Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-10
Mr.. Macfarland's Address.

Continuing Mr.. mcfarland said in part:
THAT this house of healing, which for a
score of years has been one of the most
beneicent institutions In the city of Wash
ington should now be enlarged and i'm
proved is gratifying not only to those de-
voted and public-spirted men and women
who have labored so long and so faithfully
in its interest. but to the community gen.
orally. The modern hospital. either on the
business side or the philanthropic side
is. If properly conducted, as this one has
been, a public blessing 1t is more at
tractive to many of the sick than their own
homes, however comfortable they may be.
and to those who have no homes or none
worthy of the name 1t is veritable harbor
Of refuge. That 1t is incidentally the best
training place for the physician, the sur
geon, the professional nurse, is equally rec
ognized Like every other human institu-
ton, 1T is liable to suffer from the faults
and fralities Of human nature. But we are
glad to believe that in most ca SEES hospitals
are humanely and honestly and efficiently
managed.
THE spirit of altruism, which is the high
est motive in developing civilization, finds
expression in many ways which distinguish
honorably our time from the times that
have gone before. But there is perhaps
none which is more striking or more encour-
aging than that seen in the treatment of
the sick poor. The state and the charitable
individual join hands in procuring for those
who cannot help themselves not only such
facilities and such professional ministra-
tons the richest could not command
half a century ago. but gentleness and cour-
tesy such as money cannot buy. The excep-
lions to such treatment only bring out
more strongly the majority of cases where
it Is shown. 1t is this which appeals to
the Sympathies of all of us whenever we
think of hospitals, and moves the generous
to contribute to their support, even more
than any calculating thought of the per-
sonal benefit which we may receive from
the Improvement in methods or the pos
sible use of the hospital.
Survival Of the Fittest.
Men and women Of sensibility are deeply
stirred by every effort to help the helpless,
and want to take part In 1t. The so-called
law of the survival of the fittest. if fittest
is construed to mean the strongest, is coun-
teracted among civilized human beings by
the higher law of altruism. The weakling
is, to civilized peoples at least, and GER
tainly to true Christians, an object of pity
and not of contempt, to be helped and not
to be showed aside, and the command Of
God that the strong are to help the weak
in every way that will be really helpful, and
especially the sick, is literally obeyed
1T Is because of all that has been done
in this institution throughout all these
years In this spirit that 1t has the SYM
low-citizens who appreciate also the high
standard of its professional ministrations
and the constant Improvement in its treat
ment of pay patients
TT is to be hoped that it may grow into
a national institution which shall ade-
quately represent the numbers, the wealth,
the intelligence and the influence of the
members and adherents of the great school
of medicine to which it belongs
At the conclusion of Mr.. Macfarland's ad-
dress DR.. Ralph Jenkins, president of the
board of trustees of the hospital, placed
the corner stone In position. Music by the
orchestra concluded the exercises.