The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1883-05-24

Behold, the harvest is great, but the
laborers are few" Too many half.
hands.
Now | have the highest respect fol
the man of God who walks in the
footsteps of his Divine Master; who
with contrite, humble heart, strives
by constant meditation to learn the
true mysteries Of godliness; who
searches the scriptures in all their var
ious reading; reads the multitudinous
commentators who have labored in the
same cause; who in fact devotes his
best energies in the cause of his pro-
fession, and for no other motive than
the salvation of souls. But for the
local preacher with secular business,
who invades the sanctuary in a hypo-
critical spirit, and simply uses the
pulpit as an advertising medium fol-
his business, trade, or profession,
have the most supreme contempt. In
fact, such rascals are beneath con-
tempt.
Thus [ have endeavored to impress
you with the idea Of the necessity of
concentration, and a continued effort
in any and all avocations, and es-
pecially in either Of the learned pro-
fessions, whose vast array Of intellec-
tual labor is enough, and more than
enough, for the most gigantic minds
OF this or any other country.
Writers on political economy urge
division of labor. as the most con-
ducive means to skilled labor.
| The truth of this proposition has
very properly led to division OF the
medical profession, besides the prac-
tice Of medicine. and separate prac-
tice Of surgery, into several special
ties, as Drs. of aural surgery opthal-
mologist, gynecologist and dental sur
gerry, any one of which requires close
study, with undivided attention on
the part Of the professor who desires
success, and the best interest Of his
patrons.
History informs US that the most
progressive, useful and celebrated
men have been those who devoted
their whole energies for the accom-
plishment of the best results in their
special pursuit in the various avoca-
tions of life.
This being granted, with what dis
respect should we look upon the lack
of all trades and master of none?
So for my remarks apply to the gen
eral, but will now be directed to the
special and because l am better ac-
quainted with the merits and demerlts
of the members Of our own profession,
[ will take them under consideration; !;
and since the tenor Of my remarks re-
fers you to those of studious habits,
moral courage, benevolent and sympa-
thetic at heart, which you should dis
cover for yourselves; for should he
make any outward display to gain a
reputation for those qualities, ten to
one that he is deficient in all, or most
of them. Furthermore, like the bish-
ops of the primitive church, who could
be the husband of but one wife, he
should be welded to but the one pro-
fession. This being strong presump-
tive evidence, [ will pass condemna-
ton upon class of physicians found
here and there throughout the United
States, known and classified by natural
lists as Preacher Doctors. A class Of
doctors styled by professional friend
Theological quacks, and the most di-
abolical frauds that infest society"
If the few specimens Of these spir-
itual mountebanks which | have ex-
amined are representatives of their
class, those epithets are not misapplied
Before proceeding in my analysis
of these local specimens Of hybridity.
pseudo preachers, ''half-and- half" :"
like the Scotchman's drink-Brown
Stout and Scotch Ale.
| beg of you not to attribute my re-
marks to spirit of jealous rivalship;
for it is not the rivalry which induces
me to speak Of them, but the prostitu-
ton Of the sacred cause of religion to
the base purpose Of winning unmerited
favor and patronage, and their general
ineficiency and hypocritical duplicity;
also, for the excess Of confidence dis
played by that class of physicians who
no doubt have argued themselves into
the erroneous idea that they are just
the men to save both souls and bodies.
Apologists for this class Of physi-
clans are wont to remind us that st.
Luke, the evangelist was styled the
"Good Physician st. Luke, we in
fer, was practicing physician prior
to his conversion, and we are inclined
to believe that he di continued the
business soon after; be this true or
not. the history of medicine informs
US that the science of medicine in his
day was but little understood, if we
except the fact that, like our modern
Lukes, the physicians Of that almost
barbarous age Of the world knew how
to charge for service rendered
[ think it is Doctor Luke who tells
US in his sacred writings of lady who
had spent all her substance among the
physicians, and was not cured. Such
things happen in our own enlightened
age, but not with the same disease
with which that woman was afflicted
Such Affections are sometimes trouble
some to cure; but in the hands Of a
skillful physician a cure generally fol-
lows, and the fees therefor are not ex-
cessive.
A few years since l attended the
funeral Of a lady friend who had died
of the same disease. The funeral ser
vice was by the gentleman who had
rendered her medical service. I do
not know what it was that prompted
me to attend. You are aware perhaps
that physicians as rule do not like
to attend funerals.
Perhaps the anecdote of the doctors
wife, who objected to her husband at
tending funeral professions, on the
ground that sit looked too much like
a mechanic carrying home his own
work.