Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-10-13
BOARD OF MANAGERS.
Hold Their First Meeting in the New
Alexandria Hospital-Address by
Rev. DR.. s. A. Wallis.

i
Managers of the Alexandria hosp!-
tai vas held Thursday morning last.
After reading the first chapter OF
st. Mark, from the 2lst to the 34th
verses inclusive, the Rev. DR.. 5. a.
Wallis. of the Theological Seminary,
near. this city, gave an address
which was substantially as follows:
It gives me much pleasure TO he
with you this morning, and to receive
from your esteemed president, Mrs.
8allingcr, and yourselves, many OF
!. whom along with her ! count as true
and long-standing friends, the
honor Of conducting the religious ex-
ercises Of, and saying few words at
the. first meeting of your Board
which has taken place in this new,
substantial and beautiful hospital OF
sfhe city of Alexandria. | have read
ytl,is portion OF Scripture from ST.
Marks gospel because it proelalms
Christ as the Healer of our sickness
and infirmities. These miracles o.
healing reveal Him from our point
of view as the life giver and snow
His tender COMPASSION for the weak
and helpless and the suffering
whether rich or poor. and as he
has committed the preaching of HIS
gospel of redemption to men. so now
since the days of miracles have
passed away file has committed lis
gospel or good news of healing 10
men likewise, whom we recognize
rs His servants, the physicians and
nurses, whose works of mercy and
self denial in service to the sick and
m;.imed and suffering are so we'll
known and valued by all OF US. MIN
listers and doctors and nurses. each
in tEeir several positions of service
in this and other cities and towns
as we'll as in the country stand to-
gether as messengers Of his gospei
IN its widest sense, as revealed IN
the New Testament.
The Christian Church, under the
inspiration of the teaching and MR.
aclcs of healing performed by her d.
vine Head and Master Jesus Christ
wac the mother OF hospitals and m
stitutions as we know them, for car
inc for the sick and poor and needy.
These were left to drag out mlser-
able existence or period through meg
lect in countries dominated by the
spirit of heathen!sm. In remarking
that we owe the foundation OF nos
pitals to the example and spirit OF
Christ. am not unmindful OF the
personal care our Hebrew friends
have always given to the sick, and
of their, benevolence in founding
hospitals or contributing to them
as in the case of this and" othercsshttoos.tI
pitals. most generously. Nor de2I
forget that many OF them see in our
I,o,,Fs life and example the noolesc
t,pe of manhood yet revealed to our
.ace. But as l can see the pages OF
history look back to the fourth ,tt
century OF the Christian era, ana
behold that noble Christian .matron;
Fabriola, whose name is enshrined II!
the beautiful story of her life and
t;,nes bv Cardinal Wiseman. Of he1
Ieckv writes in his History of Euro
nean Morals, this Roman LADY, as an
act of penance, founded at Rome the
first public hospital, and the charity
PLANTED by that woman's hand over
spread the world.
And now as we are gathered to-
nether here on the happy occasion OF
holding the first Board Meeting
assembled within the walls OF this
noble building, which is now one OF
the chief architectural attractions
of Alexandria, and as l have before
remarked worthy of a far larger
CITY, we must all exclaim, What
hath God wroughti' For many OF
tvou remember that day of small be-
ginnings in 1872 when your first hon
ored president, Miss Julia Johns,
first opened in DR.. Murphy's old
home the doors of the Alexandria
Hospital 1t was work OF mercy
and faith. and like so many noble IN
stitutions. unpretentious and weak IN
their origin, under Gods blessing Ii
has developed and prospered. Through
these years past the Alexandria Hos
nital has fulfilled its beneficent pur-
nose to all who have come..to it for
medical aid and treatment fr',m this
citv and the surrounding country
And what comfort and blessing its
r;nistratioas have been to the poor
and needy. Your excellent superintend: