The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1917-02-02

the leading ana most prominent cltl-
zens Of Maryland, and lifelong
resident OF this l!ty. died at his home,
East Main street, at 2.l3 o'clock Sun
day afternool. after an illness Of
three days.
Dr. Billingslru had been in falling
health for abOut a year. On Thurs
day, the day he received the fatal
stroke. he was around attending to
business in his usual way. His last
visit was to the Union National Bank
about II Il. H., returning from there
to his home A noon it was seen by
the family that he was not in his
usual health, and it was thought that
the stroke was coming. At 2.l5 p. m,
as he was ascending the stairs to his
room he received the fatal stroke and
fell.
Hopes were entC rtaincd that the
stroke was only a light one and that
he would soon improve, but instead
OF improving his condition grew
worse until he died without regaining
consciousness, at the above time.
Dr. Billingslea was, like his father,
a typical family doctor" His ser
vices were ready at all times, in all
kinds Of weather. I've it night or day.
lie pTaCtiCed his profession for The
very love Of it and in obedience 10
his desire to render assistance to
those in distr -. There was no
distinction between those who could
pay and those who could not or
would not pay. He need only be
told that some one was in need of
physician and he responded promptly
Dr.. i}illingslea departed this lite
Oh "A day filled with the beau,ifnI
sunshine of God and was laid 10
rest on one equally Us beautiful.
How much in keeping with his life
here on earth? Gathered at bis bier
Wzrc representatives OI families for
whose welfare he had devoted over
fifty years OF his Lie. His name is
enShTined III the homes uI many OF
them. Lake the minister OF the Cos
pei so we'll described by Oliver
Goldsmith in his poem entitled
Pictures from the Deserted Village"
DIR. Billingslea's life was devoted to
his fellow man.
But in his duty, prompt at every
call,
He watched and wept, he prayed and
felt for all"
DR.. Billingslea belonged to what
we call physicians of the old school,"
which was composed of men who,
disregarding all promises or expecta-
tlOns of reward for their services,
devoted their lives to the alleviation
of the sufferings of their fellow man
What beautiful life? If there is no
reward here there must be in the life
beyond. The old Scotch doctor de-
scribed by Ian McLaren in his book
entitled Beside the Bonnie Brier
Bush was such an one as DR..
Billingslea. No night TOO dark
or too cold or stormy, no sun too hot
or day too long for him when a fell
low being was in distress, be he rich
or poor.
DR.. Billingslea was a man of char
acter and decision. His friends and
associates in business and social life
recognized this and placed him at
tne mead OF a number of financial
and industrial institutions, all of
winch are, today, in a f1ourishing
condluon. His amiable and chari-r
table disposition endeared him to all
his friends and associates. His
death is a great loss to the business |
circles Of this city and county and
will bring about a new alignment
in all the institutions with which he
was connected
The large number of beautiful
floral designs placed upon his bier
were we'll deserved by him. Gener-
ations yet unborn will learn of DIR,
James Howell Billingslea, the faith
full and loving physician and Chris
tian gentleman
He was the son of the late DR.. L. I, !
Blllingslea, who died many years ago.
He studied medicine with the late DR.
Joshua W. Herring and graduated
from the Maryland University sue
ceeding to his fathers practice.