1908 U. B. A. Graduating Nurses

Pledged for Life
Seven Nurses Are Graduated by U. B. A. Hospital

(G. R. Press, 21 May 1908)

        "I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly to pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully.  I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug.  I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling.  With loyalty I will aid the physician in his work and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care."
    The pledge was taken last night by a class of seven nurses who were graduated from the U. B. A. hospital and training school for nurses, the class repeating each phrase after the superintendent, Miss Ida Barrett.  The graduating exercises were held in the Division Street Methodist church, where a large audience was present.  The class was seated in the front pews with a number of the undergraduates.  Nurses from Butterworth hospital and from the Deaconess' Home were also seated in the front part of the church.
    The address to the class was given by Rev. Caroline Bartlett Crane of Kalamazoo.  The theme of the first portion of her address was a resume of a new book, "The History of Nursing", by Miss Nutting and Miss Dock.  She urged the nurses not to permit the matter of dollars and cents to intrude upon the higher motives of their calling, but to make service the purpose of their lives.
                                                            Poverty A Crime
    Mrs. Crane gave a scathing denunciation of the condition of the almshouses throughout the country.  "Even the prisons and the insane asylums furnish good hospital service," she said.  "If you become a murderer or a chicken thief you will be given 'good hospital service' if it is needed, but if you are just plain poor you know what to expect, suffering and neglect.  According to the treatment given in our public institutions poverty is regarded as a more heinous crime than murder.  The conditions of the almshouse are a disgrace to our country."
    The nurses then received their diplomas.  The presentation was made by George G. Whitworth.  Miss Barrett presented the pins after the class had taken the Florence Nightingale pldege.  Mrs. Thomas C. Irwin sang two beautiful songs, accompanied at the piano by Miss Horner.  Mrs. Irwin and Mr. Thorpe also sang a duet.  After the exercises a reception was held in the church parlor.  The members of the class were:  Ida James, Newport, England; Beryl Darling, Jackson; Lula Wilson, Grand Haven; Louise Abbott Luscomb, Olivet, Mich.; Ella P. Hill, Sault Ste. Marie; Matilda Pfeister, Frankfurtan, Germany, and Perle Hall, Elmwood, Illinois.

Transcriber: ES
Created: 16 October 2006
URL: http://kent.migenweb.net/medical/blodgett/1908UBAgrads.html