Omaha daily bee., 1908-02-03
MEN OF MANY FAITHS TAKE PART
Spirit of Exercises as Broad as
Character of Institution.
WELCOME TO ALL WHO SUFFER
A. D. Brandeis, President, Makes the
Principal Address.
GRATEFUL WORDS TO DONORS
BuildinE Of Three stories In stone
and Re-cRforced Concrete Endur-
inE Monument 20 BiE-IIearted
Men and women.

Men aud Women.
The new building Of the wise Memorial
hospital. Twenty-fourth avenue and Harnoy
street, was formally dedicated and occupied
Sunday afternoon. Persons of all creeds
Joined in the dedication Of this new monu-
ment 10 the city Of Omaha
Imposing in its three stories Of stone and
reinforced concrete the building itself ls
an imposing structure.
The interior was in state Of oomplete-
ness which waslsurprislng to the thousands
that passed down the corridors and Viewed
the rooms, all being thrown open to inspec-
tion. Fourteen rooms have been furnished
by private individuals or associations, five
OF them as memorial rooms These are:
Room No. /, memorial to Mr. and Mrs.
J. L. Brandeis; room No g. memorial to
rabbi Edelman; room No Z, furnished by
Il. L. Dodder; room No. s furnished by
the employees ot the Brandeis store room
No ?, furnished by NJ. Sach and family;
room No. 10, furnished by Charles Grotte;
room No. II, memorial to M. Tewcls; room
No II, furnished by I. o. 3. b. lodge;
room No. 2s furnished by T. E. D. club;
room No. a. furnished by Robert ober-
fielder room No. 25, memorial to Mrs Dora
Spiesberger; room No. q. memorial 20
Frank Blotchky room No 20, furnished
by ]. Ketteman; room No 81, memorial
to Edward Rosewater
The program which was carried ont from
the north end OF the main corridor. on the
main floor, consisted OF an Introductory
prayer by Rev Newton Mann, pastor OF
Unity church, and address by the president
of the Hospital association Arthur ID.
Brandeis and addresses by J. l.. Kennedy,
I. zeigler, Victor Rosewater Rabbi Cohn
and ]. c. Wharton Rev. T. j. Mackay,
rector of All Saints Episcopal church. pro-
nounced the benedction. Complimentary
music was furnished by the Omaha Musi-
clans union. under the leadership OF S.
Heyn and Miss Myrtle Moses. who sang
IN her usual artistic way.
Address of thr President.
AS president OF The Wise Memorial hos
pitaL the ptesssSnf dtity desolves upon mc to
give you short history OF the association.
said Arthur D. Brandeis. mo doubt the
majority of you know that the organization
was started by Mrs. J. l.. Brandels Mrs.
Sonnenberg and a few others. In 1901. on
November 10 of that year, they opened a
hospital, in a small way, in a frame build
ing at 32OS Sherman avenue. After being
there about a year, they found their quar-
ters too small and leased what ls known
as the J. J. Brown residence. a large brick
building at 2225 Sherman avenue. in which
building the hospital has been maintained
until now During these years 3,025 patients
have been cared for
Shortly before the illness and death OF
Mrs. Brandeis, seeing how much good could
be accomplished with larger quarters, she
decided 10 start a fund with which eventu.
ally to build a hospital. and, with thG
assistance of the board gave a fair which
cleared 5000 It was the aim OF Mrs.
BrandeIs to build first-class, up-to-date
hospital, to care for the suffering. Tn
fortunately she was called away from our
midst before this could be accomplished.
Succeeds His Mother.
After her death, the board elected me
to succeed her president. With the as
sistance OF Hon. Edward Rosewater and
Mrs. Sonnenberg, we succeeded In interest
ing Mr.. Simmer of Waverly, Ia. who was
known TO give largely to hospitals that
were nonscctarian. Mr.. Simmer came to
Omaha and looked over the field and said
he would give us $1,000. provided the good
citizens of Omaha would give $4,000 In
order to build $4,000 hospital The only
condition made was that at all times il
must be nonsectarian, and must have a GER
tain number OF free beds in the wards
when Mr.. SINNERS proposition to con-
tribute $4,000 came TO us. the majority of
the board thought it would be impossible
to make the donation available. under the
condition that the ctizens of Omaha should
give us $500, but they decided 10 make
the effort. Hon Edward Rosewater and
started out one afternoon and made our
first call on our good citizen, Guy 4.
Barton. After having the matter laid before
him he gave us a very large donation
which practically assured the building OF
the hospital.
Barton Donation Vital.
Although it was through the offer made
by Mr.. Simmer that this hospital was
made possible, we are also specially and
directly obligated 10 Mr.. Barton, because
without his donation we would not have
had the courage TO solicit the necessary .
funds TO erect this magnificent building.
The citizens of Omaha have been more
than liberal-they have been generous Tn
fortunately some Of those who gave us
large donations have not lived TO see the
completion OF the work. Among them are;
Hon. Edward ROsewater. Herman kOuntEe
Count Creighton. q. w. Lininger. w A.
Paxton. j. NJ Woolworth, j. E. Boyd and
Dr. s. ID. Mercer.
In the name OF the association ] want
TO thank all those who contributed TO the
upbuiding Of the institution. In mentioning
some ] do not mean to slight others who
gave literally according to their means.
Some OF those who contributed small
amounts made greater sacrifices than
others who made larger contributions. We
appreciate all the support we have received.
Welcome 40 All.
81 take pleasure in welcoming you all
today TO rejoice over the substantial CONF
pletion of the work. None Of us know the
future OF the institution. We must feel
however. that another great agency for
good has been established on a sure
foundation.
'If we arc TO have a large measure of
success we must all share in IL. II is only
by united effort that We can occupy that
larger field OF usefulness which lies open
before us. The modern hospital is not only
oonvenience-it Is a necessity. Let us
hope that We may make this hospttAl =