TO HEAL THE SICK

Hokitika Guardian, 22 August 1929, Page 7

TO HEAL THE SICK

LEWISHAM HOSPITAL OPENED. “A SPIRIT TIIE WORLD CANNOT • - . ; aim’’ • WELL-EQUIPPED BUILDING. WELLINGTON, August 19.. ' The new Lewisham hospital building at -.Newton was opened yesterday ai’ternoan by the Governcr-Uen-oral (Sir . Charles 'Eergusson) before a large gathering. ’ Associated with His Excellency and Lady Alice Eergusson on the platform were • Archbishops Redwood and O’Shea, the Prime Minister (Right 'Hon. Sir Joseph Ward), the Minister of Health (Hon A. J. Stallworthy), the Rigiit Hon J. G. Coates, the Mayor (Mr, G; A. Troup) and others. The chairman, Mr J. J. McGrath, welcomed those present on behalf of the Mother Superior and the Sisters of Mary,, He said that Mother Xavier, the Mother Provincial, had during the last two years rendered valuable service in the direction of having the hospital established. The building would stand for all time as a monument 1o her zeal, devotion and faith. Archbishop. Redwood said that the hospital would be of inestimable value to Wellington and to the country. It was also proof of the immense progress in surgery and hospital work made in recent times. It was a wellestablished fact and a sad one that the care, of-the Nick, from the seventeenth to the nineteenth century, fell in England to an indescribable degree of degradation. Nurses of those days wore of the type of 'Sarah Gamp, and Charies Dickens deserved immortality ■ for having described them. To-day , the progress made in nursing and surgery in our hospitals was wonder!pi. Florence Nightingale had a very great share in the improvement of hospitals, but she owed her very desire and means of achievement to the Sisters of Mercy and the Church in Ireland. The Order was founded in Dublin in 1820, and five sisters wore sent to Paris to become acquainted there with hospital management. Later the great hospital in Dublin, was opened and it became known throughout tlve world. Among those who went to visit the institution was -Fbronoo Nightingale. After seeing the work in progress there she wrote asking to be allowed to telco up training in nursing. When the Crimean War broke out. with ail i 1.% attendant' frightfulness among the sick and' wounded, Archbishop Manning begged Florence Nightingale to take over- the work of nursing the

soldiers. Tt was said then very truly that Florence Nightingale goo the credit and the Nuns did the work. However, said Arch bishop Redwood, he would not detract from, the credit to Florence Nightingale. Proceeding, he said that here was a new Order, familiarly known ns “The Blue Sisters,” founded by Mary Potter, whom he knew ve.y well. They were experienced in nursing, and with the proper.conditions shook! attain perfect success. These nurse? had a spirit the world could not give, while no philanthropy could explain their work. They viewed a safferoi as a representative of Christ ' and treated him as such. The Lewishan Hospital, of Wellington, said tin Archbishop, in conclusion, would lieai comparison with any i,n the world for its equipment. Sir Joseph Ward recalled that, the foundation stone ol the building hoc! been laid in November 19, 1927. He thanked the contractors, the Flctcliei Construction Company, Ltd., for the manner in which they had done theii work, also Mr Rix Trott. Lewisham hospitals, he said, were to be found in different parts of the world. They ha< no fund of their own but relied upoi their work and the contributions o' those; who appreciated the noble wor! in which the hospitals were engaged. Since this latest hospital building had been started over £20,000 had beer raised. The total cost had been ovei £50.009. The building had been equipped at a very satisfactory price. The sum owiug, , £30,000, was large, bui those concerned had a supreme confidence in the ability of the sisters and the patronage that would he ac corded their work. The grounds had cost to date £3BOO, 'and over £3oo' had been received from the Lewishan hospital authorities in Australia Other than; that, the contribution? had keen obtained within the Domin ion itself. The Prime Minister pan •tribute to the work of Mr McGrath, who, he said, had been constant' ii his endeavours to see the consummation ol the hospital scheme. Tin place of Mother Xavier, he said, ha< been taken by Mother Bernard, bui it; would he very gratifying to Mothe; Xavier to know that the work she started had been completed. _ “1 think there is plenty of room for the Lewisham Hospital,’’ added Sir Joseph Ward. “If I understand matters aright, there is a waiting list foi operations that can hardly be overtaken by the existing institutions. There is one thing, judging of - the Lewisham Hospital whereever it has carried out its operations in the past, it will till a void and be a very valuable accessory.” “The hospital marks a new departure as far as Wellington is concerned, and that departure—experiment, I venture to say—is fraught with the very greatest importance,” said the Mayor. Hitherto the care of the .sick in Wellington, in cases where provision could not be made in the homes of the people, had been the obligation of the Government, and provision had been made through an excellent hospital system, In addition, there' had been established throughout the city many private hospitals. The Lewisham Hospital would supply all that was provided in the other institutions, while it would also attend to spiritual needs, m which if followed the very best precedent that could be obtained. He suggested as a motto o\er the entrance to the building the words: “To cure sometimes, to relieve often, to comfort always.” No better summary of the purpose ol the hospital could be stated. Ho went cn to speak of the value oi health, and said that no service could take priority to that of healing, whether of body, soul, or spirit. The Lewisham Hospital was a great adventure, and, as in all great adventures, great faith was called for. Faith called for' sacrifice, and there had been sacrifice behind the building of this hospital. The chairman (Mr McGrath) and Sir Joseph Ward had put up the guarantee necessary for the grounds and building, thereby showing considerable faith. “The success of the hospital will be measured by the manner and degree in which the three great Christian vir-tues--faith, sacrifice, and love—are manifested,” said the Mayor in conclusion. “I congratulate you on the great forward movement you have made and hope the greatest possible good will result to the city from this institution.” The chairman publicly thanked those who had been concerned in assisting the hospital scheme to completion. He then presented the Gov-ernor-General with a gold key and the ceremony of opening the building was performed. Selections were played by the Tramways Band. Just over £IOOO was collected at the ceremony.