The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-27
DIR. JOHN R. FRAYSER.
THE NEsToR OF THE LOCAL MED
ICAL PROFESSION DEAD.
His Last Message to His Brethren and
Friends an Index to the Life He Had
Lived and the Hope That Was in Him
Meeting Of Physicians.

OF DR.. Morrison 10 pay tribute to the late
DR.. John r. Frayser. A large percentage
OF the most prominent OF the profession
was present TO do honor to the man who
had given half century Of his life to the
profession, which in this section regarded
him as Il Nestor.
DR.. Robert Mitchell was called to the
chair and DR.. L. A. Nicely made secretary.
DIR. Mitchell upon taking the chair
stated the object OF the meeting and spoke
very pathetically Of his lifelong friend, OF
his exalted and unstained character and OF
his long and useful career as a prominent
physician and useful citizen.
DIR. Alex. Erskine echoed the sentiment
uttered by DIR. Mitchell, and said that
probably no physician on the bluff ever
had 80 high character in every path OF
life as did DIR. Frayser through the many
years no had been identified with Mem
phis rs a physician and citizen. He re-
called many anecdotes told OF Dr. Fray
ser, one Of which most graphically illus
trated the ieebleness OF extreme age. II
was told him by a workingman who en-
tertained the greatest yeneration for the
grand but feeble old man. As this man
was returning to his home one evening he
met DIR. Frayser. who, with all the sim.
plicily and confidence OF child, told him
| that he was lost and asked TO be shown the
way TO his own home. DIR. Eiskine spoke
| of the pity this spectacle must arouse in
I 81 t.Ia a kla EnakN
aged physician had watched the develop
ment OF Memphis from village TO Il city.
| lie spoke OF him as q friend TO young ply
sicians, and recalled his advice 10 one OF
those whom ho would assist, but who
lacked energy: Energy" he said, was rs
essential to success in the practice Of inedi-
cine as In any other avocaiion." Dr. Frs
kline spoke OF his genial disposition, his
wonderful and unbounded popularity and
his splendid business success.
| DR.. Morrison said: "When | undertake
to speak Of my dead friend something
comes into my throat and words fail me.
| have, however, a message from him. y
few DAYS since | stood by his couch. lie
looked up, his face filled with Intelligence,
and said, Don't llatier me with any more
false hopes. Tell my friends DIR. Fuyser
|
afraid 10 60
DR.. Sim spoke Of DR.. Frayser as n man
who enjoyed the confidence OF the entire
community, something rarely granted a
physician however fully lac may enjoy the
confidence OF his coteric OF friends. lie
was remarkable Tor his great physical as
well as mental powers. lie had often
known him 20 undergo physical fatigue
| hi aa A.
Had always admired him for his liberal
views, although never taking much interest
in the work OF medical societies. DIR. sim
briefly reviewed his history since locating
here, in 1887, when Memphis was bat q
village
Dr. Wiliiord spoke particularly OF Dr.
Fraysers wonderfully accurate memory,
aud OF his great command Of Language
which was always chasic and elegant.
DIR. CrolIord paid q pathetic tribute q
the old physician in the following words
"The deceased has perhaps pracliced
medicine longer than any one who eyol
practiced here. No doubt he has paid a
greater number Of chariiycalls, and spoken
n greater number OF consoling worls 10 th,
shyering sick in the novels OF poverty
than any other physician who ever liycd
In Memphis; and no doubt lac will bc
missed more by the needy than any Of us
and no doubt the shafts Of genuine sorroW
will sink down deep into the hearts o.
many OF the poor, the true home o.
charity.
IAN old. oldlady hastold me that inante
bellum days rhe had never known him "a
fail 90 90 because the money was lacking
and that In the days Of yoru he WIS ~
garded rs the old ship VI safety 10 which
10 many put their trust Until quite ~
Gently this old ship might be seen, almos
unscaN Orthy, towering around medica
gatherings and visiting the sick, whether
they had the money on not, and We lay,
, frequently remarked 90 one another tia
the old ship will soon ~ out TO sea, anC
when the winds would blow, ant
the sea would run high many
recipient Of his kindness would utter
prayer aud say. Old ship. don't 90 out {,
sea, but last night the storm blew iicrccr
the sea ran higher, there was sinining n
} the anchor, the cables gave way and th,
totlering old ship went out 10 sea. Las
! night the old man died. Oh, great sea
sea Of eternity, deal gently with this dear
good, old doctor.
''Sincc | read the death notice In the pa
per this morning ! have been thinkin,
about sacrifice sacrifice throughout ia,
whole realm Of nature, aud hov
our pleasures, yea, our lives, mr.
dependent upon and blended will
H. have thought over the fact tina
: old compounds must bc broken up in or
der that now ones may be formed out o
their elements. have thought over thu
; fact that the old stalk must die down tha
; the seeds may gcrminatc and grow th'
new. have thought over the fact tina
the bringing forth OF new life l. Away
attended with pain and concessions
have remembered the fact that though dead
Caesar still lived ~ long a. Rome, and tia
In reality there can be no such thing a
death In this beautiful, living CROWN.
world. ] have thought that the 'sOcrati'
philosophy could never have been 10 full
appreciated had not IT, author been killed
! have thought that the beautiful bloom
, ing Christianity oi today could ncveI
have been realized had not IL founder
been executed. and | have como 10 IN,
conclusion that no one Is truly grand wht
has not suffered or made concessions iO
his fellow man, and who In this world doc
this better than the faithful doctor, ans
who among us has ~ nobly done this M
the good old iathcrly brother who eel
asleep Las, night lie is our hero today
and may peace be- his.
sleep on, gentle dust, sleep on till N,
changes, geologic and cosmic, peryadc a.,
universe Lot the sea come out 10 when,
the land Is now aud the land fade bach
into the sea, and let tho mad Wild waves
sing requiem over the spot where on
hero rests Sleep on, gentle dust; slcoJ
on, and let the troubled spirit Of naiul