Shortly before the turn of the century, Rose Hawthorne Lathrop, youngest daughter of Nathaniel Hawthorne, the famous American novelist, renounced her life of cultured ease and began one that was to be vastly different. At 45 years of age this courageous woman started the work that was to spread through six states and benefit countless thousands of cancer sufferers. Because she wanted to be OF the poor as well as AMONG them, Rose sold her comfortable home and rented three dingy rooms in a rundown tenement on New York City’s Lower East Side. She was not warmly received, but her love and perseverance broke down the distrust of her neighbors and soon the word spread that help was available for hapless cancer victims. Very little was understood about the disease at that time and many thought it to be contagious, with the result that families often shunted these poor sufferers into cellars and dark corners, thus adding disgrace to physical pain.

Rose met the needs as they appeared. At first she nursed the patients in their own homes, and when this was no longer practical she moved them into her apartment. Soon it became apparent that larger quarters would have to be provided, so she moved to a 4-room apartment not too far away. Before long she had seven patients squeezed in there and the need was increasing daily.

She worked early and late, nursing, cooking, cleaning. There was no time for play or even for relaxation. Night and day she toiled, dressing wounds, cheering the sick, comforting the dying, praying in the meantime that God would send someone to help here. She was carried aloft by the tremendous need that confronted her. Who would refuse to respond to this heartbreaking plea: “Kind Friend: The baby is dead. Can you oblige me with some kind of a little dress to put on it and an old sheet if you have one?”

After a year and a half of almost uninterrupted work, God sent her Alice Huber, an art teacher, and together they founded on December 8, 1900 the Congregation of St. Rose of Lima, a branch of the Dominican Order. The work was now rooted in fertile soil and quickly it spread.

Twice more, because of crowded conditions it became necessary to move to larger quarters, and today on the site of her last purchase there stands at 71 Jackson Street, New York City, a modern 100-bed, 6-story building for the care of incurable cancer patients. It is in lower Manhattan, below the United Nations Building.

Rose Hawthorne, now Mother Alphonsa, found that her Community was growing apace with her work, and in 1901 she bought a large estate situated atop a hill at Hawthorne, New York, in the beautiful Westchester countryside. There she established the Motherhouse of the Hawthorne Dominicans, adjacent to another 100-bed home for her “guest-patients” as she called her sick friends.

Years later, Alice Huber, now Mother Rose, opposed the dire predictions of friends, and during the great depression opened Homes in Philadelphia, Penn.; Fall River, Mass.; Atlanta, Georgia; St. Paul, Minn.; and Cleveland, Ohio.

Here in the lovely Southland Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home was opened in 1939. March of this year will mark its thirtieth anniversary. It is a beautiful old structure of Byzantine architecture, located at 760 Washington Street, S.W., and set on four acres of ground. The corridors throughout the building are of Georgian marble. It is a spacious, cheerful home with accommodations for 75 patients. On pleasant days the patients may walk around the grounds or sit on the porches at the rear of the building. The view there is wonderful. Beside a large stone grotto of Our Lady Of Perpetual Help there stands a mighty white oak with its sturdy branches fanning out protectively, behind it a forest of fresh green Georgia pines. Beneath the oak peacocks parade in a long wire enclosure. Plants, shrubs and flowers add year-round beauty to the scene.

Every possible consideration is given the patients. Nursing care and medication is supplied around the clock, and an excellent staff of doctors provide medical care, visiting weekly and giving of their time freely. A sister is on duty at all times. The specialized attention required to care for all types of cancerous conditions makes the home literally a 75-bed intensive care unit.

Televisions and radios are provided as far as the supply permits. Frequently there are entertainments by groups, most recently a singing jamboree by the Cathedral Club, led by Father Prendergast. Many distinguished visitors have come to the home, among them His Excellency, Luigi Raimondi, apostolic delegate to the United States, Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan, former Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan, Bishop Joseph Bernardin. Before the era of concelebrated Mass, the home one day found itself host to thirty-one Benedictine Monks prepared to say as many Masses. There was at least one swivel head at the end of the day, owned by a Sister who was anxious to partake of each Mass.

To give a homelike atmosphere there are birds, tropical fish, gold fish, even dogs and peacocks. Visitors delight in playing with the beautiful Akita dog, Lo-Jo, a gift from the health inspector. Most important, however, is the manifest spirit of love and congeniality shown by patients, sisters, volunteers, and visitors alike.

Many stirring dramas have taken place in this home and many interesting histories are revealed in the lives of the patients. Nearly all come to realize the mercy of God and the glorious destiny that awaits us all. One patient, reunited with his son after a separation of eleven years, could only weep and embrace him. Again, a family was brought together – after a near-lifetime separation – around the bedside of a loved one. Family breaches are healed, hearts gladdened, and faith is restored.

Almost any day one can witness a tremendous interplay of human emotions –sorrow, joy, love, neglect, contribution, resignation, peace, humor. During the circling of the moon by the astronauts, one patient had a rather sour looking expression on his face. Why? “I can’t even get to South Carolina,” he said disgustedly. Just recently a talented musician joined the ranks of patients and now on his “good” days he charms everyone with his lilting tunes and lovely singing voice.

The name of Mary Ann is a familiar one to most Atlantans, for she was the little girl about whom the book MEMOIR OF MARY ANN was written. Nine years of her short twelve-year life was spent in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home, and she left an indelible mark on whose lives she touched. At one time during her stay, her little sister visited her. Childlike, she was anxious to impress all with her pious fervor, and when she was missing one day Mary Ann looked for her in chapel. Mary Ann was not at all impressed. “Is all I say is,” (her famous method of beginning a pronouncement) “if you want to stay here you have got to work!” Mary Ann was a very practical child and was disturbed when one day she found herself returning a glass to the refrigerator and a carton of milk to the shelf. “I’m getting too much like the sisters,” she was heard to mutter.

Prayer occupies a certain part of the day, of course. Once during the recitation of the Angelus someone was trying to escape unnoticed, but everywhere she stepped she came across a kneeling, praying nun. “Good grief!” she exclaimed in desperation, “they’re praying all over the place!”

Morale in the home is high and many patients have the ability to laugh at themselves. One who had lost both legs was watching intently as Sister bathed the feet of another. Casually he remarked “I could use that water for my feet, but I’m afraid to catch his calluses.” Or there was Annie, who refused to obey Sister one day, and with a toss of the head explained, “I was eighty years old that day and I can do what I want now.”

From the very beginning, Rose Hawthorne refused to accept pay for her services, and it remains to this day a strict rule that no money will be accepted from a patient or a relative. All ages, all creeds, all colors, all conditions, are welcome. Only two things are required for admission: incurable cancer and inability to pay for proper care.

The history of Our Lady’s Home, as it is often called, includes pain and silent sorrow, uniquely joined with the sacrificial sufferings of the Lord, continuing the merits of His supreme sacrifice to our own day. It includes the festive celebrations of Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, the dedication of the flag, recently held, citizens awards or scout honors, birthday observances, name day remembrances, even a wedding day visit from two friends who came directly from the Church to warm the patients’ hearts with their newly found and very special love. It includes, too, the free gift of doctors whose total dedication and self-sacrifice are an inspiration to the sisters…..the wonderful support of the Ladies Auxiliary and the Pharmaceutical Auxiliary; the faithful work of Mrs. Cecilia McLauchlin’s Sewing Guild, and the many other circles and groups who help in so many ways…and the exceptional goodness and charity of Mr. and Mrs. Atlanta who have made possible these thirty years of service.