FAIR,  1895.
 

57
 

THE  MOUNT  SINAI   HOSPITAL.
 

It may well be doubled whether any institu¬
tion ever existed which can present a nobler
record of beneficence and relief accomplished
than can the Mount Sinai Hospital of New
York, in view of its forty-three years' activ¬
ity. It stands out among the foremost chari¬
table institutions, not onl}' of our Jewish com¬
munity, but also of our country. As early as
1850, concerted efforts were made for the relief of
the sick and suffering among the Jewish poor of
the city, which took definite shape when a
charter was  secured in   1852 for the "Jev/s'
 

changed, and it adopted the name "Mount
Sinai Hospital," and henceforth patients of all
sects and nationalities were admitted.

This change, together with the increase in
our population, caused the demands upon the
Hospital to grow year by year, so that larger
quarters became necessary, which were found
in its present spacious quarters on Lexington
avenue, between Sixty sixth and Sixty-seventh
streets, erected for the purpose, and dedicated
to their beneficent work in 1872. To meet
this heavy outlay, the philanthropic Jewish
ladies of New York arranged a Fair in 1870 in
its behalf, which netted no less  than $101,-
 

Hospital of New York." Prior to that time
the good work had been carried on on a small
scale in a house on Seventh avenue, between
Thirty-sixth and Thirty-seventh streets.
Shortly after the society's charter was ob¬
tained, Sampson Simson, one of its most enthu¬
siastic and generous supporters, and then its
President, gave to it a piece of property on
Twenty-eighth street, between Seventh and
Eighth avenues, where a building was erected
at the cost of ^36,000, which was opened for
the reception of patients, May 17, 1855, with
accommodations for thirty patients. For ten
years the Hospital continued its noble work,
restricted, however, to beneficiaries of the
Hebrew   faith,   but   in   1865   its  charter   was
 

675.50. A large indebtedness still remained,
but this was not only extinguished in a few
years, but a permanent fund of goodly size
was established, thanks to which the Hospital
is on a .splendid financial basis.

Benjamin Nathan was the President of the
society for many years, and zealously labored
in its behalf. He was succeeded in 1879 by
Flyman Blum, who has ever since remained
thus closely identified with the institution, and
with his co-workers rejoiced in bringing sacri¬
fices in its behalf, to its very great benefit.
Additional wings have been added from time
to time, including the beautiful dispensary
building on Sixty-seventh street, opposite the
Hospital,   which   it.self granted  relief  in   no