The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-27


the last turn with the latest devices or
| science and paid for almost TO the last brick,
with its future cost for support undertaken
What lesson that historic effort has Tor
US nowi
:. No stream from it's source
Flows seaward, how lonely soever its course.
| But that some land Is gladden'd No star ever
And set. without influence somewhere
in it's strife,
And all life not be purer and stronger thereby
We are in the presence of this splendid
| truth to-day That call for help put forth
| In the plenitude Of faith-faith, the sub
stance of things hoped for--the mission was
| rich in that-never died away. 1t was taken
/ up by the press. echoed once or twice, and
| 10! Il reached the heart of the friend;
/ neart with pocket nerve. Then came the
unique and opposite offer Of 5000 for this
] hospital. What a privilege ii is to play spe-
cial providence! With this given on condi-
ton that like sum be raised, the end was
In slght-right there at the beginning! The
| generous people of indianapolis, to whom
| appeal has never been in vain, quickly
made up the sum: and the work has be-
i gun. Delays unforeseen have prolonged the
consummation-not, unfortunately. IL II
| has been later, it has been better. Its
moral meaning as well as material equip
ment has seasoned by the delay.
| THE RESULTS.
| What is it? What have we here? AS a
harvest little perhaps. Those that have
Il
look on their work and say, at best. "a
poor thing, sir, but mine own" For
hospital. we have here. let us say. about
one ward OF the hospital that ought to be.
1t is inadequate before it begins. 1t will
take care of twenty sufferers. More
than that drawing their breath in
pain this moment awaiting its ministra-
lions.
Il sQtrt IT,.
small, In quality 1t is large and high. To
| the square inch this is one of the finest
hospitals in the country. An that med
have attained Is embodied in these walls.
| They are cunningly ordered so as to en-
brace those great agents Of healing,
heavens own light and air. In design and
material. from the main entrance to the
farthest corner, from the foundation stones
to the ceiling finish, this hospital repre-
contributed for this purpose Its equip
meat will come full-handed with its oppor-
tunity. So there is no more perfect place
on earth for the treatment OF these linger-
ing fatal diseases than here.
Yet what small spot 1t is-twenty-
eight patients! Last year in Indiana 1892
persons died of tuberculosis alone: last
month. 297. Sadly we must admit that as
harvest the sheaves are few. But as a
first fruits its plenitude is Scripture meas,
shaken together. and running over 1t
IS the first hospital of it's kind in Indiana
1t Is the only one of its kind. In all this
broad State, with its two and a half, its
three million people, this is the only hos
pital where one stricken with fatal lin
gering disease may be treated. Neither
love nor money can find another.
so this creation of both changes on the
sight; instead of little room, 1T is a
spacious chamber-and the chamber over
hospital that larger effort public and pri-
vate. will one day create for our afflicted.
PROPHETIC SIGNIFICANCE.
"And this work of faith and love, of pri-
vatc philanthropy and quickened public
conscience, has, we may believe. prophetic
significance.
I'm a subtler sense this building is also
significant. 1t exemplfies WIDER deeper
truer charity. AS in itself the Flower
Mission combines the efficiency of organ
ization with the enthusiasm of individual
effort. so in this achievement it presents a
similar union. The plant represents pri-
vate, personal and individual sacrifice: the
maintenance Will represent the public or
ganiZation OF society. Be assured it will
never be abandoned to that organization
l say abandoned Willingly. The Flower
| Mission has made over this hospital TO the
city of Indianapolis as a trust to be espe-
cially administered in the line OF it's pur-
pose. And the Mission will be there TO see
the administration, TO try the standard OF
| proper maintenance.
II mean no reproach to the public organ
Dy I0lS DIS Il ultdUi
none by the idea of abandonment. On the
contrary, L intimate a closer union of city
and citizens in the relation, the beginning
let US hope, of a proper and perpetual in
terest by the citizens in the city SO that
| public officials may feel that they have
private support and an awakened sense that
| will appreciate the difficulties that con
front them 1t Is crying need.
, In these days of organization We are
prone to confuse end with means in char
> ity, as in most other things. We know
that effective charity can be realized only
: by organization, and We easily lead our
selves to feel that this Is the whole of 1T
This private giving of hospitals Is simply
doing what the public should do We arr
inclined to say. Let taxation suffice. FounC
| all the hospitals needed and charge it on
the duplicate-and-1eave me alone Il
meant if unspoken.
Now it is just.th kind of nickel-in-the
| slot charity that this noble beginning ii
Indiana would lead toward a better way
The leanness and lack in tax-produced in
situations of this kind are the human ele
ment. The wise physicians and gentle
nurses that devote their lives to work o
this kind need the human touch 1 will
undertake TO say that from the respon
/ sible head to the humblest assistant in ou
public Institutions the most welcome thing
to them is the human interest that an.
one will show in their work.
RELIEF TO SUFFERERS.
IF it be SO to them, what is it to thu
sufferer? Who does not know of the hor
ror that the average person. and particu
larly the poor, have for a public hospital
Let not be amused at such manifesto
ton of ignorance by the common people.
, | 1t is not ignorance. nor is it fear In particu
lar; it is the general dread of abandon
,, ment in a grave crisis of personal suffer
Z ing to blank, bleak, mechanical system
Care and skill they know they will hav
, within They want love and sympath.
! without. They want to feel that they cal
stretch a hand across to clasp a pain
7 throbbing with sympathy. What is the yer.
{ | idea of this Flower Mission, as its nam
4 tells? Not the ideas of s. food mission o
, a medicine mission, nor clothing nor fue
I mission, though it realizes all these; tn
very idea Is Flower Mission-sympathy
| love. personal attention, given, not bought
the human touch.
: This idea Is embodied in this hospita
| that we dedicate to-day. So its bounty 4
, | doubled. 1t engages human interest 70
| the ministrations that the dying shall hav
a here to soothe their pathway through tn
I | valley of the shadow; with the other han,
. | II reaches out to all society and admonishe
US every one that nothing takes the plac
r | of self. The divine voice spake to Sir Laun
, fal In Lowells great poem these words:
The holy supper 10 kept. indeed
In whatso we share with another's need;
Not what We give, but what We share,
| For the gift without the giver Is bare:
Who gives himself with his aims feeds three.
Himself his hungering neighbor. and me-
I'VE do not go acquit by turning on
Z brother over to a system and saying b
1 We clothed, be We fed be we ministers