The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-07-12
APPEAL FOR HOSPITAL.


India, April, 1919
CONVENT OF THE HOLY ANGELS,
Reverend Father:
The great war is at an end but not
so the pressing need of help for the
Foreign Missions. With overtures of
peace France and Belgium, as is
known the world over, will not be in a
position for many years, to come to
our assistance.
Today we make a general and most
urgent appeal, for ST. Annes Hospital
of Kumbakonam. At present, our
great means of doing good here, in
this sacred city of Southern India,
lies through the path of medicine, far
more than through the medium of
education. This path, though partial
ly open to us through our dispensaries,
cannot be altogether ours, unless we
promptly open our st. Annes "Gosha'
Hospital, that is to say, hospital
worked by females alone, by lady doc
tors, lady nurses, and female serV-
ants. For centuries, Indian women
have lived behind the CURTAIN in
the groove, followed out for them,
centuries ago, by the Brahmins, and
| have rarely left their homes, except
when devoid of self-respect, or very
| much developed and in advance of
their sex "a rare case in IndiaD. The
rule laid down was, that no male doc
tor might treat female patient.
| Modern education in government
| schools, has tried to develop the
minds of Indian women and girls, but
they are not freed as yet from their
caste prejudices, so deeply rooted in
| their very nature, and which, up to
date, have made them unapproachable
| in illness. In hours of sickness, suf-
| ferers listen earnestly to those who
nurse them with kindness and COM
passion, and their minds are more
easily Influenced when touched by the
devotedness of their infirmarians.
Four years ago, ST. Anne's site and
hospital buildings were ready, but OW-
ing to the war, our plans could not be
| executed. Since then, the theoso-
phistic Brahmins, who abound here,
are trying to open their own hospital
for women, and by strategy, keep their
sectarian influence over the female
population. This could be prevented
if we promptly opened st. Anne's.
We then appeal to you, Reverend
Father, to assist us, if possible, in the
following ways:
| l. Supplying capital by donations
or by the endowment of beds, each en-
dowment being of $1,000. The name
of the benefactor, who endows bed
will be placed on a metal plate or slab
above the patients head. A Mass will
be said annually for each benefactor
who endows bed, and each Sister
and Catechist Missionary of Kumba
konam. will offer Holy Communion fol
| them.
2 Finding us a Catholic qualified
lady doctor. ! VI ~
3. Supplying maternity and gen
eral surgical instruments for opera
ton ward. medicine, furniture
/ 4. Supplying funds for a children's
ward and a small maternity ward.
i We are we'll aware that we have nc
funds in hand for our undertaking
but we have every confidence that &
kind Providence will raise up friends
and benefactors who will gladly take
part in this good work for Gods
glory. We appeal to all Catholic
Americans, especially to the gooG
Catholic women of America, who mus
: feel an interest in the women of tht
, Far East.
:, l remain, Reverend Father,
Yours Respectfully in O. L.,
} SR. JEANNE DE GETHSEMANI,
Supr