Foundation Stone Laid

Yesterday afternoon the foundation stone of the new Deaconnesss' Hospital was laid at Hadra in the presense of almost the entire Germany COlony of ALexandria. In the morning a special service was held in the German Protestant Church, when an eloquent address was delivered by the Rev. Buek. After the service Count Bernstorff and the committe of the hospital proceeded to the house of the German Consul at Alexandria, Mr. Munderlich, where they took lunch. The Party then went to the iste of the new hospital, where there was a large and distinguished gathering awaiting the,. The ceremony of laying the foundation stone was commenced by the singing of a hyme, after which Mr. Wunderlich delivered a most impressive speech, as follows:-

Ladies and Gentlemen, Today we are gathered with the twofold object of celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the day on which the first sisters of Kaiser Pharoahs to commnce their work of love, and also to lay the fondation stone of the buildinh of the hospital. The house Mother of Kaiserswerth has edited a memoire on the history of the fifty years of existance of the Alexandria hospital and has dedicatd it to the daughter establishment to celebrate its jubilee. This memoire, which we appreciate as the most ideal jubilee gift, has to our great regret not yet arrived so that we are unable to place it, as was our intention, under foundation stone, as one of the most important documents. I am consequently obliged to refer for what concerns the history of the foundation of the hospital, to the memoire of Pastor Julius Disselhof, bearing the title of "Association of Deaconesses of the Rhine and of Westphalia and its Spheres of Work" which appreaed in 1882. In this work the history of the foundation and development of our hospital is given in so simple and unornamented fashion that one could believe oneself to be reading an Evangelic epistle of the New Testament. Listen, rather, and judge for yourselves. For the comprehension of the history which I will read to you, I will inform you that the founder of our hospital is Pastor Julius Fliedner, who in 1883 founded the mother house at Kaiserwerth. The history o fthe foundation says:-'The hospital of the Deaconesses at Alexandria . In the Winter of 1856-7, Fliedner was obliged to recuperate his health by staying in Cairo. Invited by the Consuls-General of England and Prussia to found at Alexandria a Deaconesses' hospital to recieve sailors and other foreign invalids, they promised him besides to obtain from their Govenrnments special support for the undertaking as well as annual subsidies. The existing European hospital at Alexandria directed by sisters of charity was over-filled. That is why a second hospital was required. Besides, in the Autumn of 1857 a priest had to be summoned for the Evangelic German Protestants in whom the Deaconesses would find support. Fliedner then wrote:-

What could I do? Could I reject the prayer offered to us on this occasion to protect in their faith our co-religionists in this important town of Africa, in this town which is developing 80 enormously not only from a commercial point of view in the Mediterranean, but also as the centre of communication be tween India, Australia, and Europe, where Europeans collect in masses, among whom are large numbers of Protestants. Such decided me to rent the house of Turkish Pasha at Alexandria for 7,500 piastres (416 thalers), and by the will of God I founded there a hospital in the healthiest quarter of the town, in the Turkish centre 50 metres from the sea, with splendid rooms on the first floor, a courtyard and small garden. In November 1857 the three first Deaconesses disembarked at Alexandria and courageously began their first care, the foundation of the hospital. It was only in February 1858 that they were able, after having surmounted many difficulties, to receive their first patients. The first was from Berlin, the second from Bavaria. Little by little the invalids came in, one might say of every race under the sky. Consequent upon the expiration' of the rental contract in 1862, Fliedner was obliged to purchase the old building in order not to bring to an abrupt end the work so well carried out. After the death of Fliedner the alternative was to be faced of undertaking very costly restoration or building new hospital. The latter course was chosen in view of the fact that the old building could never satisfy the existing demands and those competent to judge declared that it was absolutely necessary to isolate the patients from the centre of the town. These difficulties called the writer to Alexandria. After having experienced in 186§ the pleasure of acquiring in front of Moharrem Bey port, a site for 10,000 thalers, well situated in every respect, the new hospital was rapidly constructed on a ground surrounding a perfect manner and has acquired great esteem at Alexandria. The charitable action of this hospital so well known in Alexandria, that it is superfluous to give statistics which would be trying to our patients. I would however, relate an episode in the peaceful and beneficial existence of the hospital, which throws light on the spirit which governs our hospital. It is the unforgettable action of the Sister Superior of the Deaconesses' Hospital Barbara Erckmann who directed it for many years. Twenty five years during the sad and terrible events of which Alexandria was the theatre, when rebellion ruled, and furious and savage mobs devastated the town, and the majority of the Europeans took refuge on the boats of their countries, Sister Barbara Erckmann and her deaconesses alone remained at their posts and awaited the events with their trust in God An enraged crowd hurled itself against the gates of the hospital, yelling and shouting for admittance, The moment was critical, But Barbara Erckmann opened the gates and approached the mob in her simple manner saying "what do your wish of us, have we not always done you good? If you have sick and wounded bring them." Like the miracle of Arion, to refer to the legend, which subdued the savage beasts by the sound of music, so the powerful personality of Barbara. Erckmann, her trust in God, her simple Grandeur, silenced the savageness of a fanatical and unchained populace. She was only asked to lower the flag floating above the hospital as it could serve as a signal,and the appeased crows retired without causing the least damage. This episode is very typical of the spirit which reigns at the Deaconesses's hospital, and has contributed from its humble commencement to its development. (To be continued in tommorows issue)

Scotsman all the world over celebrate their Saint's Day with enthusiasm and the Scotsmen of Egypt do not intend to be behindhand. For some years small gatherings have taken place, notably in Alexandria, where Mr. Hewat, the "doyen" of the community, has gathered his compatriots together from year to year, but not until last year was a serious effort made to unite all the Scots of Egypt in a large gathering. That this effort has now resulted in a great success Saturday night's dinner has proved. No less than 77 sat down in the new dining room of the Savoy, which was decorated with Scottish flags and heather in honour of the occasion. The chairman of the evening was Mr. Ronald Graham, and the Croupiers, Major Haig and Dr. Clark. Among the many well-known Scotsmen present were Colonel Macdarlane, D.S.O. Mr Mitchell Innes, Dr. Dunlop, Mr. Hewat, Major Jamieosn, Mr. Lang Anderson, the Reverend Robert Somers, Mr. Macpherson Grant, Mr. G.b. Kerr and Mr. Dalgleish. The toast of the King having been honoured, Dr. Dunlop proposed the toast of H.H.The Khedive which was cordially received. Mr. Mitchell Innes in proposing "the land we live in" told some excellent stories, and the laughter renewed when Mr. Ross Taylor, in proposing the health of the Committee and Secretary, spoke of the difficulty of getting haggis made in Cairo and gave a comic account of the contents of which the Secretary in his reply delicately referred to as the "tups waum" whatever that may mean, though we hear that the chef called it "le grand poche de mouton" The company were enthusiastic in rendering thanks to those who had taken the burden of the organization of the gathering and particularly to Mr. Scott Moncrief, by whose painstaking work a most successful banquet was arranged, the catering of which reflects great credit on Mr. Wild, the resourceful manager of the Savoy Hotel. The evening was brought to a close with reel dancing and Scottish songs, the Band and Pipers of the King's Own Scottish Borderers being much appreciated. The following was the menu: Real Turtle, Dry Sherry, Cream Medialis, Supreme de Turbot Waleska, Kapelle 1893, Pommes nature en serviette, Haggis, Old Highland Whisky, Collier à la Ninon de Lenclos, Château Couhins, Chapon du mans à l'Ambassadeur, perrier jouet 1895, Faisan de Bohème Grande Chasse, Bollinger 1900, Salade Rachel, Géantes d'Argenteuil Sauce Mousseline, Bombe Victoria, Gâteau St. Andrew, Cassolettes Savoy, Dessert Old Port.

Bulkely (near Alexandria) half way to San Stefano

Full Pension P.T. 50 a day wth Monthly Terms. Special terms to Government officials

Should Cairo Be Chosen?

The movement in favour of holding a great congress in the capitol of Egypt with in view to the reform of Islamic institutions is very significact of the great signs of upheaval that have occured throughout the East since the defeat of Russia by Japan and any attempts to make Islam a creedof pregessive mankind instead of a hardened, stationary belief must win the sympathy of everybody, who is not estanged from him fellow men by narrow religious bias. It is claimed by Christians that it is the unique distinction of their religion that it can be revived and largley restated without altering its essential truth, but that this is not the case with the religion of the Muslem world, for it is quote impossible to reform Muslim society or give it a new principle of life, inasmuch as the Koran has told the Faithfil once and for all and in every detail what to believe and to do, thus leaving no opportunity for growth. If this standpoint is true, then the Congress is doomed to be a failure and the reform of Islamic institutions an impossibility, as all those institutions emanate from the Koran. But whether these arguments contain any germs of truth in them or not, the fact remains that the movement has been accepted with considerable appreciation in Cairo and it well deserves to be carefully noted, for many grace problems are intimately bound up with its success and failure.

The most practical difficulty in regard to the realisation of the scheme is whether, assuming the congress is well backed, it should be held in Cairo or Constantimople. We would venture to suggest that neither Cairo nor Constantinople should be selected. Both, it is true, possess the advantage of being the capital of Moslem Countries: but what is there to ensure the attendance of the Faithful in sufficient numbers to render the deliberations of the Congress truly representative. Mecca and Medina would be far more preferable, provided the Congress were held during the pilgrimage. In that case there would be no lack of attendance from all parts of the world of Islam, and the solemnity of the occasion coupled with the thousands participating would lead to the decisions arrived at a weight and authority not to be otherwise attained. The only possible drawback would be that the reformers would be in a hopeless minority there.

The one and Only reason, however, why Cairo was selected was, not because of its association, although they may have had and should have some weight, but because neither in Turkey nor Russia would absolute freedom of speech be permitted, as it will be in the country. This, there can be no question, was the dominant consideration in favour of holding Congress in Cairo. Of course the promoters of the COngress would not readily avow that such circumstances had a determining influence upon their choice and it would be most distasteful to Kamel and his clique to make such a confesion. That would be a concession to the "Oppressor," with a big "0", amounying to almost a surrender. But at the same time these agitators, as well as those who have the reform and regeneration of Islam really at heart, know perfectly well that only in a country dominated by men to whom liberty of speech is a sacred right, will they be permitted to ventilate their opinions without fear of the consequences.

335 Branches

English, French, Arabic. Greek, Italian, etc,

Private and Class Lessons- Residence Lessons

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Sir Joseph Saba Pasba, K.C.M.G. left from Cairo by yesterday's every express

Colonel Stuart-Wortly, the order of Highcliffe Castle, is no stranger to the Kaiser, the present tenant. On returning from the Nile Campaign in 1886, Major Stuart-Wortley, as he then was, went over to spend a short time in Berlin as the guest of Sir Edward and Lady Ermyntrude Malet, at the British Embassy, and it was then that he was introduced to Prince William, to who he related the story of his perilous descent of the Nile to Meeting with the intelligence that it was all over with Gordon and Khartoum. The Price was entranced with the adventurous story; and it is probable that no one in Europe has a better knowledge of all our wars, little and big, or the last twenty yearsa knowledge derived from first hand sources than William II.

Owing to ill-health and pressure of business, Sir Vincent Caillard, Chairman of the London Agency of the National Bank of Egypt and of the Daira Saneig Company, is about to resign his aldermanic seat on the London County Council.

The following passengers arrived today by the Norddeutscher LLoyd S.S. "Hohenzollern":- Count and Countess Reano, Furts and Fürsten Zu Windischgrätz, Miss G.C. Reynold, Miss Dora Wolfsgruber, Mr. and Mrs. Semek, Mss Elizabeth A. and Miss J.J. Slade, Mr and Miss Schoeller, Mr and Mrs Long, Mr Curts Pfeiffer, Dr A loeh, Mre Ruddock, Comm. Tittoni, Comm Benucci, Cav. Tinelli, Mr. and Mrs. Arapoff, Berg director and Mrs. Klestar, Mr and Mrs. J. Bulkely Johnson, Mr and Mrs. H Berneaud, Dr. Trevithick. Mr. and MRes. Severin, Mr. C.A. Hoston, Mres. Peckitt, Mr. H.A. Powers, Mr. Berry, Mre. E. Francis, Rev, H, Anderson, Mr Goelden, Mr. G.S. Andrews, Mr. Rosenstiehl, and others.

Delay of Mails

The night mail train from Benha only arrived at Alexandria this morning at 8:30 o'clock thus seriously delaying the local mails. We have received the following official report upon the accident which caused the delay:

The bridge on the mainline between Cairo and Alexandria over the Tewfick canal (just south aod Benha) was opened on Sunday as usual to permit boats to pass, When it was being closed against part of the gear on which the bridge could ot be properly closed and trains could not run over it. Traffic is being diverted via Khatatba amd Teb el Baroud or via Belbeis and Zagazig, but there must necessarily be considerable delay to traffic on the airo- Alexandria main line until the bridge is repaired. Gangs have been working on it all night.

The moss liner "Menepthah" saild from Malta on Saturday afternoon last, and is due here on Wednesday morning, 4th. inst, with passengers, mails and general cargo.

The Moss Liner S.S. "Royalist" Sailed yesterday morning for Liverpool via Algiers, with general cargo including 6,568 bales of cotton.

The Cunard S.S. "Syria" arrived at Liverpool on Friday Afternoon.

The SS "Highland Prince" left Malta on the 27th Inst., for Alexandria via Bengasi, and is due to arrive at Alexandria today