The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-18

The services were under the direc-
ton of Sister Mary Marcella, who is
in charge of the new hospital. which
was erected by the Sisters of Charity
The Right Reverend Thomas r. LilIis
bishop of the diocese of Leavenworth,
was the officiant, and Governor Stubbs
was the principal speaker of the af-
ternoon. After the addresses of the
two speakers, the building was blessed
by the bishop and the public was ad-
mitted.
A number of visiting clergymen
were present at the ceremony and as
sisted. Father DeSmedt of st. Mary's
parish was present with sixty of his
parishioners- The CLERGY who assisted
in the services were: Father Hayden.
Father Fitzpatrick, and Father Henry
of Topeka; Father Aloysius Breen,
president of st. Marys college at st.
Marys, Kan; Father B. S. Kelly of
Kansas City, Kan: Father Downey of
Leavenworth; Father Coldmann of
Nortonville, and Father ]. F. Hill of
ST. Marys. &
A number. of visiting sisters were
also present. among them being
Mother Irene. superior. and Sister
Anthony, assistant mother. of the st.
Joseph hospital, of Denver. Colo:
Mother Olive, superior. and Sister
Berchmans,, assistant mother. of
Leavenworth community.
Bishop LiIlis Was Eloquent.
Bishop Lillis said In part:
"Paganisn knew no compassion for
the weak or helpless and those in dis
tress were looked upon as a burden to
be cast aside.
"In the days of Roman grandeur
one-fourth of the population was in
poverty and want. still we find no
record of an asylum being founded for
the needy or any hospital for the
sick. Poverty was considered a crime
and charity a wanton waste. The
Redeemer by his shining example of
compassion and mercy, began to
change this condition, and soon the
for the infirm and aged cared for
large numbers. as far back as the
fourth century, and the early Chris
tians had custom of making a col
days, for the orphans, widows and all
INDECENT. Down through the ages
these charity institutions have given
evidence of the Christian faith and
fering is cared for by and through
Catholic religion. In the. asylunls for
orphans and abandoned little ones.
homes for the aged that are wrecks of
lives and houses for the
young who have strayed from the
path of virtue.
I'm many places there are institutions
like the one we are dedicating today
men who have turned from the pleas
ures of the world consecrating their
lives to the temporal and spiritual well
fare of others. The Sisters of Charity
are no strangers to the people of this
great commonwealth. They came to
this state when it was a barren waste
and when there were comparatively
few people to speak word of welcome
to them. F'ifty-one years ago when
they crossed the Missouri river to
found a home near LeavenWorth, the
political situation of the nation was
alarming. War clouds were thickening
and border depredations were daily oc-
currences. They built their mother
house and from 1t they have been going
forth ever since to do the work of the
One who had compassion on the multi
tudes--
1.-The people of Topeka will appreciate
their presence and will not fail to en-
courage them in their undertaking. The
surgeons and physicians will soon wit
ness their unselfishness and win
which Saint Francis hospital has been
erected"
Governors Fine Talk.
Governor Stubbs expressed his graft
fcation at the privilege of speaking on
his occasion and said:
MANY years of work in construction
camps all over this country, from Viz
ginia to the Pacific coast and from
the Canada border to the Gulf, gave
me many opportunities to come in con-
tact with that noble order, the Sisters
of Charity. which has established and
will maintain this hospital. In the far
west. in the uttermost confines Of
civilization, they carry on their labor
of love and service, and of the hum
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