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regret the exclusion of any class of persons from the benefits of the hospital who may be willing to accept them on the terms imposed, I feel that the repetition of the painful controversies to which the fundamental rule gave rise, must, if continued, have proved detrimental, if not destructive to the institution. Toleration even of error lies at the very base of Protestantism. No man can claim for himself the right of forming his own opinions and acting upon them, without conceding the same privilege to everyone else; and while it is perfectly true that no man could say that his liberty was interfered with by any rule of the hospital, because nothing could force him to enter it against his will, and after he was admitted there was nothing to prevent his leaving it the moment he felt disposed to do so; yet, certainly, as long as patients of this class were indiscriminately admitted, questions of a very painful nature would continue to arise, not always admitting of a solution free from blame to the hospital or its officials.
And now, gentlemen, in conclusion, permit me to say how heartily I approve of the distinctive feature of the hospital—namely, its religious character. Other hospitals in this city[1] have made ample provision for the bodily ailments of the inmates, supplying them freely with the most skilful medical and surgical treatment, while they have left the higher interests of their spiritual nature unattended to. They do not, indeed, prevent benevolent efforts for their welfare being made by other persons willing to undertake the task; but these, originating beyond the limits of the hospital arrangements, are necessarily subjected to regulations which restrict their freedom of action, and interfere with their efficiency. A large portion, besides, of the persons entering such institutions are friendless and unknown; and from long neglect of religious ordinances, are little disposed to seek for them unless offered by others. Those, who most need the visits of a kind and faithful pastor, are the very persons least likely to obtain them. The case is different here. The
- ↑ Some few hospitals in town are not open to this remark; but the religious care of the sick was the primary object for which the Adelaide was established.
