Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-09-25
From the Nat tonal Intelligencer.
The Medical Association.

The National Medical Association, at its annual
meeting in the year 1882, resolved to contribute
marble block to the Washington Monument.
The following letter has been written by the chair
man Of the committee, announcing the gift and
describing the block, which is said to be eminently
beautiful in design and execution:
To The President Of the r
Washington National Monument Society:
SIR: At the meeting Of the American Medical
Association" in the city of Richmond in May,
1862, the following preamble and resolution were
unanimously adopted:
"Whereas it is the duty of patriotism to do
homage to those who have been benefactors to
their country; and whereas the medical profession
in the United States, heretofore not wanting in
patriotic feeling or action, desire to cooperate with
the other public bodies and institutions of the
country in rendering their profound reverence to
the memory of him who was first in peace first
in war, and fret in the hearts of his countrymen'
Be it therefore
f" ResoLvcd, That committee OF five be appoint
ed, whose duty it shall be to solicit subscriptions
from members of the American Medical Associar
tion for the purpose of procuring suitable stone,
with an appropriate inscription, for insertion in
the name of this Association into the national
monument to the memory of Washington, now in
progress of erection at Washington city
In compliance with the above resolution, the
uy,
BILE mason of the city of Lancaster, to execute the
work. A block of Vermont statuary marble was
procured, and there was at that time in the em,
ployment of Mr. Haldy young artist, Mr. j. Au-
gustus Beck native of Litiz, Lancaster county,
Pennsylvania, who, after seeing the design under
took to execute it. The design, recommended 10
the committee by the lamented Dr. A. L. Picrson,
Of Salem, Massachusetts, represents the interview
between Hippocrates the father of medicine, and
the ambassadors Of Artaxerxes, King of Persia,
who brought him costly presents and money to in
duce him to leave his native country and enter the
Kings service and as in the act of saying "Ten
your master that am rich enough; that honor
will not permit me to accept his gifts, nor to 60
into Asia to succor the enemies of Greece Y
Animated by the same spirit of devotion to
their country which influenced the greatest medi-
cal mind Of Greece, the physicians Of the United
States now tender to you this tribute Of their
love and veneration of hini, who, whether pos
sessed Of civil or military power had no Other
ambition than to serve well his country In
claiming this privilege they would point you to
their country's history, which records among her
purest patriots the names of such medical men
Warren, Rush. and host of others who peried
their lives and fortunes in the cause Of liberty
Whether in the field or in the council, they have
ever manifested their devotion. And when perils
from within or dangers from without threaten TO
weaken the strength to mar the beauty, or to
assaH the integrity Of our glorious Union, they
offer this as a pledge through you to our sommon
country that they will ever be ready to follow the
example of their fathers in making similar sacri-
fee.
In behalf Of the Committee of the American
JN0. l.. ATI,EE, Chairman
& IIycIsrrp lPESN Sent lS56 arl sf - 80