The Detroit times., 1913-06-23
ST. MARY'S NOT
EAGER FOR CITY
HOSPITAL WING
Poor Boards Plan Would Be
Burden on Institution, De-
clares Chaplain Koenig
COST OF BUILDING HAS
TO BE PAID BACK
Priest, Disbeliever in Deathbed
Changes in Religion, Denies
Charge of PROSECUTING

Lending 100000 to st. Msry's hos
pital TO provide ward for the city's
sick poor would be a burden for the
Sisters of Charity In charge OF the
Institution. and not q benefit, In the
opinion of the Rev. II. c. Koenig. chap
lain of the hospital. The essential
point for the Sisters OF Charity to
consider In the proposition. winch has
been tentatively considered by the
poor commission. Is that the money
must be paid back and the chaplain
believes the protests OF Protestant
clergy against the alleged favoring OF
Catholic institutions are Of no force.
because the burden Of the loan will
be heavy one TO assume.
THE Protestants Directing to grant
ing this money to ST. Mary's on the
plea that 1t would be help to the
hospita. arc very much mistaken In
their conception of the nature Of the
transaction says Father Koenig.
The sisters have been led to believe
that the 100000 Is merely proposed
as a loan from the poor commission,
that would have to be paid back in
side of Is years. At any time within
the Is years the city might decide to
build a hospital OF its own. Then st.
Mary's would have an extra building
and no patients to I'll 1t. and the
money would all have to be paid back
just the same.
Most OF the protests OF the Pro-
testants have been because Of the al
legged actions of Father Shredder, pas
tor of st. Barnabas church, whom
they accuse Of going among the char
ity patients and trying to proselyte
them into the Catholic church. Wheth-
or Father Shredder has ever done this
or not l do not know, but I think
probably he has not. He comes here
to see Catholic patients, and We al
low a minister of any faith to come
here with the same liberty and talk
to or minister to any patient OF his
church. We have every class OF peo-
pie here, Jews. Gentiles, and even Mos
lens, and we make absolutely no dis
tinction In the way we treat them.
Personally, do not believe In death
bed changes of religion, SO the charge
that l try to change mems beliefs ts
absolutely unfounded.
The decision Of the Sisters of Char
ity in regard to accepting a loan of
5000 900 from the city for providing
facilities for the INDECENT sick will
probably be left with Father Cribbin.
general director for this province. He
will be back time time soon and will
consult again with Sister Camilla in
charge here. and with other church
authorities.
h<, ~ 40
the proposition for a minute, because
for the hospital to assume such debt.
Since 1t would not be a help but a
hindrance to the best interests of the
hospital. and since there Is not and
never has been any attempt on the
part OF Catholics here to discriminate
against Protestants or influence them
In their beliefs, cannot see why the
PrOtestants should consider that the
poor commissioners are beneflting the
Catholic church In this matter"
The solution OF the hospital Ques-
ton as finally adopted by the board
Of estimates was to appropriate $780,
900 to be expended under the direc-
ton Of the poor commission. The
offer to build wing was made to st.
Mary's hospital with the intention that
IL should act as an emergency hos
pital and provide a separate ward for
dipsomaniacs and the insane. The
plan has been temporarily suspended
because Lutheran ministers and other
Professionals have objected to the use
of city's money for the support of a
sectarian institution.
The poor commission Is now wait
ing for reply from the authorities
Of ST. Mary's hospital said william
A. Walker, former president and now
member Of the board of poor COM
missioners. We were authorized BY
the board OF estimates to lend this
money at our own terms and We will
give it to st. Mary's II that institu-
ton will build a building and then
return the money 70 the poor commits
sion at the end Of period Of years,
prOhakly TX"