The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-05-29
IN MENORIAN.
Lawrence Ashton.

." '"' H'htu Wnen awakening nature
with swelling leaf-bud and song of early
bird brings thoughts of the certain hone
oil the Resurrection. Dr. Lawrence Ash
ton entered into rest. Since the second
year OF Saint Mary College. DR.. Ashton
has been her faithful and efficient pbysi-
cian, her ever loyal and valued friend.
Inc following tribute is taken from The
White and Blue, college magazine
published in Dallas. Texas:
His devoted service. his self-forgetful
loving ministry within her walls will
never be forgotten 10y those to whom for
twelve years he has been ever the same
generous, sympathetic friend and adviser.
The warm, impulsive, buoyant nature.
the unaffected dignity and courtesy of
the man readily won their friendship and
esteem; while his broad and progressive
intelligence in his profession. his eager
enthusiastic interest in all that pertained
TO it, commanded their confidence and
respect
"Dr. Ashton came Of a long line of ply
sicians, five generations of his paternal
ancestors, in the direct line. having been
represented in the science he loved So
well. Thus he seems To have absorbed
in his blood the enthusiasm which sur.
vived to the last, kindling the weary
spirit and nerving the enfeebled frame 20
struggle as heroic as it was pathetic.
To this natural enthusiasm for the pro.
iession OF his inheritance and choice. were
added the best possible ADVANTAGES for
study and training this country affords |
In 1872, DR.. Ashton was graduated from |
Columbia Medical College, Washington.
ID. C., and was later, for some time n
student under the celebrated DIR. Weir
Mitchell OF Philadelphia Ever eager To
keep pace with the advance of Medical
Science, he awaited himself of every op
portunity for study that would keen him /
abreast OF the times. and in 1885. enter |
ed the Medical Department of University
OF New York to study for a special de- /
gree; five years later, we find him again |
at work at the New York Polytechnic: and /
in 1897, at the Pasteur Institute. Paris /
France, and at Brompton Hospital. Lon /
don, England
"Dr. Ashtons professional KNOWLEDGE
and skill were widely recognized: he en-
Joyed the confidence and recognition of
Tue best physicians, not only of Wash
ington, d. C., of Maryland, and of Vir-
ginia, his native and dearly beloved State
but III the Eastern States and cities
The high esteem in which he was held is
evidenced by the long list of honorable
positions he has been called upon to fill.
In the early years of his professional life.
DIR. Ashton was deeply impressed with
tue necessity for State examining board,
Tor the protection of the profession he so
loved and honored, from the pretensions
and abuses OF emperics, and Jointly with
Prof. Dabney of University of Virginia,
secured the cooperation of leading men
OF the State, which resulted in the pas
sage of "A bill in the Virginia legislature
providing for establishment of board OF
examiners, and requiring all candidates
for the profession, even graduates of Uni
versity of Virginia, to present them
selves before this board Later, DR.. Ash.
ton served as president OF this board.
and held that position until he left his
native State. In 1882 he was appointed
by Gov. Cameron of Virginia, member of
the board OF directors of State His val
uable work in the State Of his adoption
is too well known to be specified. At the
time of his death, he was professor of
theory and practice of medicine. and
president OF faculty and board OF direc-
tors OF Dallas Medical College. DR.. Ash
ton is well and widely known in the
medical world as author of valuable
scientific papers. How busy a life. and
how noble Only those who knew Dir.
Ashton intimately could appreciate how
noble, for only these knew of his brOad
charities. of the lavish, almost reckless
expenditure OF his failing strength in min
istering to the poor. The writer has
seen his eyes fill with tears when speaking
OF these in tones of tenderest sympathy.
A warmer, tenderer heart never beat in
mans bosom. DIR. Ashton's Iiie-work
has been nobly done. The struggle is
ended the victory is won"
HE hath outsoared the shadow Of our
night,
lie hath awakened from the dream OF life,
He lives, he wakes 'Tis Death is dead
not he
Dust to the Dust But the living spirit
shall flow
Back to the burning fountain whence it
came.
4 portion ofthe Eternal which must glow
Through time and change unquenchable /
the same"
&c.