The First Murphy Memorial Oration: Delivered before the American College of Surgeons, in Montreal, October 11th, 1920
Authors: B. Moynihan
Journal: BMJ (1920)

The moral of the whole story is this: that wve should do all thlat we C3a to partalie of virttue and iwisdom in this life."(Socrates is speaking.)Tiis is a day of remembrance.We liave come toaethler to do lhoniouri to one of the founders of this College, a great sUige1on wh1ose loss we niourn.You have laid upon me the ciuty and the higlh privilege of offerina in your iname and in my own, and if I may for the moment assumie a wider responsibility, in the name of all the sturgeonis of hiis time, a tribute to the illustrious maemory of Dr. J. B. Murplhv.Jolhn Benjalniu Murpljy was an arrestilng personality.Even after the briefest intercourse witlh hiim there were few people who did not realize that lie possessed a curious and subtle power of ilmpressinog a sense of hiis character upon tllem.His very lhandsome face, hiis tall, spare, almost gaulit figure, hiis liigh-nitclied and vibrant voice, lhis burniina anid quenchlless entlhusiasmlfor life in all its maniifold activities, his power of complete self-expression, all clanioured for notice, and cauiglht ancl hield the most eaaer attentioni.His outlook was grave anid serious; lie seemed always in earnest.The little quips and sallies, tie friendly taunts, the provocations to repartee, the illumin- ating anecdote, wlhiclh in the United States distiniguislh the cordial intimyacies of daily life, did not seem to play arounid hiim as freely as around other mien.Even in a crowded room-l of busy mcn, or wvlen a debate wvas keen, lhe -would steal a few miioments for a -whlispered conversa- tion, lheldl aloof, on some topic thlat for tlho momenit filled hlis tlhouglhts.Amoing those wlho knewilhinm well lie was admired and deeply respected, ratlier than loved.Except to a very fewv lie was not genial or respons"ive in friendslhip.His intellectual attainments were so considerable, and hlis position in the judgement of his colntempolaries so secuire, that jealousy lhardly touclhed hiim, except perl'aps in hiis barlier years and from a few among hlis seniors 1whose kupremacy li'e challenged.Suclh jealousyv is, perlhaps, theo tribute paid to youtlh for successful enterprise in thought or in action, by minds whlichi stuffer fromn tlle atlheroma of advancing years.WVe are renminded of the aphorisml of Sir 'Wtlter lRaleiolg:For whoso reaps renown abov-e the rest With lheaps of hate shall surely be opprest.Murplhy was beyond quiestion the greatest cliniical teaclher of hiis day.No one wlho listeined to hiim can ever forget tlle experience.Before his audience arrived lie liad everytlhing very carefully prepared-diagrams in order, microscopes reacly, tlle patients examined, and all relevant literature at li.s flinler-ends.There lie stood in the middle of tlle circle, in-tlje tlleatre, witlh hiis assistants and friends in tlle first row and the otlher benclhes packed to the roof witlh eager sttudents, or witlh mnedical nmen, wlho came again and again to learn from Ilim afreslh.As lie began to speak one felt a strange sense of disappointment, aDd even of dismay.For while the handsome face and upright figure were tlhings of real beauty, the voice in rwhich lhe began to speak was quite unpleasant.It was hiarslh, even raucous, hlighl -pitelled, slhrill, apt to wanider into other lkeys.It seemed strange tllat a man of Irislh descent, and of so aracions and commanding a presence, slhould liave a voice so lacking in softness, one wlliclh not only did not appeal, but actually displeased and almost repelled every listener.But as he continued speaking the voice gradually ceased to distract, it became smoother, quieter, and more evenly pitclhed, and all tlhought of it was now lost in rapt atten- tion to the matter.For things were happening even while one's first emotions were roused.Questions were being