A FINE WORK

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 5, 28 March 1927, Page 4

A FINE WORK

LEWISHAM HOSPITAL WELLINGTON CEREMONY IDEAL OF BLUE SISTERS (From Our Resident Correspondent .) WELLINGTON, To-day. Since their arrival in New Zealand several months ago the Clue Sisters, of the Little Company of Mary, have been doing much of the field work in readiness for the establishment of the Lewisham Hospital here, and until this object is achieved the six members of the Order here will continue the operations at a temporary convalescent home in Paterson Street, where their work in Wellington has already been well founded. The first step towards the establishment of the hospital was traversed to-day when the Mayor, Mr. C. J. B. Norwood, laid the foundation stone of the institution in the presence of several thousands of people, after the stone had been blessed by Archbishop Redwood. The Archbishop said the day was a happy and auspicious one for Wellington, because they were beginning a work the beneficial effect of which no man living could forsee or estimate. The sisters were not only highly trained nurses, but were also high-principled and devotedly religious. Their ideals were of the highest. “The great evil and menace of the present day,” his Grace went on, “ is the ignoring of God, and the putting of man in his place. It is the usurping by the creative of the Throne of the Creator. In our age of pride and boastful progress God is put out of everything —kut of the mind, out of the heart of every individual, out of the family, the school and government, out of the world and man, poor frail man with his foibles and sins, is put in God's place. This is the source of the danger and immorality that is now the tendency of the world.” The sisters worked to the ideal tha«. whatever was done for the least of God’s creatures has the value of being done for Himself. Mr. Norwood, mayor of the city, assured the sisters and the Archbishop, of his belief in the spirit animating the Wellington people to assist in every way, the Lewisham Hospital movement. He considered this marked a big step in the progress of the city. If this work was followed on lines of the operations of the Lewisham institutions in Sydney and Christchurch the movement would have a great reception and support in Wellington. Sir Joseph Ward, who came from Invercargill for the function, said the laying of the stone was only the beginning of the great work of co-operation of all sections of the community, for a great deal of effort and finance would be required to carry the hospital to a sound basis. The work of the sisters had been magnificent elsewhere and he felt sure Wellington would respond to their appeal. The first portion of the hospital building is to cost in the vicinity of £20,000. This will be added to later. About half this amount is already collected. Donations received to-day included £SOO from Mrs. McCarthy Reid, £250 from a friend in Sydney, 200 guineas from Sir Joseph Ward, and several gifts of £IOO.