Graduating Exercises at Caterham by A. B. Olsen

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 10, 1910

Graduating Exercises at Caterham

By A. B. Olsen

ON Thursday evening, July 21, the members and friends of the nurses' training-school at Caterham, England, met to celebrate the graduating exercises for the class of 1910. Brother W. T. Bartlett, editor of Present Truth and Bible teacher in the training-school, acted as chairman. Mr. Bartlett said, in opening the meeting, that the friends of the graduating class had met together more for the purpose of rejoicing with them in the successful completion of their work and studies at Caterham, than to give them sage counsel and advice.

Elder W. J. Fitzgerald, in a brief address to the graduating class, said, among other things:—

CATERHAM SANITARIUM, REAR VIEW, SHOWING RECENT ADDITION AT RIGHT

“There is no calling that is more blessed than that of the medical profession, when rightly used to alleviate the woes, and minister to the needs, of humanity. The fact that we are here calls our attention to our belief that this nurses’ training-school is connected with the cause of Christianity in the world. No religious system, no spiritual system, can be complete without practical, unselfish service, such as is provided for in the nursing and medical professions. As a people, we believe that medical work should go with religious work. It is part of our work, and inseparably connected with it. Our profession can not provide a complete, all-round service for suffering humanity without sending into the world well-trained, thoroughly equipped nurses and physicians. The nursing work is part of a great work, and this institution is one of many scores of similar institutions scattered all over the world. There are institutions, or nurses, to represent our work in all parts of the world. I call attention to this that you may recognize that you are part of a great whole, and gain strength from that fact.”

A few words of hearty congratulation were also spoken by Elder W. H. Meredith, president of the South England Conference.

On presenting the missionary diplomas to the graduates, the writer called attention to the inspiring motto of the class, “All to Jesus I Surrender.” He said that with that motto ever before them, they could not fail, this by the grace of God, to meet with constant and ever-increasing success in the noble work to which they had given their lives. He read a brief paper entitled “The Christian Nurse,” after which he handed missionary diplomas to the four members of the graduating class, and giving each one a hearty hand-shake, welcomed them as members of the medical missionary corps of workers.

At the conclusion of the exercises, all joined the graduating class in singing, “I Surrender All.”

A. B. OLSEN, M. D.