The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-01-29
TRIBUTE TO Dir. PIGFORD.
y Quarter Of a Ccntury's Practice FIJI
ci With Service to His Fellow Ma

When "AbOu Ben Adhem invoke
from his dream Of peace" and saw The
vision of the Recording Angel writing
in a book of gold the ans or those
who loved the Lord" he asked and is
mine one? Nay. not So. re piled the
angel. II pray thee. then. write me
as one who loves his tellCwmen."
The angel wrote and vanished. bu-
the next night came again. ana showed
he NJ of those
Whom love of God had blessed
And 10! Ben-Adhem's name led all
the rest"
In Il beautiful Oakdalc under the
shade Of the grand old oaks. with the
sweet singing birds fitting from bougn
to bough, not chanting a requiem, bu,
Warbling their songs of praise and
thankf"'ness to the o who maze
them, and cheering the hearts OF thOsn
who hear. is a newly made mounc.
Loving hands have covered il with
Gods beautiful flowers. The last
homage Of grateful hearts and many
of those should there be for hat
mound covers the last resting place OF
Of DR.. E. L. Pigsford, whose name,
like AbOu B~en-Adhem's, IS written in
he book of the Recording Angel as
"One Who loves his fellOwmen.' From
the lips Of Him who laugh. us 20 love
our ~neighbOrs as ourselves, anne also
the words "JnaCmJHh nc -l b1yo dam.
il unto one of the least OF these We
have done ii unto Me" His practice
of % years was filled with service TO
his felloWmen. Taking up st the very
beginning the many charity patients
whom he knew had peer mercifully
cared for by his predecessor and uncle,
the lamented DR.. William z. Freeman.
he considered none too poor or lowly
to visit their cherries BODIES anl
relieve their suffering. often with no
prospect of remuneration, save In
thanks and grateful love. How many
hearts have been mad" glad by his
presence at the bedside OF suffering
loved ones.
With the gift Of quickly diagnosing
a case, he struck Immediately at the
DOT Of the disease and soon relieved
the suffering. Always hopeful, he had
Tie faculty of driving despair from the
sufferer and loved ones in attendance,
leaving the sick chamber brighter than
he found it. Modest and difident, IL
was all done in so quiet and unostenta-
tiOuS a way with no boast Of ability |
TO restore the patient 20 health, but
giving such words of encouragement |
that brought hope and cheerfulness 10
the sore, sick hearts. A dear lover Of
little children, he seemed particularly |
adapted to cheering and relieving the |
little sufferers. In this, too. he show |
ed The love Of Fod through his chill
dren for IL blessed Lord said again !
OF such is the kingdom Il heaven" |
It will be long before his place is fill
and to sOme it will never be. bu;
We Will always thank God for the !
years in which he ministergd into US.
We trust, not a few Of US. hut ali. will
try TO initiate him in his good and
quick manner OF helping and cheering
others when duty calls. Like Abou
Bnn-Adhem, may we, too, have our
names inscribed in the Recording An
gels book as those who love their
fallOwmen." His loved name and good
d eds are recorded also on The tablets
OF cur grateful memories. a. one who
made life brighter here. and mas gone
ne t his reward for kind md loving
deeds.