Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-09-17

of the subscribers, within fortnight what YOU
may consider your duty to be in regard to this
matter. JOHN GUILIvER, u
Boston, March Sch, 1884"
If the only object of this extraordinary do.
cument had been to aid worthy young phys-
clan in securing deserved notoriety, the mo-
tive would have impaired a redeeming principle
to the act, and in great measure disarmed cri-
ticism, however Objectionable the spirit and
execution of the measure. But such benevo-
| lent purpose might have been answered without
the ungracious publicity attending an appeal to
the church. The two gentlemen had only to
recommend their protege among their personal
friends, and employ him themselves in example
of the charitable duty they had undertaken to
inculcate. We are not little surprised howe
yer, to find that the plety of the gentleman re-
commended has not been passport to the IA
mily Of either of the certifying Deacons, and
that for their own personal illness they both
continue to seek advice from other persons.
We need not go beyond the first sentence in
the circular to find another purpose clearly
disclosed which is quite as discreditabe as the
other one just referred to would be praisworthy
in the Deacons. No one can read that keeping
in mind the sectarian tactics and technicals Of
the day, without coming to this understanding
| of it. Whereas the unreserved and confiden-
tial intercourse to which the physician is neces-
sarily admitted, affords many excellent oppor-
tunites to make or perpetuate religious impress
sons; and whereas we have fround DR.. Kit.
fridge to be a man of piety, i. e. to profess the
| same religious opinions and feelings which we
propagate, nothing can be more desirable than
that the society should support him as physi-
clan, while the church has the advantage of his
domiciliary visitations as an exhorter and pro.
pagandist.' Herein is the whole mischief
of the transaction We are considering, that al
though something is said IN the circular respect
ing the gentleman's medical character in dis
tant place. his strongest claim there presented,
is his piety, which every one knows in this place
means orthodoxy, and his supposed readiness
to abuse the privileges Of his profession to the
unworthy purposes of sectarianism. No man
should be trusted as physician, or in any other
capacity, who does not maintain a character of
integrity and honor; but beyond this, his claims
for patronage should be made to rest altogether
on his scientific attachments, faithful Observa-
ton, and kind attention to the sick
How absurd, to make orthodoxy or hetero-
doxy better passport to medical emoluments
than physiological science; punctuality at the
conventicle, than perseverance in the dissecting
room,-the study of DR.. Watts, and the Mis-
sionary Herald, than of John Hunter and the
Medical Magazine.
Such method of determining the qualifica.
tons of physicians, if generally introduced,
would put stop to all improvements in their
art by removing the principal stimulus to study
and investigation. Nor would its effects be less
unfavorabe to their moral, than their medical
character. What a temptation to hypocrisy,
in the first instance-to mould opinions to that
form in which faith and thrift will be most like
" to be associated, and afterwards 10 sanctimo-
NOUS demeanor, cant and undgnihed proselyt-
| ism, all which tend to make man despise him
self, and to undermine every noble quality OF
character.
Sectarianism has in our day, assumed new
and very mischievous trait Of conduct. Form
erly, however obstinate and bitter, its influence
was observed only in ecclesiastical affairs, or
what are denominated spiritual concerns. But
now it has entered the circle Of secular affairs,
with the absurd and wicked intention of regulat-
ing alike the civil, social and domestic arrange
ments of life by the application of religious tests,
and introducing among the various religious
denominations of our community, the same mar
row and anti-socal relation which formerly ex-
isted between the Jews and Samaritans.
The transaction which has occasioned these
comments is bold manifestation of this design,
and we would further improve the opportunity
it presents, by exhorting our brethren Of the
Medical profession, to resist and discountenance
the introduction Of the exclusive system into
their department Of dutv. All men should be
religious: but as few as possible religionists.--
Ali the duties and relations of life should be hal
lowed by the spirit of religion; but most OF them
are only encountered and they are too often
ds6gured by it Offices and forms. For these, as
for every thing else, there are times and sea-
sonsn and appointed functonaries which good
taste, as well as scripture precept admonish US
to respect Bost. Medical Magazine.