The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1915-1920, 1918-06-19
ELK|S BUILD
fine HOSPITAL

UslIII uVOI uHI
Boston, Mass, June 15.-The Cor
nerstone Of Reconstruction Base Hos
pital No 1, the first of its kind in the
United States and the gift to; the gov
ernment by the Benevolent and Protec-
tive Order of Elks, were laid today in
the presence Of a distinguished as
sembly of citizens. Representatives
of the Nation, State and city,. with
eminent men of the medical profess
sion and thousands of Elks and prom
inentcitizens from all parts of the east,
participated in the ceremony on Par
ker Hill and signalized by their pres
ence and words the notable Importance
of the event.
The first Reconstruction hospital,
which will serve as the model, the
standard-maker for similar ones to be
established throughout the United
States, will give the MANNED and dis
abled American soldiers and sailors
the best of expert attention and occu-
pational construction. It will rebuild
human w~rsckage into able-bodied men
and will educate them in occupations
which will qualify them not to become
a burden to society. The aim Of the
hospital in brief may be said to be 70
minimize the sufferings and disabili-
ties caused by the wal and to protect
the community from an undue number
Of crippled citizens.
The Government through the Sur
geon-General's Department in Novem.
Der last accepted the reconstruction
hospital plans as a gift from the Elks.
The Elks War Relief Commission is
building the reconstruction hospital at
a cost of $250,O0O, the money being
taken from the Elks $1,OOO,O0O war
relief fund, voted by the Elks 1917
convention. The hospital will be
ready to receive the wounded Ameri-
can soldiers and sailors in the early
September.
The laying of the cornerstone was
under the direction of, Grand Lodge
officers of the Elks. The Departments
of the Secretary of War and the Sur.
geon-General were formally represent.
ed. His Excellency, Samuel w. Nc
Call, governor Of Massachusetts, K
tended the greetings of the Common
wealth, and the Hon. Andrew P. Pc
tiers, Mayor Of Boston, represented the
city.
Fred Harper, Grand Exalted Ruler
OF the Elks, delivered the principal adj
dress OF the occasion, telling of the be-
novelent and patriotic purposes that
prompted the Elks to make the gift
70 their country and dwelling on the
blessings that seem certain to await
the war-afflicted soldiery that court
the benefits of the institution. The
subordinate lodges Of the Elks in New
England were represented by E. Mark
Sullivan, Exalted Ruler of the Boston
Lodge of Elks.
The Elks Wal Relief Commission.
that has charge of financing the
achievement of this great work. at
tended the exercises and included the
ion John X. Tener, P. G. E. r., of
Gharleroi, Penn, chairman; Joseph T.
Tanning, P. G. E. R.,I Of New York,
secretary; the Hon. jerome B. Fisher.
P.G.E. r., of jamestown, N. *; Jas.
X. Nicholson, P. G. E. r.. of Boston:
and Edward Fighter, P. G. E. r., Of
New Orleans, La.
Every device and resource know to
the medical science will be at hand at
tne reconstruction hospital to rebuild
every part of the human frame. Men
with half their faces shot away by
sharpenel will get new jaw bones from
their ribs and new noses and new
cheeks from the carriages and tissues
on other parts of their bodies.
Thousands of men who would be
human wrecks without proper treat
ment will be rebuilta at the new recon-
struction hospital and taught trades
that make them economic assets in
stead Of liabilities. The men with
that have not rightly knit
TED, with stiff joints, with nerve pal
! e from shock OF from injury-there
are the cases the reconstruction hos
pital will help. They will have the
regular base hospital treatment lust
o"ai -. tAe Iltlng lines, n the first
surgical work will be done.
Manned and disfgured men will be
reconstructed by operation, by appara-
tus, by education. Treatment will be
given OF only to the classes already
mentioned but also to those that need
plastic operations to remedy contrae-
lures or defects or who need appli-
ances to supplant a missing limb.
Those given artificial limbs will be
educated in their industrial use.
No agency of the United States Ar
my Or Navy is able to supply this
treatment. The government has frank
~ admitted it and for this reason has
turned with eager g%ratefulness and an