Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-17

and became a religious cult. Hence
we find in history that men distin-
guished in this profession were deifled
after death and were worshiped as
gods.
"The wicked conduct of unworthy in
dividuals sometimes brought down on
the whole class the ridicule. the scorn
and the condemnation of the narrow
minded. Again we find, here and
| there in history, that the professors
of counterfeit religions and also that
fanatical religionaries vehemently de-
nounced the use of medicine and of
the physician. This condition of things
has obtained from the days of Pliny.
the historian, down to the days of
Dowie, the Chicago healer.
| For these perversions and abuses
civil society and real religion are not
to be blamed. On the contrary, real
religion, which is true religion warns
all men not to expect miraculous cures
where natural remedies are adequate
and obtainable. The believer is taught
that medicine and the physician are
| from God, are here for our use and
| benefit and that, therefore, to neglect
or despise them is sin against the
God who gave them. OF course believ-
ers are also taught that God is the
author of all health and healing and
that 1t is not wrong to pray to him
| for cure of disease either directly by
himself or indirectly through these
secondary causes.
"All this subject is placed before
the world in the inspired words of Je-
/ nf IN CT
chapter 38. There the writer address
es the exiled children of Eve, gives
them solemn warning and imparts sal
utary instructions. Honor the physi-
cian, he says, for the need thou hast
of him; for the Most High hath Gre
ated him. For all healing is from
God and he shall receive gifts of the
king. The skill of the physician shall
lift up his head and in the sight of
great men he shall be praised. The
Most High hath created medicines out
of the earth and wise man will not
abhor them. Was not bitter water
made sweet with wood? The virtue
of these things is come to the knowl-
edge of men and the Most High hath
given knowledge to men, that he may
be honored in his wonders. BY these
he shall come and shall allay their
pains and of these the apothecary shall
make sweet CONNECTIONS and shall make
up ointments of health and of his
works there shall be no end. y =
! Give place to the physician, for the
| Lord created him, and let him not de-
part from thee, for his works are nee
essary. For there is time when
thou must fall into their hands and
they shall beseech the Lord that He
would prosper what they give for ease
and remedy
"The honor here commanded by the
Holy Ghost is three-fold and must be
given to the physician. All using his
ministrations must reverence him,
| obey him and contribute of their
worldly goods to his proper mainten-
ance. Hence. gentlemen, God will
punish the sick who refuse to obey
you. This You see with regret, when
sometimes your patient grows worse
or dies unexpectedly. Disobedience
in such circumstances brings death as
1t did in the case of our first parents.
Therefore, gentlemen, you are the
messengers, the ministers and the am
bassadors of God. when you come with
aid and comfort to the languishing
and the afflicted The. blameless ply
sician is conscious of his exalted mis-
sion and of his dependence on God for
success in his calling. In different
cases he not only studies and consults
with others but he has recourse to
God in prayer FerventIy he begs for
| light and help from the author of life
when these are in danger In the
| time of the Roman emperor Dioclesian
the brothers Cosmas and Damien were
| bright examples of this. They were
noted physicians. who came from Ara
bia and lived in Aegea in Cilicia. They
added to their study and diagnosis of
difficult cases. prayer and reliance on
God to make their work fruitful.
Hence they became the wonder of
their age and country.
There are types of the blameless
physician in every period of time since
they died. | am glad to hear testimony
to the grand fact that our state uni
versity tries as best it may, to give to
this state and to the world, blameless
physicians While residing in Iowa
City made it a point each year to at
tend the graduating exercises of the
university Often my heart was touch
ed while listened to the charge Civ
en- to the young physicians going out
to embark on the sea of professional
| life. They were warned to guard
the secrets of patients and families, to
strive for the uplifting and moral ad,
vancement of the community in which
i they might reside. and to be an exam.
pie to all in strict observance of the
laws of God and country
"Gentlemen, when | see men like YOU
with the grace of their vocation upon them.
standing not in fear of contagon, plague,
or battle carnage, and fastening In sun
shine and storm to comfort the afflicted.
/ can not but regard them as moral heroes
guarding the children of men from misery
disease and death. When the sin smitten
OF the would be married murderer, darcs
to attempt the defeat of the designs of the
Creator. then the blameless physician
guards the life, and the right to life of
the unborn nnocents. In this way mer
and women of yonr profession, become the
guardians Of morality. the protectors OF
the home. the benefactors of the state and
the CONDUCTORS of God.
..Calumny, mgratitude and injustice dc
not cause YOU, gentlemen. to turn from
your high ideals, or from devotion to YOU
exalted calling. you fly on the wings of love
- ty,..l