The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1900-08-02
Funeral Sermon
OF DR.. Charles A. Parker, BY Harley
j. Steward d. D., First Presby-
terian Church, Logan, Ohio.
THE BELOVED PHYSICIAN"
Col. 4:14.

THE BELOVED PHYSICIAN
Col. 4:l4.
When Melancthon was on bis
death bed he asked for pen and paper
and wrote two propositions. First,
Reasons why should remain in the
flesh; second, Reasons why / should
depart and be with Christ; and his
conclusion was the conclusion of the
apostle Paul, "to depart and be with
Christ is far better"
While 1t was not my fortune to
know DIR. Parker, for had merely
met him as he passed one morning
from this church, from all I can hear,
he, too, could have written these
propositions. Many reasons could
be given why he should remain in
the flesh. He had u large and grow
ing practice; his friends were many
and dear; his home life was all that
could be wished his associations in
the various departments of social re-
lations were attractive and helpful
and inspiring; he was only thirty
two years of age, and life opened
with all of its privileges and gracious
possibilities; how natural for him
and for us to say "Would that /
could remain with loved ones on
earth" And vet, brethren, from the
account of his lite and character that
has been read from the pen of two
ministers this afternoon we have n
right to conclude that DR.. Parker, at
least at his moments of profoundest
thought would say ito depart and be
with Christ is far better" I might
speak to-day on the beauties of fl
ial devotion, or on a noble husband
or on tender father and brother, for
DR.. Parker was all of these combined.
But since our brother was an honor
ed physician, and since SO many
members of the medical profession
are present, I shall depart from my
custom on such occasions, and speak
not so much of the man as of the
profession which he loved and rever-
ed and honored.
In speaking of a Doctor in his day
the apostle Paul called Luke "the
beloved physician" What then can
we say of the vocation which our
dear departed brother had chosen
and by the members of which he was
so dearly beloved? Others will speak
OF him as man, citizen and a
member of various societies. Why
can we speak of him as the "beloved
physician?" Why should we speak
of all Doctors who are true to their
lofty aims and ideals as "beloyed." :"
First, because it is vocation Of the
highest honor. There is no calling
in life that is nobler or grander than
that of true physician. Christ was
not only a preacher but he delighted
to be regared as physician especial
ly Of the soul. To him the lame the
halt and the blind, yes, those affiict-
ed with many diseases came as to a
loving and beloved physician. How
many miracles he wrought, how
many hours he spent in caring for
the wants of the body! Years be-
fore Christ came Homer, the greatest
poet of the Greeks, sang: ga wise
physician skilled our wounds to zeal
is more than armies to the public
woal.' And Cicero, the eloquent
Roman orator, went so far as to say
"There is nothing in which men so
approach the gods as when they try
to give health to other men," Now
1t was the life work of our brother to
seek to give health to other men.
And while he sacrificed his own in
the attempt, say this beloved ply
sician chose profession of useful
ness, of helpfulness and of the high
est honor.
How many condolences are in
trusted to the beloved physician.
How intimate and sacr I'D the rela.
tionship between him and every
member of the family. What an
honor for our brother to be classed
among some of the worlds greatest
heroes, such as Hippocrates the be-
loved physician of Pericles, Harvey
who discovered the circulation of the
blood, Jenner who announced the
benefits of vaccination And what
shall I say of Abercrombie and
Pastuer and Koch and Agnew and
thousands of other physicians Of
whom the world is not worthy.
Brethren, every true physician
should be called "beloved," because
his profession is one of the highest
possible honor.
But again, the true physician may
be called the "beloved physician"
because it is vocation of great
hOpefttlness. According to the
Greek myth, when Pandoras box
was broken, out rushed envy and
strife and all the ills that vex man
kind, hope only remaining. Thank
God while there is 80 much sickness
in the world to-day, there is also
much hope and cheer, much of the
worlds hopes come to the family
through our beloved physicians. The
very expression las long as there is
life there is hope" we quote from