TRIBUTE TO NURSES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 140, 14 May 1940, Page 9

TRIBUTE TO NURSES.

RELIGION AND MEDICINE. Commemorating the life and work of Florence Nightingale, with also a special tribute to the noble work of the nursing profession, an inspiring service was held at St. Paul’s Methodist Church, on Sunday evening. Accompanied by Aliss L. M. Banks (matron) and Airs AI. Aitcbison, re presenting the Palmerston North Hospital Board, more than 100 sisters and nurses of the staff of the Hospital were present. The preacher was Rev. Clarence Eaton. Air Eaton made reference to the long association of religion and medicine, and to the growing recognition of the importance of the mental and spiritualoutlook in dealing with questions of health and disease. . In the course of his sermon on “The Hidden Splendour,” based on the incident recorded in St. Alark, Chap. 12: 42, when a certain poor widow throw two mites into the treasury, Air Eaton said a multitude of people saw nothing splendid in the sickness and suffering of a. hospital ward: nevertheless, the spirit of compassion expressed in the devoted service of skilful hands ministering to suffering humanity transfigured every place where doctor and nurse, did service. To-day the vocation of the nurse was splendid in all eyes: “The holiest task by Heaven decreed, an errand all divine”; but it was not always so honourable. AYe had oidv to go back to the early years of the 19th century to see how little esteemed was the work of nursing the sick. It was the wellborn Florence Nightingale who challenged the prejudices of her class and the conventions of the day, and opened up a new era in the history of humanity. Prayers were offered for the nation and the new British Cabinet. The choir rendered the anthem “The; Radiant Alorn” (Woodward).