense of the American
nurses Mrs Quntard resigned about a month
ago and went to a hospital in Cuba Miss
Mitchell her assistant, resigned at the same
time. as did also seven or eight nurses. 1t was
pretty generally understood that these resigna-
tions were the elimination of a situation that
had been steadily growing more strained Ior
some time. ~,
"Did the Board of Managers accept Mrs
Quintard's resignation" Mr.. Miller was asked.
yes we accepted her resignation, he said
What reasons did she give for reslgnlng!
1--WE do not know the reasons.
"Then you accepted the resignation without
any knowledge of her reasons Tor the step anu
without any further inquiry in the matter? me
superintendent of nurses simply asked to go
and went? Everyday, unimportant affair."
1--WE do not know the reasons SAID Mr.
Miller
of the hospital were considered so unfortunate
that they had something to do with the retire
ment of DR.. Baker pastor and superintendent
of the hospital was denied by DR.. Baker last
night He admitted frankly, however, that
there had been some trouble in the staff of the
hospital
There were some mistakes" he said "as
there will be at times in the running of any
large institution They were unfortunate and
we were sorry that they happened but they
have been rectifed and smoothed over the gaps
have been closed up, and the hospital is now
running along in first class shape. They never
amounted to much and the report of friction be
tween the Canadian and the American nurses
is not true. No such thing as that ever trou-
bled us
But I can truthfully say that these little
matters had nothing to do with my retirement
l was getting too old for the place. my health
was good. and 1 thought that 1t was time
for me to stop. Perhaps these little troubles
brought home to me the fact that st. Luke's
had been growing and expanding since became
its SUPERINTENDENT twenty-five years ago and
that had at the same time been growing older
until l could not quite keep up with the pace.
But my retirement would have come soon. any
how I am not feeling well. and I want very
much to go TO Europe this summer and have a
rest"
DR.. Baker asked to the exact "trOu-
bles'' which rumo: had ascribed to the hospital.
Il would rather not say" he said. They
were a small affair I tell you sincerely and l
do not why they should interest the public.
They all over now, and everything is run
ming smoothly"