Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-04-26
Ceremonies Attract Much Attention
Among Clergy and Communicates.
MRS. PoPPLETOE GIVES HISTORY
Simple Recital of Founding of First
Hospital in Omaha.
AIMS OF PROPOSED STRUCTURE
Building TO Cost 100000 and 60 Garry
Out the Ideas of Bishop
Clarksoa, with Some
Extension.


The ceremonies attendant on the laying
Of the corner stone of the new Clsrkson
Memorial hospital took place at Twenty
first avenue and Harvey streets, Saturday.
under skies that threatened rain. but were
not interrupted. and were marked by sim
plicity and sincerely. The choirs of the
several Episcopal churches OF Omaha and
South Omaha. officers. nurses and medical
staff OF the hospital, the Clarkson Mem
orial association, lay members Of the Ca
thedral chapter. the architect and builders.
the trustees. the clergy and the bishops,
assembled at the residence OF J. c. French,
2l Howard street. at 1880 o'clock and
marched from there TO the hospital grounds.
Ample seating accommodations had been
provided the first floor OF the new
structure, and a large throng had already
assembled when the procession arrived.
Rev. T. ]. Mackey of All Saints church
read from psalm cxviii. with responsive
readings by the congregation. The lesson
from St. Matthew was read by Dean
Beecher of Trinity cathedral and the choir
and congregation sang the dedicatory hymn
written for and sung at the laying of the
corner stone Of the Childs Hospital and
Home. June 12. 1888
ceremony OF the Laying.
F. II. Davis. secretary of the Board OF
Trustees. read the list of articles placed
in the box to be sealed in the stone. These
were
Names of the trustees; copy of articles of
Incorporation Of the hospital; Bible: prayer
book: annual year book of the hospital for
1905. copy Of the crozier, special hospital
number for 1907: special copy OF the Crozier
in memory of Bishop Worthington, 1908;
copies OF Crozier for March and February,
World-Herald and News of this date; copy
OF The Living church of this date; Church
and Home of this date; Cathedral Chimes
Of this date; Omaha Excelsior and Exam
iner of this date: American coins of this
date; printed journal of the ,fortieth an
nual council Of the diocese OF Nebraska
for 1907; historical sketch OF hospital by
Mrs. A j. Poppletop; names OF subscribers
TO the hospital fund to date; photographs
of Bishop and Mrs. Clarkson; copy of or
der OF the days services: American flag.
Bishop Williams blessed the stone and as
sisted by Architect John LateEser and the
builders. McGowan and Jackobberger.
placed IT in position. Bishop Williams then
struch the stone thrice. saying; "In the
name OF the Father and OF the Son and of
the Holy Ghost amen. We lay this corner
stone OF the Bishop Clarkson Memorial
hospital IN our. city of Omaha, in pious
memory OF Robert Harper clarkson, doctor
Of divinity and the first bishop Of the
diocese OF Nebraska, to the honor OF our
Lord and Savior; and for His ministry of
healing in His church TO the bodies and
souls OF the sick and injured Pro Dec.
pro Ecciesia, pro Humanitate, we here
dedicate this pious and loving memorial,
through eJsus Christ. our Savior. who with
/ the Father and the Holy Spirit liveth and
reigneth. ever one God, world without end.
/ Amen"
The Nicene creed was then repeated by
the entire congregation standing.
Mrs. POppIetOn's Address.
Mrs. Andrew J. Poppleton. one Of the
earliest members of the hospital associa-
/ tion. read the following historical sketch
of the hospital:
1T has been asked of me to give upon
this occasion a short history OF the Bishop
Clarkson Memorial hospital from it's begin
ming.
'"rhe first hospital in Omaha, OF which
this is the legitimate successor, was built
IN 1869 on a lot owned by the city on the
corner of Webster and Twenty-third streets
small building OF six rooms 1t was
opened for patients in March. 1870. and
named the Good Samaritan. The associa-
ton having 1t in charge was composed OF
women of every denomination in the city
1 j.
Jewett. a prominent church woman OF old
Trinity.
"The members took upon themselves by
turns the duties Of nurse and general pro-
wider. and a few generous hearted physi-
clans gave 1t their free medical services
For few months everything went Nrea-
sonably well There was never al any time
lack of patients. but there was often q
very painful lack OF means. It soon be-
came evident that under the existing system
the pecuniary demands Of the situation
could not be met. and in 1871. by common
consent. the property was transferred tc
Bishop Clarkson to be carried on under his
supervision as a church hospital.
In 1877 the building was destroyed by
fire, and for time the work was wholly
abandoned.
In October, 1881, in response TO a call
from the bishop meeting OF women was
held in Trinity cathedral which resulted
| in a reorganization, and in December fol
lowing a small hospital with six beds wa,
opened in a rented cottage at f7l6 Dodge
! street In the spring OF 1855 II was decided
to buy the lot. Plans we're made for a
permanent building and the corner stons
was laid on the 18th Of June Of the same
year. A number Of clergymen we're present
at the services. and a hymn was sung
which was composed for the occasion By
Rev. IA B. Burgess Of Piattsmouth
Martial Law al Anita
ITO build such a hospital and furnish Il
was In that day considered a daring enter
prise, but Bishop Clarkson entered upor
Il with the same trust and confidence
which characterized him in all his work
The first subscriptions we're made by Mrs
Clarkson and Mrs. James M. woolworth
Of $500 each. and were followed almost i'm.
mediately BY a gift OF 5000 from Mra
Mahlon d. Ogden OF Chicago. member Of
family whose generous benefactions car
be traced through every form OF BishoI
clarkson's work In Omaha As the bishiI
had said, Nothing succeeds Ike success.
and contributions flowed in from friends a
home and abroad. until in December OF tn,
same year. lsSs. the hospital was an accom-
plished fact at a cost Of $1,000.
'On the evening Of December 70 IL Wal