The Portland daily press., 1881-10-10
PROF. WIN. WARREN GREENE.
MEMORIAL SERVICE AT HIGH STREET
CHURCH.
Eloquent Tribute from Rev. W. H Fem.

Yesterday afternoon at o'clock the memo
rial service in honor of the late Prof. William
Warren Greene, took place at High street
church The spacious and beautiful audito
rum and galleries were completely filed with
the Maine Medical Society, who attended In q
body. members of Ancient Landmark, Port
land and Atlantic Lodges, with delegations
from Hiram and Deering Lodges of Masonsl
the children from the Orphans Home, our
leading citizens, as we'll as the great number OF
the doctor old patients, rich and poor, who
flocked to pay their last token of respect to
one they had loved SO dearly. In front OF the
pulpit was a superb floral star, gift from the
medical profession, and beautiful floral pill
low from the family.
After a voluntary by Miss Adams, the organ
ist, Miss Margaret Bryant sang with great
expression Alice Cary's dying hymn, followed
by the reading of the burial service by the
pastor, Rev. MIR. Fem. The Hath hymn was
next sung by the choir, after which Mr.. Fem
delivered the following eloquent tribnte:
MIR. TENN's ADDRESS.
Our deceased friend and fellow-citiZen, the
occasion OF his DEATH September 10th, on the Par
thia, received the solemn and impressive funeral
for such as die at titJing recognition of his
extraordinary ability has been made by individuals
here and there who knew him. Also Impressive
resolutions have been recorded and printed by the
associates OF that most beneiicent profession But
as there has been public nor outward expression
in this city of the general affection and esteem in
which he was held in the other learned professions
and no itterance OF the great value which was at
tached to his long service among US, committee of
physicians, acting for the entire fraternity, have
desired of religious service in which the great
heart of this community may participate and voice
its deep bereavement threw back this distinctive
duty again and again upon several OF his more III
innate companions in medicine, but as they have
persisted in devoving it upon me have only to
saw that while feel myself entirely unqualified
for it. that rather than that it should not be done
will cheerfully perform it, out OF my love and re-
gard for my brother, his children, and the commu-
nifty at large
The death of an eminent surgeon is public ca
lamity. All the greater professions minister most
directly TO the benefit of humanity and are there
fore dear to the and Indispensable to mankind.
But other calling makes such sensible and vivid
appeal 10 the popular heart as that of medicine.
Ihe others are generally more Ideal IN thelr mo
tives and in their ends. They never quite come down
to the ground which plain people walk. They
are schools OF metaphysics. But physc is terribly
disease humans the strongest turns us al back into
children once more and gives 10 our affeetons
while under treatment, much of the unthnking and
eiinging dependence OF childhood.
We change in our modern-life city, street and vo-
cation but it is hard leave the old family doctor.
THIS is not true as it used to be- but stili true
gard The advantage of physician. 1t is wise
patient who can always affirm, whether he RECEIVERS
BY reason of, in spite of, the drugs he has de-
youred. There are schools of physic but the sur
geon proper oyerooks all borders as he also crosses
all thresholds. Under his hand the relief is as i'm
mediate and palpabe as the malpractice would be
glaring and demonstrabe. Hence when a great
surgeon comes upon the stage, there is something
unusual in the solity OF his fame and in the
alton of the public. Some great cure or marvel OF
heroic treatment in medicine often passes like
wave the irrational multitude; but 1t is always
liable to be met and beaten down by counter-wave
OF inquiry for facts and proof. No such rebuff need
await the skilful wielder OF the knife The dsput-
or though fool, cannot gainsay the obvious effects
of the cunning scalpel
therefore no sooner learns OF such Won
derworkers presence than it takes him to its
heart, and adopts him for its own.
Once more, they say, as of old, by the shores OF
GaliIee the blind may see, the lame may leap like
hart and the poor may have this benign gospel
preached AS great is the interval between
agonizng pam and exquisite pleasure between sem
tient service and muttering Inconsistencies, be-
tween life and death SO great is the favored adyan-
tage OF those who enjoy this magicians art, as COM
pared with them 'who suffer many things Of many
physicians His talent is felt to be AT their dispos-
al, the humblest and the poorest; his overwcrk, or
disregard of his health sin against them all;
his decease cause of general lamentation
Such IN a word is the attitude of this community
today in reference to the life and the memory of
our deceased fellow citizen DIR. VIM. Warren Greene
No one who was not on the ground, can appreciate
the CONSERVATION and shock which the tidngS or
his death produced upon all hearts. In the MATURE
ty of his powers. in the strength of his days cut of
Who shall picture adequately grief
our loss! How spare him! what shall we do
without him in the city, the hospital, the school
roon ia the home. sHe was our strong arm, and
swift defense. The great reserve, who. when the
battle for health went against us, could be summon
ed TO our relief Whittier shall we look. his was
the incommunicable gift which cannot be forced,
the humanity unattainable possession which cannot
be acquired by any known method. Others have
rare patience and talent indeed as students; high
& AZ in4u pieA QTlS
they too often paddle about the shores and fish the
shadows. He struck out for the open sea. Others
refollowers I'll twas Header. They cut the wood
and gather the pile for the altar. His the prophet
ic IRE from heaven to kindle- They accumulate
the indispensable facts for safe induction BIS the
swift insight and diagnosis which unites and ex-
plains the whole. Many to operate, lay out the
chart obey formula, and dare not get away from
It, But he had it in him, could swing free, see the
case it was take it all in, vital moving, changing
at every stroke under his eye and meet it face to
face; a mastery viii over against the intricate,
lurking, powers for mischief
He was a born surgeon. As the painter longs for
the feel of brush so he for the knife. Early and
long he had known it. early and long loved it. It
was a passion with him. 1t possessed him with all
its limitations and all its temptations. He could
not drive nail or tie up bundle. He was some
times comparatively loath to abide the routine aud
which the tedious after treatment
necessitate5 But for his elect practice he could
be reused at all hours and go all distances AS
strong man to run race, so he rejoiced in opera
tive surgery. 10 be permitted to watch him was
an education. His general strategy of the short
his economy in cutting, conserving of
the parts all that was possible; his ingenious ex-
pedients in fitting related complement to compile
ment his manipuIative dexterity, his nerve, filed
you with admiration. There can be no doubt that
all over the state for his living and for his work.
there must and will be henceforth higher practice
and better surgery. With all his skill he had TOO
the scientific spirit proper. With an unbounded
enthusiasm for his profession he hailed W it'll JOY
every ray of light thrown from sister sciences
and every part of tnat copious technical apparatus
which tends to mere delicate and certain diagnosis.
hnos Tho Q0f
He did valiant service for medical schools as
well as in our Maine General Hospital.
The loss which we sustain in him personally as
a man and friend, There is something more of
every renowned healer than his professional
learning and dexterity. We may admire expert
ness aud trembie before his fateful declarations
But we look for masculine tenderness and high
affections in the an who takes our life in
charge. Ii is the heart more than the head even
in medical practice which fastens upon charac-
teristic features and striking ways, which are
recalled when all else mas gone down into obliv-
ion.
For the inspiring of such confidence in his
patients never was man more honored by nat
nral and acquired endowments than ne. OF
noble presence, with mellow voice, and most
manners, he easily attracted and com
show how he was viewed on slight and passing
ON the Parthla. No intelligent and
cultivated person could resist the charm of his
address. Particularly was this true as to his
power over the young. His easy, clear and as
Sured colloquial and resoiute speech, fairly mag
n6IlZeu Jutul LII Lu6 cidas IOOnl ho tOUA uCSp
hold of students, and infused into all awho heard
him the strongest enthusiasm and passion for
his favoTite science. They felt that he knew
He implied an immense reserve re- |
source of knowledge land experience. 1t was
ever remembered as privilege to have enjoyed |
not only the substantial knowledge impaired,
but to have felt and caught the aroma and style |
Of the man. l don't think that be loved many or
sought much for intimate and bosom friends;
though none the less beloved. Probably his pro-
fessiOn was the sido of his soul.'' Though APP
parently drawing wells often and retiring per-
s0nally from too near approach and close obser-
vation he was nevertheless transparent as
child. He had that nameless bonhOmmle and
simplicity which belongs TO genius; always AHA
BILE and familiar-throngA all mood and gnIses,
even in spite of himself patent and iegible.
Music wrought upon him wondrously. He had
all great souls passion Tor nature. he yearned
for the wilder play of her powers; sought for
the shirt which hides in the deep tangled
woods, was Infatuated with angling,
rod band Egun. How Che would take kdown
his favoriIes descant their merits though
they were living things and press 1t upon you to
go and do likewise. Neither was there any thing
MED himself neither book nor rare instrument
which he thought he needed, he never set mis-
heart on show or pelf
In the use of the scalpel there appeared to be
with him no distinction of persons He operated
as deftly for Pat Maloney whom he knew could |
never pay him as for miiady in silks and satins.
MANY are the stories which have come to me dur
gratitous services here and elsewhere in
state, but the uncaled for visits at three and
four in the morning to sit by the bedside of the
For such as knew him well, whom he
liked he held in reserve unwonted gTaces, and
carried peculiar tokens of delicate preference in