New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-25

Generosity Of the HaiLSes to FaIfI
Purpose Of FOunder.

Plans for the completion OF the main admin
/ istration. building OF the Methodist EpiScoi'h
( tSeney) Hospital in SiXth-st.. between Seventh
/ and Eighth aveS. Were adopted by Board O1
Managers Friday. The work. which Will be
started after the beginning OF the
year bids be received and the contract let
| marks under taking which win end until
! the hospital has been completed according the
original plans of George l. Seuey, its founder ana
first patron. 1t will then be among the largest and
best equipped institutions of Its kind in the city
This undertaking had its inception in Il generous
offer made by Mr. and Mrs William Halls, jr., on
the occasion of the celebration OF the crystal
niversdry of the hOspital. or December 10 1872
At that time Mr.. Halls who is president OF
the Board of Managers. stated that he and his
wife would complete the building the hospital
at expense not to exceed SIS 90 provided the
friends of the institution would raise by June /.
1893. $4,000 TO pay certain debts amounting 10
about $4,000. and TO increase the endowment fund
to $4,000 with the remaining $a25cD0. Good prog
ress had been made in getting subscriptions but
the required amount had not been raised by June l.
The time limit then removed.
Later when $4,000 had been raised Mr.. and
Mrs Halls readjusted their proposition by promis
ing that, when 100000 OF the 10000 had been sub
scribed. they would 90 ahead with the completion
OF the administration building, expense esti-
mated at $75,Oo' The 10000 has been subscribed
and the generous patrons going ahead on the
administration building Before they give the adj
ditlonaI $4,000 for the completion of the eastern
the authorities Of the hospital must complete the
$4,000 subscription by raising 100000. An
roneous impression has obtained circulation that
al the money needed has been subscribed, and
the Rev y. 5. Kavanagh. the general superin-
tendent. is particularly anxious that it be clearly
understood that 100000 must be subscribed
before the conditions of the Hallses' gilt are met
and before the hospital buildings can be entirely
completed The superintendent has this forth
clearly in his report for the last year O9O3-1904,
which has just been published, and in some par
ucuars has been brought right up to date
The Serey Hospital is said to have been inspired
by an editorial written twenty years ago by DR.. J.
NJ Buckley, in The Christian Advocate" of New
York. In it he stated that the Methodist Episcopal
Church had neglected hospital work and that the
hospitals OF other denominations had given gem
erously to Methodists medical and surgical treat
meut without any reCOmpense George I. Seney,
responding to this appeal, purchased the entire
block, bounded by Sixth and Seventh SITS and Sew
enth and Eighth aves.. on tho Prospect Park
slope 1t is a choice site situated in the
best residential districts OF the borough and on
high land overlooking the harbor. On this site
Mr.. Seney built three large buildings the latter
and the site costing about $4,000. A financial
panic made it impossible for Mr.. Seney To com
pete the buildings, which for a time remained
boarded up. On April 10, 1885. Dr. George p. Mains
undertook TO raise funds complete the western
pavilion. in which he succeeded, and the doors OF
the hospital were opened to receive patients on
December L. 1897.
Since that time the central administration
building. with it's imposing entrance, and part OF
the eastern pavilion have remained in the same
uncompleted condition in which they were when
Mr.. Seney was obliged to curtau his elaborate
plans. This is not apparent from casual glance
the front of the hospital. the exterior Is
completed although In tho the boardetI-up
windows tell the tale. But closer observation
reveals the fact that the imposing entrance with
its large portro IS not used, and that an m
slightly one-story frame building little better in
appearance than contractors Toulouse is la
belled Main Entrance 10 Hospital" Ais connects
the western pavilion, which is the main part OF
the hospital now in use, and the basement of the
administration building which is used for the gen
eeal Offices When the administration building is
completed" az Superintendent Kavanaeh savs in
his report I'VE shall bid goodby to the little Ilain
entrance hut must forget that it has been
door of mercy for over twenty thousand patients
and of cteer and comfort to hundreds of thou
sands OF their friends"
The condition of the unfinished wards ia ,v.,,
shown in of the ACCOMMODATING Dct,,rae
The front part of the pavilion Is now used
for private patients. but when 1t shall be com
pleted. according to the terms OF the Halls gift
it will be made public The main building in add
ton to having the executive offices will be used
for private wards and rooms When all the b,,ud-
ings are finished the capacity of the hospital will
he more than doubled. The increase OF SIPS 600 In
the endowment fund will enable the authorities to
utilize these facilities for the charitable work FOR
which the hospital has been noted 1t already pos
seSseS u Well equipped operating pavilion, situated
to the lett OF the administration building.
or the seventeen thousand men. women ana chill
dren who We're treated in the hospital In the first
fifteen years OF its history. more than 81 per cent
were cured. Three-quarters OF that number were
unable To pay dollar for their treatment
Ninety thousand patients have been treated in the
out patient department. II is II matter Of pride
with the managers that three-QuArters OF those
treated IN their wards have been in way
identhed with Methodism. because of the fact
brought out In Mr. Buckleys editorial twenty years
sso that many Methodiss had freely received treat