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McBRIDE MATERNITY

HOSPITAL.

THE OPENING CEREMONY.

For many years the Salvation Army in Adelaide has been conducting a maternity institution, chiefly for unfortunate young women, in Carrington-street, Adelaide, and as there appeared to be a permanent need in this direction, the question of securing larger premises was given earnest consideration. Several properties in the market were in- spected, and ultimately The Briars, origi- nally the home of the late Hon. G. C. Hawker, Briar-avenue, off Hawker-road, Medindie, was decided upon, and, as has been previously reported, the generosity of Mr. R. J. M-Bride, of Kooringa, made possible its purchase by the Army. The transaction was completed last Novem- ber, the price being £3,100. and ance then the property has been thoroughly reno- vated and substantially furnished, aß well .is equipped as a modern maternity hospi- tal, with accommodation for 42 patients. The opening ceremony on Wednesday was largely attended by officers and friends of the Army, and in honor of the occasion the building was brightly decorated with flags, the Army flag flying from tile tower flagstaff, and occupying pride of place. Among those present were Sir Charles Goode, the Rev. Henrv -Howard (president of the Methodist Conference), and the re- presentatives of several other religious and philanthropic bodies. Prior to the opening ceremony, and during the afternoon, the Salvation Army Band provided an enjoy- able musical programme. At 3.30 Com- missioner Hay asked Colonel Cain, the offi- cer in charge of the Army in South Aus- tralia, and Mrs. McBride, to unveil the tablets which have been placed, one on each side of the main entrance. The tablet on the right hand of the entrance was in- scribed as follows:-"This tablet was erec

Mr. R. J. McBride.

ted in gratitude to Almighty God and to commemorate the generous gift of Robert J. McBride, Esq., of Kooringa, by whose munificent act this hospital has been pro-

vided. 'She reacheth forth her hands to the needy.' Prov. 31, 20." The tablet on th left hand side was inscribed—"Salvation Army Maternity Hospital. Opened Janu- ary 29, 1914, by Robert J. McBride, Esq. James Hay, Commissioner. W. Bramwell Booth, General."

Commissioner Hay said they were all grateful to God, and thankful to Mr. Mc- Bride, for his substantial generosity iu pro- viding the funds for the purchase of the property. He had now much pleasure in asking Mr. McBride to open the building.

Mr. McBride turned the key in the lock and opened the door. In doing so he re- marked that he had no desire to take

praise for his action. All praise was due   to God, who had put it into his mind to do what he had done in the matter.

At the request of the Commissioner all present had an opportunity to inspect the commodious building, which since its pur- chase had been converted into a maternity hospital. The furnishing was found to have been carried out in an admirable manner, and the responsible officers were heartily congratulated on having made such fine use of their opportunities. The visi- tors were conducted over the building by the matron, Ensign Swadling, and

other officers connected with this branch of the Army's enterprise. Afterwards an adjournment was made to the lawn, where, under the shade of the trees, afternoon tea was served. Then a hymn having been sung. Commissioner Hay read a portion of Scripture and prayer was offered by Mrs. Hay.

Permanent Need for the Work.  

Commissioner Hay said the Army's in- stitutions were indeed varied in character. Already they had been doing something for the unfortunate young women, and also for the boys, whilst at the street cor- ners their officers were to be found en- deavoring constantly to lift up the blessed standard and proclaiming the grand old Gospel. (Hear, hear.) It was a very great pleasure indeed to welcome the friends to that gathering. In Carrington street the work they had been carrying on was performed in a tenancy property, and following the policy adopted by the Army throughout the world, as soon as they found there was permanent need for the work they looked round for a property of their own. In Australia they were a young institution—only 33 years old. They could not hope to have everything in that time, but yet, thanks to God and a gener- ous and sensible people, in South Aus- tralia they had been able to make sub- stantial progress. (Applause.) Unfor- tunately there was a necessity for an in- stitution such as they had opened that afternoon, and thanks to the generosity of their good friend, Mr. McBride, they had found themselves in a position to pur- chase it. (Applause.) Mr, McBride was not asked for the money. God touched his heart, and he had been made to see that this necessary part of the Army's social enterprise could be furthered by the possession of a proper home. In the property which was now theirs they had an area of 2¼ acres, and liberal accommoda- tion for those who wished to come to the hospital, and those unfortunates who stood in need of care and proper atten- tion at a critical period in their lives. The commodious stables had been converted into a building for laundry purposes, and the cottage woukl be used for the training of probationer nurses in obstetrics—not necessarily for Salvationists, as any who cared to come for training would be at liberty to do so. (Applause.) Already hundreds, if not thousands, had been trained in this way at the Army institu- tions throughout Australia.

A Gain to the State.

The property they had opened that day was purchased for £3,100, and since they had bought it they had spent a consider- able sum in renovating and altering it to suit their purposes. The furnishing alone cost them £500, and the additional work about £1,000, so that was their position that day. He could assure Mr. McBride of their deepest gratitude. (Applause.) They believed that the hospital, by God's blessing, would be a gain to the State and a blessing to many who would take advan- tage of it. As a maternity hospital they felt it could be regarded as one of the finest in Adelaide. (Applause.) It was already in use, as the first baby had been born in the new Hospital the previous day.

Mrs. Hay also addressed those present and urged that the need for the work which the Army were doing should give them a strong claim on the sympathy of friends who believed in this class of social work. If they could not take part in it themselves, perhaps they could help finan- cially, trusting to the Army to do it effi- ciently. (Applause.)

Rich Man's Trust.

The Rev. Henry Howard remarked that he had been asked to say a few words on behalf of Mr. McBride. It was the first time, he added, that he had been called upon to play the part of a rich man, and he did not quite know how he would ac- quit himself. (Laughter.) His Christian name, be believed, meant "rich," but, unfortunately, he had never been   able to live up to it, probably   because of his surname. He understood "Howard" was originally "Hog Ward" (laughter)--meaning the man who was sup-

posed to be the keeper of the Royal hogs: so in a sense his name was fairly well balanced. (Laughter.) He did not know what significance was supposed to be at- tached to Mr. McBride's name, but he   knew what it stood for in South Australia. (Applause.) It stood for a great, loving heart that poured itself out in lavish desire to do good and serve mankind. (Applause.) Mr. McBride was a man of few words: he allowed his deeds to talk; and his deed towards the army with respect to that par- ticular branch of their work was more elo- quent than any speech that could be de- livered. (Applause.) It would be repro- ductive in the highest sense of the best moral and spiritual results in this com- munity. (Applause.) He believed that Mr. McBride was a type of the new order rapidly emerging, in which the rich men of the community were more and more realising that their wealth was not so much a possession to be selfishly enjoyed as a trust to be wisely administered and gene- rously directed to the highest ends. (Ap- plause.) Though all people could not agree upon certain doctrines, they would

admit that institutions were doing their grandest work when they were reaching out helping hands to the fallen and seeking to bring the wanderers home. (Hear, hear.) And that was what Mr. McBride's gift was enabling the Salvation Army to do. As president of the Methodist Conference, he wished to say that they heartily sym- pathised with the Salvation Army in their great work for humanity. (Applause.)

The Rev. W. Lockhart Morton, on behalf of Mrs. McBride, expressed gratification that there was such a splendid gathering at the inauguration of the hospital.

Brigadier Moreton (secretary of the Women's Work in Australia) said that already the downstairs portion of the hos- pital was quite full, and on behalf of the officers she could promise that they would all do their best to make the place a

Bethel, where God's name would be glori- fied in the work they would have to do. (Applause.)

Mrs. Major McLeod (secretary of the Women's Work in Adelaide) offered prayer, and before the gathering dispersed Commissioner Hay said they were indebted to Colonel Cain for his untiring efforts and ¡ to Dr. Phoebe Chapple for her valuable

services.  

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