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Vol. 60, 1909 - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Vol. 60, 1909 - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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140 THE CHARLOTTE MEDICAL JOURNAL.<br />

hands <strong>of</strong> him who had promised to protect cess. A genius without energj' or moral<br />

and defend her. character scales no altitudes and reaches<br />

The code <strong>of</strong> ethics is a marvelous pro- no preeminence, and misdirected energy,<br />

duct <strong>of</strong> mind and heart, superb in literary however much it toils, or suffers, or hopes,<br />

design, ideal in conception <strong>of</strong> human love fails <strong>of</strong> fjrogress and languishes in defe<strong>at</strong>,<br />

and human duty, touching only the high ^fen may be born equal but if so they fail<br />

places <strong>of</strong> conscious virtue with the wooing to maintain this equality. Success may be<br />

influence <strong>of</strong> poetry and song. I have heard possible unto all men but facts prove not<br />

and read many tender and touching tributes along the same line nor <strong>of</strong> the same kind,<br />

from divers sources extolling the virtues We need no historian, nor biographer nor<br />

and prophesying the rewards <strong>of</strong> our beloved philosopher to tell us these facts, for we<br />

pr<strong>of</strong>ession, and I have been made to feel have only to look about us and behold for<br />

glad th<strong>at</strong> I was a comrade and could claim ourselves. Who among you does not refellowship<br />

with th<strong>at</strong> noble band <strong>of</strong> men who spect the life and memory, the mind and<br />

go about on earth doing good and hoping character <strong>of</strong> those wise, kind-hearted and<br />

to receive their crown <strong>of</strong> reward in the life courtly gentlemen in medicine who helped<br />

ev^erlasting; but so far as I now recall I ta initi<strong>at</strong>e this Society and gave it their<br />

have neither seen nor heard any suggestion support and encouragement and walked<br />

devising ways and means looking to the among us as our counselors and our friends?<br />

promotion and betterment <strong>of</strong> their m<strong>at</strong>erial Who did more to up-lift the high character<br />

comfort and prosperity. So long neglected <strong>of</strong> our pr<strong>of</strong>ession by precept and example<br />

this maj' yet be one <strong>of</strong> the triumphs <strong>of</strong> the than the courtly and chivalric Dr. Ruffin,<br />

twentieth century, and it may be possible and who did more <strong>of</strong> kindly deeds <strong>of</strong> charth<strong>at</strong><br />

<strong>at</strong> some distant day medical colleges ity and bestowed more <strong>of</strong> generous labor<br />

to meet the growing demands <strong>of</strong> the pr<strong>of</strong>es- than the genial and kind-hearted Dr, King?<br />

sion and the public will establish a chair <strong>of</strong> Each a striking individuality, yet above all<br />

bi-metalism and economics, and St<strong>at</strong>e ex- a gentleman. Who among our citizenship<br />

amining boards will require a suiBcient does not feel a sense <strong>of</strong> pardonable pride<br />

evidence <strong>of</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>iciency in this branch or th<strong>at</strong> Wilson county had the m<strong>at</strong>erial and<br />

department <strong>of</strong> knowledge th<strong>at</strong> will <strong>at</strong> least the man who, irrespective <strong>of</strong> conditions and<br />

give assurance <strong>of</strong> the candid<strong>at</strong>e not becom- circumstances, could measure up to the<br />

ing a subject <strong>of</strong> poverty or a charge <strong>of</strong> standard requirements and the crowned<br />

charity. heights <strong>of</strong> a Federal Judgeship? Do you<br />

The subject which your Society has as- tell me this is luck, or, if you please, an<br />

signed me— "The Business Methods <strong>of</strong> the accident? I could not, and would not, be-<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>ession"— I hardly know whether to lieve it if you did. I answer it is but antre<strong>at</strong><br />

seriously or in a lighter vein. I am other pro<strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> the reward th<strong>at</strong> grows out <strong>of</strong><br />

not sufficiently advised if the pr<strong>of</strong>ession has th<strong>at</strong> trinity <strong>of</strong> virtues—intellect, energy and<br />

any "business methods." Those <strong>of</strong> you character. Without assuming further conwho<br />

are so informed will have the oppor- troversy, and to be more concrete in extunity<br />

to enlighten me, and while I have pression, I would propound the query,<br />

walked only the be<strong>at</strong>en p<strong>at</strong>h <strong>of</strong> a country "Why do we practice medicine?" Are we<br />

doctor, moving in silence and <strong>of</strong>tentimes in actu<strong>at</strong>ed by a distinct mercenary spirit, or<br />

darkness, yet would I welcome the light are we missiona ies in the field <strong>of</strong> philanand<br />

rejoice in its gladness. I have <strong>of</strong>ten thropy? Are we engaged as a m<strong>at</strong>ter <strong>of</strong><br />

felt impressed th<strong>at</strong> <strong>of</strong> all pr<strong>of</strong>essions it was livelihood, a bread winning proposition for<br />

the least business-like, and had perhaps ourselves and dependents, or as a sportive<br />

less <strong>of</strong> method and business direction. I recre<strong>at</strong>ion for pleasure or pastime? If either<br />

will not be going very far wrong to st<strong>at</strong>e proposition be accepted, then I would in<br />

th<strong>at</strong> every trade, pr<strong>of</strong>ession, or voc<strong>at</strong>ion is humility, yet in truthfulness, suggest th<strong>at</strong><br />

either a question <strong>of</strong> choice or a m<strong>at</strong>ter <strong>of</strong> lawn-tennis, golf or membership on a baseenvironment,<br />

a volition <strong>of</strong> purpose or a ball team would afford' more merriment and<br />

coercion <strong>of</strong> circumstances, and in either possibly more money; certainly an easier<br />

event it is the individual fitness or adapta- job with more reput<strong>at</strong>ion, though fleeting<br />

tion th<strong>at</strong> qualifies or disqualifies the meas- and ephemeral.<br />

ured terms <strong>of</strong> success. Barring a few cases I am strongly persuaded th<strong>at</strong> he who en<strong>of</strong><br />

accidents, success in any line, without ters this pr<strong>of</strong>ession with the view <strong>of</strong> moneyexception<br />

to medicine, is dependent more making or money- getting has not only<br />

upon the eternal fitness <strong>of</strong> the individual missed his calling but his election also,<br />

than to any co-existence <strong>of</strong> circumstances. The indifferent, the indolent, the lazy fel-<br />

Tiie intellectual, moral, and industrial ele- low in search <strong>of</strong> an easy task where he may<br />

ments or <strong>at</strong>tributes <strong>of</strong> character must be find delight in the rose garden or rest under<br />

blended and harmonized before the world the shade <strong>of</strong> the trees, had best seek him<br />

can stand up and count him worthy <strong>of</strong> sue- another job. The ambitious seeker for dis-

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