The Coconino sun., 1918-06-21
CORNERSTONE LAID FOR ELKS'M MAGNIFICENT
 GIFT TO GOVERNMENT


 BOSTON, Mass, June 21.-The cornerstone of Reconstruction Base , Hospital No. 1, the first of it's kind | in the United States and the gift to the government by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, was laid in the presence of dis tinguished assembly of citizens. Rep resentatives of the nation, state and city, with eminent men of the medical profession and thousands of Elks and prominent citizens from all parts of the East, participated in the cere. mony on Parker Hill and signalized by their presence and words the notable importance of the event.
 This 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 maimed and dis. abled American soldiers and sailors the best of expert attention and oc- cupational instruction. It will rebuild human wreckage into able-bodied men and will educate them in occupations which will best qualify them not to become a burden to society. The aim of the hospital in brief may be said to be to minimize the sufferings and disabilities caused by the war 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 gift from the Elks. The Elks war relief commis- sion is building the reconstruction hospital at cost of $250,0O0, the money being taken from the Elks' $1 100000 war relief fund, voted by the Elks 1917 convention. The hos pital will be ready to receive the wounded American soldiers and sail ors in 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 repre- sented. His Excellency, Samuel Me- Call, governor of Massachusetts, ex- tended the greetings of the common. wealth. and the Hon. Andrew J. Pet CTS, mayor of Boston, represented the city.
 Fred Harper, grand exalted ruler | of the Elks, delivered the principal address of the occasion, telling of the benevolent and patriotic purposes that prompted the Elks to make the gift to 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 Elks in New England were represented by,E. Mark Sullivan, exalted ruler of the Bos- ton lodge of Elks.
 The Elks war relief commission that has charge of financing the | achievement of this great war work, attended the exercises and included the Hon. John K. Tener, P. G. D. R., of Charleroi, Penn., chairman; Joseph T. Tanning, P. G. E. R., of New York, secretary; the Hon. Jerome B. Fisher, P. c. F. R., of Jamestown, N. r.; James R. Nicholson, P. G. E. R., of Boston, and Edward Fighter, P. G. F.. R., of New Orleans, La.
 Every device and resource known to the medical science will be at hand at the reconstruction hospital to re- build every part of the human frame. Men with half their faces shot away by shrapnel will get new jawbones from their ribs and new noses and new cheeks from the cartridges and tissues on other parts of their bodies.
 Thousands of men who would be frsnaf ment will be rebuilt at the new re- construction hospital and taught trades that make them economic as- sets instead of liabilities. The men with fractures that have not rightly knitted, with stiff joints, with nerve palsies from shock or from injury these are the cases the reconstruction hospital will help. They will have had the regular base hospital treat ment just behind the firing lines, where the first surgical work will be done.
 Maimed and disfigured men will be reconstructed by operation, by appa- ratus, by education. Treatment will be given not only to the classes al- ready mentioned, but also to those tndt Hteu pldotiS opCidtiOiS tp iSlh- edy contractures or defects or who need appliances to supplant missing limb. Those given artificial limbs will be educated in their industrial use.
 No agency of the United States army or navy is able to supply this treatment. The government has frank ly admitted it and for this reason has turned with eager gratefulness and an assured spirit of cooperation to the plans which were proposed to it by the Elks.
 Dr. Frederic J. Cotton, one of the originators of the idea of a recon struction hospital in Boston and one of the leading orthopedic surgeons. of the country, will be in charge of the hospital for the government. The hos pital will need well-trained and especially efficient professional staff. It's necessary nucleus has been re- cruited and is only awaiting the word to begin it's service.
 The institution consists of com plete unit of twin war hospital build