Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1918-06-15

Impressive Exercises in Boston Today
When Building is Started Which
Elks Will Give to the Government
Boston, Mass, June 15.-The cor
nerstone OF Reconstruction Base Hos
pital No. /, the first OF its kind IN
the United States and the gift to the
government by the Benevolent and
Protective Order Of Elks, was laid to-
day in the presence OF distinguished
assembly Of citizers. Representatives
of the nation, state and city, with
eminent men of the medical profcs-
fesion and thousands of Elks and
prominent citizens from all parts OF
the east participated in the ceremony
on Parker Hill and signalized by their
presence and words the notable i'm
portance 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 MANNED and dis
abled American soldiers and sailors
the best Of expert attention and occu-
pational instruction. 1t will rebuild
human wreckage into able-bodled
men and will educate them in occupa-
tions which viii best qualify them
not to become burden to society.
The aim of the hospital in brief may
be said to be to minimize the suffer-
ings and disabilities caused by the
war and to protect the community
from an undue number of crippled
citizens.
The government through the sur
geon generals department, in Novem..
Der last, accepted the reconstruction
hospital plans as gift from the Elks.
The Elks War Relief Commission is
building the reconstruction hospital at
cost of S250,00O. the money being
taken from the Elks S1,0O0,0O0 war
relief fund, voted by the Elks 1917
convention The hospital will be ready
to receive the wounded American sol
diers and sailors in the early part of
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-
sentcd. His Excellency, Samuel W.
Mccall, governor of Massachusetts,
extended the greeting of the Com
and The Hon. Andrew J.
Peters, mayor Ct Boston, represented
the city. Fred Harper, grand exalted
ruler of the Elks, delivered the prin-
cipal address OF the occasion, telling
of the benevolent and patriotic pur
poses 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.
Mari, Sullivan, exalted ruler of the
Boston lodge of Elks.
Every device and resource known
to the medical science will be at hand
lat the reconstruction hospital to re-
build every part of the human frame.
Men with hall their faces shot away
by shrapnel will get new jawbones
from their ribs and new noses and
new cheeks from the cartilages and
tissues on other parts of their bodies.
Thousands of men who would be
human wrecks without proper treat
ment will be rebuilt at the new recon-
struction hospital and taught trades
that make them economic assets in
stead of liabilities. The men with
fractures that have not rightly knit
ted, with stiff joints, with nerve pal
sizes from shock or from injury-there
are the cases the reconstruction hos
pital will help. They will have had
the regular base hospital treatment
inst behind the firing lines, where the
first surgical work will be done.