"HONOUR THE BRAVE."
NURSES' MEMORIAL TABLET.
UNVEILING CEREMONY AT NURSES' HOME.
The ceremony of unveiling two memorial tablets, one to the memory of the late Sister James, and the other to the memory of nurses who died on active service and during the influenza epidemic took place in tho vestibule of the Nurses' Home yesterday afternoon. The gathering included representatives of the Hospital Board, the honorary medical staff, the resident staff, the Dunedin Hospital Guild, Maternity Hospital Guild, Red Cross, St. John Ambulance, the Defence Department, and a large number of past and present nurses and V.A.D.s and their relatives. The ceremony was brief and precise, and probably on that account was all the more effective and impressive.
Mr W. E. S. Knight, chairman of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, who presided, said they were assembled there for a duty which gave them pleasure, but at the same time had a certain amount of sadness in its performance — pleasure in so far that they were able to place permanently on record their appreciation of the services rendered by sisters of that noble band of women whose lives were devoted to the services of others. As to the memorial to Sister James, he had little to say except that he understood she was one of the old school that had apparently departed from us for ever. Her record in the service of the Dunedin Hospital was recently published, so that it was no doubt perlectly familiar to most of those present. The late Miss James had left the service long before the board came into existence, so that her virtues, which he understood were many, were unknown to them as a board, which, no doubt, accounted for the apparent apathy in recognising her long and faithful service. Mr Peter Miller, a former and respected chairman of the Hospital trustees, would have something to say on this matter. As to the other memorial, it recorded the names of the nurses in the board's service who died on active service during the great war; nurses who died in service during the influenza epidemic, and V.A.D.'s who died in service during the same distressing period. Anything he might say as to the supreme sacrifice made by these devoted women would be superfluous, as their deeds spoke for themselves. They, as a people, were apt to engrave people's bad deeds, and to write their good ones in sand which the tide so easily and quickly obliterated, but he trusted on this occasion the reverse was the case. These tablets, erected in the Nurses' Home, in loving memory, would he trusted, be an inspiration for all time to those following this noble seilf-sacrilicing calling of nursing. Women who followed the profession of nursing and those whom wo deemed voluntary aid workers in nursing, in every case met the demands made with an unflinching sense of duty, and carried on cheerfully the work allotted to them without any regard to their own risk and hardship. Their loyalty and sense of duty was very highly appreciated by the board and the public generally, and they could only deplore tho loss of so many brave lives, although they were given cheerfully in a great cause. He knew that nothing could compensate the relatives and friends, but they trusted the record of their nobleness would in some measure reassure them of an unforgotten appreciation. The following words of Shakespeare scemod appropriate to the occasion: — "You have deserved high commendation, true applause, and love."
Mr Peter Miller said that as one of tho old school in connection with the Hospital it gave him very great pleasure indeed to think that the Hospital was going ahead as it had done. They ought all to pride themselves on having such a Hospital. The way in which it had been conducted was a credit not only to the pioneers in founding it, but to those carrying on the work in the present day and to the town generally. He had been specially asked to say a few words with reference to the late Nurse James, and he was most willing to do so. Nurse James was a very fine woman, a woman adored by everyone not only as a nurse but as a woman. He could not speak sufficiently highly about her. She was one of the greatest helps to young nurses coming to the Hospital that ever was there. She was always on the side of the young nurses and always conscientiously working for the good of the profession. Any girl coming to the Hospital would do well to take her as a model. He trusted that there might be many like her among the nurses in the Hospital.
The Chairman announced several apologies and the Rev. Y. G. B. King offered prayer of invocation. Miss Monson, vice-president of the Trained Nurses Association, then unveiled the tablet to Sister James, declaring that she did so to the glory of God and (in the words of the tablet) "to the memory of Sister Margaret James, died August 31, 1918, who for nearly 29 years was a faithful worker in the Hospital, and by her devotion to duty set a high standard of consecrated service for those who followed. 'Do thou thy part and leave the rest to God." Miss Knight, daughter of the chairman, then unveiled "to the glory of God," the tablet to Nurses and V.A.D. workers bearing the following inscription: — "Not one of them is forgotten before God. Dunedin Hospital Trained Nurses. Died on active service — Sister Mary Roe, drowned "Marquette," Nurse Catherine Fox, drowned "Marquette,"' Sister Esther Tubman, troopship epidemic. Influenza epidemic 1918 — Nurses who died while on duty Dunedin Hospital, Sister Elsie Loudon. Nurse Jessie E. McRae, Nurse Eva M. Cooper, Nurse Mary Watson. V.A.D. workers who died — Miss Evelyn E. Elliott (Dunedin Hospital), Miss Margaret M. Newman (Owaka Hospital), Mrs Janet Marion Logan (Owaka Hospital). Mrs Ivy C. Mitchell (Balclutha Hospital).
After the unveiling the Rev. V. G. B. King pronounced the prayer of consecration and the benediction.
Mr J. Loudon, on behalf of the relatives of those whose names are commemorated on the tablets, returned thanks for the invitation to be present, and for the sentiments so gracefully and feelingly expressed by the chairman and Mr Miller. They all hoped these tablets would serve not only as a lasting memorial to those brave women, but as an incentive to good and noble deeds to those who come after them. He desired to take that opportunity of thanking the official and honorary staff of the Hospital for all their attention to those who were stricken down during the epidemic. They were satisfied that everything possible had been done, and they desired to thank those in charge.
The "Last Post," sounded with haunting pathos by Bugler J. S. Church, brought the ceremonial to a close, and the company was subsequently entertained at afternoon tea. -Otago Daily Times, 23/10/1920.
IN MEMORIAM.
LOGAN — In loving memory of Janet Marion (Jessie), who passed away at Owaka on December 11, 1918. "As time goes on we miss her more." — Inserted by her loving father, sisters, and brothers.
LOGAN — In loving memory of my dear sister, Janet Marion Logan, who died of influenza at Owaka on December 11, 1918. "She gave her life while heloing others. Our loss." -Otago Daily Times, 11/12/1920.
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