June 13, 1904.]
and claims on your regard, I would express on behalf of all present unfeigned satisfaction in having with us to-day His Excellency the | Officer Administering the Government and Mrs. May. I may say with perfect sincerity that, apart altogether from the distinguished honour which their coming here confers on this ceremony we regard Mrs. May as eminently fitted for the service that she has so graciously consented to render, of formally opening the new hospital. It is much to have Mrs. May with us as the wife of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government; it is more to have Mrs. May with us as the tried and true friend of all charitable institutions in the Colony. The Alice Memorial Maternity Hospital has been built from plans prepared by Mr. John Lemm, architect, and as some
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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Ahmet Rumjahn, and Mr. Wai On. There are also Mr. Chau Tung Shang, the chairman of our guarantors, Mr. S. W. Tso, and Chan Siu Ki.
The longer I live the more am impressed with the fact that the busiest people find time to help others. The person who says "I have no time to render a public service or to aid in a charitable cause have no inclination." The people who really generally means I have no time may safely be relied on to help at all times. The gentlemen whose names I have mentioned are busy men. found time for much well-directed and well- Yet they have sustained activity in the interests of these hospitals, and I thank them for what they have attempted and done. It seems to me that these gentlemen and others who are with them in this effort are the bold pioneers of a move- ment toward a new order of things, and we may admire their courage and zeal as reformers. This hospital has found many supporters be- cause it is to be the training ground of Chinese women in Western midwifery. When we look at the state of things in China in relation to this object, the help these gentlemen are giving cannot be easily over-valued. By Chinese women trained in western midwifery much will be done to change the old order of things, the time-honoured practices which even advanced and enlightened Chinese have not ventured to attack boldly.
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This
Rev. J. H. FRANCE having offered prayer, Dr. MACLEAN GIBSON called upon Mrs. May to open the hospital.
handsome silver key with which to perform Dr. Sibres presented Mrs. May with a the ceremony, the souvenir bearing the follow- ing inscription:
:-"Presented to Mrs. F. H. May at the opening of the Alice Memorial · Maternity Hospital. Hongkong, 7th June, 1904." trance door of the new building, which Mrs. May The company afterwards walked to the en-
open. unlocked and formally declared the hospital She expressed the pleasure it gave her to perform the ceremony, and said she thought the institution was a most admirable one and community, and exercise a powerful influence in would confer a great benefit upon the Chinese the spread of greater and more enlightened methods of midwifery. (Applause.)
This concluded the formal proceedings; and after an inspection of the premises the company dispersed.
THE NEW Y.M.C.A. ROOMS.
FORMAL OPENING BY H.E. MR. F. H. MAY.
in the opening of the new building under these the possibilities of service as a lady doctor in favourable auspices. Having spoken of those India, and of the reward that came to those who specially associated with the work of the hospital, from the purest motives seek to help and heal. I would now make use of this occasion to render honour and thanks where these are so
In dismissing her the Queen bade the young largely due.
woman God-speed and uttered the wish that That we have the Alice Memorial every blessing might rest on her work. Maternity Hospital and a lady doctor, is chiefly is the best that we look for from our friends and owing to the Chinese gentlemen who came for- sympathisers. A word of God-speed and a wish--- ward as guarantors for five years and who last that is also a prayer-that every blessing may year approached the London Missionary Society attend this work. through its local representatives. I should like to foundation stone of the building was laid with It is nearly a year since the tell these gentlemen how thoroughly we appre-prayer to Almighty God. We are now about ciate their endeavours and how grateful we are to open the Hospital, and I am sure you will all for the aid they have given and are rendering join in the further prayer that the work don⚫ in as collectors. There re six gentlemen to whom this new institution is specially indebted.
the building may be for the glory of God and and I should fail in my duty if I did not
the good of men. (Applause.) connect their names with the finished build. of you will remember, placed on viewing. These are Mr. Fung Wa Chin, Mr. at the stone-laying in July last. The arrangements, equipment, and appliances of the new hospital are, I understand, up-to-date and well adapted to the purposes which they are intended to serve. On this point, however, I cannot speak with the insight and assurance of one whose previous training and experience qualify him to pronounce an enlightened judg- ment in matters of the kind. In a few minutes those better able to judge may do so for themselves. After wor. had been begun it was found the foundations could not be laid on the original plan, which was accordingly departed from, and a further outlay of $1,091 was thereby entailed. This amount is still unpaid. Architects fees and other small sums added bring the debit balance to 82.100. There is also needed money for furnishing and for the purchase of instruments. On entering the building you will observe that the maternity hospital is of modest dimensions quite in keeping with its unpre- tending appearance. I would, however, seek to impress upon you that the significance of the ceremony which has brought us together is not to be measured by the size or grand-ur! of the new hospital.
Give me, said the ancient mathematician,
a point outside the world and I will lift the world." In the sphere of medical science, regarded in its most beneficent applications and in relation to the great Chinese race, Hongkong is a point outside the world, and this hospital is one of the forces for lifting the world into new conceptions. new comprehensions, and & new attitude | toward Western skill in the kindly, gentle ministry of woman to woman. It is a small hospital to be worked by people of large expectations, lare wisdom, and large hearts. When the foundation stone was
laid it was intimated that the London Missionary Society had appointed a lady doctor, Dr. Sibree, for special work in the new hospital. Dr. Sibres who reached Hongkong in November last has applied herself with no little zeal and energy to the study of Chinese in preparation for the duties that will forthwith devolve upon her. The hospital will be ready for the reception of patients to-morrow, and the lady doctor hopes to commence work outside the Hospital on 1st September. Large expectations for the success of this institution are based on our large hope and large faith in Dr. Sibree. She will be assisted by Miss Langdon, a lady who has had the advantage of a thorough training, and an exten- ded experience in nursing. Miss Langdon has come to us and is remaining with us at her own charges, moved by pure benevolence of desire to help in our hospital's work. Our friend Mrs. Stevens, who after a painful lingering illness died in December last, was assiduous and indefatigable in promoting the scheme which is now realised. We are saddened by the fact that she did not live to see the new building. We are thankful that Mrs. Stevens's successor 8.8 matron of the Nethersole Hospital is with us in the person of Miss Wilson. It will thus be seen that in the sphere of woman's work for woman the Hospitals of this compound
are well provided with workers, and I cannot imagine ways and means more adapted to appeal to the Chinese than are these kindly, helpful ministries rendered at the
time when those who receive them are most susceptible to such forms of appeal. Dr. Gibson, who has laboured patiently and persistently to extend the usefulness of the hospitals. well deserves the success that has followed his endeavours, and he has part of his reward to-day
**
We do it wrong being so magnific 1,
To offer it he show of violence
**
On the 10th inst. the new rooms of the Young Men's Christian Association on the top floor of Alexandra Buildings were formally declared open by His Excellency the Officer Administer- ing the Government, F. H. May, C.M.G., in presence of a large company of ladies and gentlemen. The rooms were nicely decorated for the occasion. Among those present were Mrs. May, Bishop and Mrs. Hoare, Hon. and Mrs. Barnes-Lawrence, Hon. Gershom Stewart, Major and Mrs. Benson, Rev. and Mrs. Pearce, Rev., Mrs. and Miss Hickling, Rev. and Mrs. France, Rev. Mr. Bridie, Rev. W. G. Sontham (secretary), Rev. Mr. Routledge (assistant secretary) and about 200 others.
We
says one of the ghost Beers when the deceased King of Denmark revisited the glimpses of the moon." This is the attitude of too many toward old systems in midwifery AS in other things. The ghost bein 80 magnifical" they hesitate to strike it. Our friends are among the first to offer it the show of violence," and the spectre, which has really nothing to say that is worth listening to, will in due time get itself quietly inurned. I am satisfied that the Chinese gentlemen engaged in this work are helping to make history, and I deem it a privilege to see the beginnings of a movement that is destined to spread through the provinces of China illustrating everywhere Western knowledge and enlightenment in one of its most benevolent and kindly aspects. There is one further word, and this I have to say on behalf of the London Missionary Society, which seeks in its hospital work to alleviate suffering and aid the spread of Western medi- cal knowledge. All the agencies of the Society are related in a definite way to the preaching of the glorious Gospel of the Blessed God. Every part of its work must fall into proper relation with this, its chief aim, or the ends for which the Society exists will not be accomplished. Our friends and supporters are satisfied that on these lines the highest success is to be looked for, in our hospitals as in other departments of our work. When I was in the old country three years ago, I spent part of my time in a region of Scotland to which our beloved late Queen Victoria was accustomed to resort. There I heard a pretty story for the truth of which I can vouch. A young lady, native of India, was studying medicine in Edinburgh with a view, when she returned to her native country, to minister to her suffering sisters as women will be ministered to in this hospital. This young Hindoo woman had long cherished a desire to see the great Queen Empress. And one day her wish became known to the Queen. Her late Majesty sent for the young woman, to whom she spoke freely of medical studies, of'ed young men and for Indians, for the sons
Rev. W. J. SOUTHAM, the General Secretary, was the first speaker. He said-Your Excellency, my Lord Bishop, ladies and gentle men,- are met together this evening under the auspices of one of the most remarkable organisations which the nineteenth Exactly 60 years ago this movement among century produced. young men was inaugurated quietly and with- out ostentation in a private room of young George Williams, now Sir George Williams; but in that small room the electric button was touched and set in motion forces which increased in momentum 88 time went on. And what have we to-day? The Young Men's Christian Association, a highly or ganised, world-wide movement, full of vitality, firmly established in 45 different countries with a membership of nearly 700,000 divided among 6,779-separate associations. This or- ganisation employs 2,037 paid secretaries and owns 875 buildings, the approximate cost of which is nearly seven millions sterling. Those who have had the privilege of seeing this work in Canada and the United States will admit, I think, that it is in those countries that the Young Men's Christian Association has reached the highest level of efficiency. There also is given the best illustration of its scope, and adaptability. No class of men is considered out of its range. There is no college of any kind which has not ita college Young Men's Christian Association. In the cities will be found well-organised asso- ciations with their business men's departments and railroad departments, and almost without exception these associations command the universal respect and support of the leading business men. There are associations for colour-
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