Omaha daily bee., 1903-06-12
MERCY HOSPITAL NOW OPEN
New Charitable Institution is Ready to
Receive Patients
GREAT WORK OF SISTERS OF MERCY
Speakers at Banquet Congratulate
the sisters ON Their Achievements
and ExtOI Their Spirit in
Warm Terms.
GREAT WORK OF SISTERS OF MERCY

|
| The magnificent new Mercy hospital at
Council Bluffs which stands as a monu-
ment to the untiring zeal and devotion OF
Mother st. Vincent and her faithful band
of Sisters of Mercy in the cause of suffer-
ing humanity, was formally opened yes
terday by a reception and banquet, at
which 200 invited guests were present. The
opening of this hospital marks the COM
pletion of the third enterprise undertaken
| and successfully carried out by Mother St.
| Vincent and her Jealous assistant, Mother
Magdalen, since their arrival In Council
Bluffs less than twenty years ago. They
first founded st. Bernards hospital, then
St. Mary's Home for Young Women, and
now the new Mercy hospital.
The day was an ideal one for the auspi-
cious event and the stately building pre-
sented a pleasing appearance, with Its
| green lawns and background of trees, to
the guests, who were received in the main
entrance hall by Mothers st. Vincent and
Magdalen. The beauty of the interior was
| enhanced with masses of cut flowers, palms
and ferns, which occupied every available
vantage point. After an hour had been
spent by the guests in viewing the building
and it's admirable equipment q banquet
was served in the long hall on the fourth
floor. Two tables, the entire length of the
hall, suficed to seat the 200 guests. Here
again the decorations were of the most
elaborate character, the tables being liter
ally covered with gorgeous bouquets of
roses and carnations OF various colors.
Some COnEratuIntory Remarks.
At the close of the banquet and while
coffee was being served a program of
toasts was carried out, Rev. P. J. Dowling
of Omaha acting as toastmaster, task
which he performed in a most happy man
ner. Before announcing the first toast
Father Bowling took the occasion to extend
congratulations to Mother st. Vincent and
her co-workers on the successful compile
ton of the building, which, he said, would
stand as a beacon light of charity to the
people of Iowa and Nebraska. The spirit
of Christian charity pervaded the building,
he said, and it was a pleasure for him and
the guests present on such an occasion to
lay at the feet of the worthy mother SUI
perior and her faithful band of co-workers
their need of praise.
Mayor Morgan on behalf of the citizens OF
Council Bluffs thanked the Sisters of Mercy
for tho beautiful building they had given to
the city. He traced the history Of the work
of Mother st. Vincent since her arrival in
Council Bluffs, how from the humble start
of a small frame house on Fourth street
they had with untiring zeal persevered
until they succeeded in building st. Ber-
nard's hospital IN 1887. and then finding as
their scope of work increased this building
proved inadequate they had gone to work
and erected the magnificent structure. the
opening of which they were celebrating
that day.
Mayor Moores of Omaha followed Mayor
Morgan. After eulogizing the work Of the
sisters Mayor Moores provoked applause
by saying that If he had the wealth of An
drew Carnegie he would not devote 1t ex-
clusively to building libraries. although
books are all right in their way, but he
would spend his millions in the erection OF
hospitals, homes for the aged and infirn
and for the orphans. Incidentally Mayor
} Moores seized the occasion to pay a hand
some compliment to Count John A. Creigh
ton, who was seated opposite him and
whom he designated the Andrew Carnegie
/ of Omaha.
Victor e. Bender on behalf of the Com
> mercial club of Council Bluffs paid trb
ute to Mother st. Vincent and her Co
workers. He said that from admiration o.
the magnificent structure one was forced t.
= turn to admiration of those whose plucl
and energy had brought 1t about. Word!
are inadequate to pay proper tribute tC
such labor of love and the splendid spiri
that pervaded the work of the devoted Sis
ters Of Mercy. r-
What the Ministers Said.
Following Mr.. Bender Rev. George Ed
ward Walk rector of St. Paul's Episcopa
church. was called upon by Father Dow
Y ling to respond to the toast THE Spirit o
Philanthropy and Charity" Rev. Wall
opened by saying that the same spirit which
had prompted Saint Theresa in the Older
days must have prompted Mother st. Vim
a cent to undertake the mighty work, tn
elimination Of which they witnessed tina
day. The work of the sisters, he said. wa
a practical manifestation OF the religion
: which knew no sect.
Rev. Father Stritch of Creighton univer
sity spoke somewhat at length on the his
, tory OF the order of the Sisters of Mercy
, He told Of the order being organized frs
in Dublin, ireland, and from there
> spread all over the civilized world. Th
work they had accomplished in Council
Bluffs he said is but an instance OF wha
\ the Sisters OF Mercy have done in almos
every city of the union
a To Hon. c. M. Harl was assigned tn
o toast THE Mission of the Nurse" H
opened by saying that It did not matter s.
much who a persons doctor was so that n
had a good nurse. While the visible mis-
sion OF the nurse is to attend the sick AM
TO sooth pain, they are frequently calle,
q upon to speak words of comfort to tn
! fainting heart and give hope to the sinlinI
y soul. The gospel OF the nurse he said 4
y the gospel of service and not OF self Will
/ brain, nerve and muscle were the require
J. ments of a nurse these did not suffice un
s less the heart went with them.
J. Dr. ], II. Cleaver in responding to tn,
i toast THE Hospital, Viewed from tn,
n Standpoint OF the Physician" said the hos
pital was the ideal place to study in; tina
II was the scientific school OF instruction
The speechmaking was brought 10
y close with a few remarks by Congressman
w. l. Smith. who, in congratulating tn
E; sisters on the completion OF their building
3 said there was not a citizen OF Council
q Bluns but was proud OF the wonderful
q growth OF the institution. In telling o
8 the work of Mothers St. Vincent an,
Il MaRdalen he said that with a capital o
piety, energy. devotion and Christian char
: ity they had built the magnificent institu
: tion.
At the close OF the program OF toast
the guests assembled on the broad step
OF the main entrance OF the building an