St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1908-03-18

| IN the future more fruitful Oh SOOu u
others, as well as more satisfactory t.
ourselves. 1t is not an easy matter t.
aid, much less to direct such an institu
ton under the most favorable conditions
but when we consider the obstacles to b.
overcome, the entire lack of invested
| funds and of an experienced leader, VIZ
can but ieel that much has been accom-
plished, although falling tar short OF oul
desires.
As we look back over these years We
gratefully recognize the blessing of Coo
in many, many ways, not the least o
these being the help which it has been oul
privilege to render to those who were
sick and in need. Tonight the tulhllment
OF our hope is realized, and we have this
new hospital building. Our enlarged
accommodation will increase our oppor-
tunities for giving help, but it will also
| increase the expense OF carrying on the
work. Do you not all desire to have a
larger share than heretofore in helping
to meet these demands upon u.s. Will
you remember that in the past the hos
| pital has not met the running expenses,
and we cannot expect it will in the
future? For the money to meet this
deficit we must look to the friends of the
hospital. That it has many friends we
are assured not only by your presence
here tonight, but also by the evidences
around us and in the many furnished
rooms, where loving thought has been
beautifully carried out both in memory
of those whom we loved and the desire
to be of help to those about us.
For all these gifts the Aid Association
is deeply thankful. But we cannot stop
or grow weary in our efforts. The fur
nishing, the adequate equipment OF this
building is still far from complete; there
is still much to be done Our furnishing
fund, despite all the help we have re-
ceved, is growing small. There is vet,
as you have already heard, large sum
to be raised before this building is paid
for, before it is free of debt. Meanwhile
the question is before us, how are the
running expenses to be met? As in the
past, our association will ask for your
help and patronage in the public efforts
we may make to secure money. As in
most towns where there is a hospital
dependent upon the gifts of the people
we desire that Hospital Sunday shall be
large source of income. For this we
must depend on the pastors of our
churches, and | am sure we shall not be
disappointed.
In the past years it has been found
that about $1,000 was needed above
receipts from patients TO meet expenses,
In this building the amount must OF ne
cessity be much larger We should have
a pledged income OF 500 0. If BY for
tunate circumstances all of it should not
be needed for actual running expenses,
the balance would form the nucleus of a
fund to which we could add from time
to time, until we attain the goal of an
adequate endowment fund. Does $1,000
seem large sum? Yes, if we asked or
expected it, from a few persons, but not
when given by many. That this hos
pital is needed these nearly nine years
OF service have demonstrated. With one
common purpose and united effort, in
the future even more than in the past,
let us be ready with our money and our
gifts of all kinds for its maintenance. |
hope that very soon, wish | might say
at once, some steps will be taken to raise
this needed income, so that from the
very first of our coming to this new
building we shall incur no debt for run
ming expenses. Meantime we shall be
thankful for all gifts of whatever kind, F.
and make useful all contributions placed /.
in our care. We have been blessed be- |
yOnd our expectations and we are sure |
that, if we continue our work in His I
name, we shall be helpful in His own
time and way. We would not look back
except for encouragement but go steadily
forward, following the example of One
who came not to be ministered unto bat 1
to minister.
DR.. Edward H. Ross spoke of the
record of the old institution. He said at
first it was an experiment and all he pro-
posed to do tonight was to lay the facts
of the experiment before his hearers. In
the nine years of its existence 2031 cases
had been treated at Brightlook Hospital. .
Of these 1893 were medical cases and
598 surgical. OF the medical cases death .
had resulted in only As instances and of /
the surgical cases there were only q /
fatalities. This made the death rate for
medical cases little less than 3 per cent. /
and Tor surgical cases about 5 per cent.
So the doctors and the management of
the hospital believe this answers the
question as to whether the institution
was an experiment after all, and the new
hospital answers the question from the
standpoint.
Lieut.-Gov. Proutv was the last |
speaker and he congratulated the people |
on this monument which represented
their persistency and their charity. 1t is
just such a monument which one sees
rising up all over the state and tvpifes
the spirit of the new Vermont" But I
the spirit of the community behind the /
hospital is of even greater benefit than
the hospital itself. All honor, therefore,
to the rank and file who contributed and !
sacrificed to make this institution
possible
Mr.. Brooks then read the following
letter from the Sisters of St. Johnsbury |
Hospital, adding that he was glad to |
read it tonight and that no one ever
wanted to see any rivalry but only the
heartiest cooperation between the two
institutions:
Mr.. FRANK H. Brooks,
President of Brightlook Hospital
The Sisters OF St. Johnsbury Hospital
desire TO express their good wishes for
the success of Brightlook Hospital, also
to return thanks for your kind invitation
which they regret not being able to
accept.
March II. 1908.