Evening star., 1940-05-01
Service Of |. Y. n. 5.
Praised al 4Oth
Anniversary Dinner
Mrs. Roosevelt Points
To Progress; President
Sends Message

10 Fro9ressi rres'os"
Sends Message
Mrs. Roosevelt and other notables
last night joined in speaking glow
ing words of praise for the Instruc-
tive Visiting Nurse Society, its
service of helping the sick recover
and its work of preventing illness
through scientific instruction.
The occasion was a testimonial
dinner to the society in the May
flower Hotel attended by more than
800 persons in honor of the society s
40 years Of service in the National
Capital. Leading Washington citi-
zens and national figures were in
cluded in the assemblage.
At the affair, sponsored by the
Washington Board of Trade, the
Council of Social Agencies and the
Medical Society of the District of
Columbia, the steadily growing work
and usefulness of the I. v. N. S.
was emphasized by Mrs Roosevelt,
Mrs Chester c. Bolton, Represent
ative from Ohio; DR.. John H.
Lyons, president of the Medical
Society; Mrs. Harry S. Bernton,
president of the Council of Social
Agencies; Lawrence E. Williams,
past president of the Board of Trade,
and Representatives of the city's
newspapers.
President Sends Message.
A message from President Roose-
velt praising the society and its
work was read at the dinner by At
torney General Jackson, who was
toastmaster.
Mrs. Roosevelt declared the
society "has done what all agencies
of the sort should do" in that it
has served as trail blazer" and
shown things that needed to be
done, adding that many trained
here through the society have gone
on to other communities and car
ried with them the standards set
here"
At one point in her address Mrs
Roosevelt declared that many
more public health nurses and facil-
tiles are needed, but asserted great
progress has been made. Figures
she suggested. best illustrate the
work of the I. V. N S. In 1900, she
said, the I.V.N. S. had 1851 pa
tients, to whom total OF 1854
visits were made, and the organiza-
tions expenditures totaled $2,189 80
That year, she pointed out, four
nurses were employed.
Mrs. Roosevelt then related how
In 1899 the society had 26,892 pa
tients, to whom its 68 field nurses
made a total of 157,359 visits. Also
last year expenditures by the
society were SITS, 1921, Mrs. Roose-
welt related.
Presents Hand Written Testimonial
In benalf of the dinners sponsors
including Vincent Saccardi, general
chairman of the Testimonial
Dinner and Sponsor Committee,
Mrs. Roosevelt presented to Mrs
Harlan Fiske Stone, president OF
the I. v. N. S., a prettily lettered
and hand-penned testimonial, in
closed in a neat frame.
The testimonial indicated that
the theme of life as represented
in the words of Christ, ''Tnasmuch
as We have done it unto one of the
least of these. my brethren, We have
done it until Me-" is represented by
the nurse society. OF the society,
the testimonial declared:
Its leadership is found among
those concerned with the health and
welfare of the community. Its work
among the sick has resulted in heal
ing and in promoting faith and hap
piness of those healed. On this oc-
casion, which celebrates the 40 years
of service, a group of citizens Of the
District of Columbia has gathered
to pay tribute to this society and its
achievements in this city. Thus to
you, Mrs. Harlan Fiske Stone. as
president, and to all who serve
through this society, we offer our
gratitude and praise for your work
and our prayers for your further
growth and success"
Mrs. Stone Responds.
Mrs. Stone expressed gratitude for
the tribute in behalf of the board
of the society.
President Roosevelt's message said
From personal observation I can
testify to the increasingly splendid
work that is being done by your
organization, and you should make
this 40th anniversary real cele-
bration." Elsewhere President Roose-
velt's message said: 1T means a
great deal to the future of our coun-
try to have healthy citizens, both in
mind and body" and added:
May express the hope that your
fine work throughout the communl-
ties of our country will continue and
that you. will play constructive
part in helping solve the health
problems of today"
Mrs. Bolton in her address de-
clared: The nurse is the natural
Interpreter, teacher, friend. The
care she gives at the bedside is the
key to the heart. to the confidence
of the family" She urged the con.
tinuance of private nursing agencies
such as the Instructive Visiting
Nurse Society, pointing to ways in
which government-contro nurses
and agencies may fall short Of full
filling needs.
Urges Adequate Financing.
1--WE must see to it" that nursing
schools ''are adequately financed sc
that they may give the kind of basic
training upon which specialized
work can be built" she said.