Dale County AlArchives News.....The Passing of Dr. M.O. Grace (Eulogy) January 18 1933
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Christine Thacker http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00033.html#0008100 June 2, 2004, 9:47 am

The Southern Star
65 Years Ago, January 18, 1933....Reprinted Jan. 21, 1998.


          The Passing of Dr. M. 0. Grace
  If, as Shakespeare, for the moment turned cynic, said, "The
good that men do is interred with their bones," the world
would be in sorry plight indeed.
  Experience has taught us that, even as the evil that men do
lives on to breed tempest and storms to blast and wreck the
fortunes and lives that come after; so does the earnest, con-
scientious, purposeful life of the good man renew itself in the
hearts and lives of succeeding ones, to stimulate and bless
long after the body has returned to dust and the soul to God
that gave it.
  The true professional man is born with a peculiar gift from
God, Be he preacher, doctor, he cannot tap the well springs
that flow from the Eternal Rock without the peculiar gift.
In the various fields of human endeavor, this supreme fact is
amply exemplified. Nowhere, perhaps is it more clearly dem-
onstrated than in the field of medicine and surgery.
  Of all the vicissitudes to which humanity is heir, the well-
fare of the body is man's first and greatest care. For this
cause, the surgeon and the physician comes into a position of
greatest influence and responsibility in relation to his clien-
tele than do those of any other profession whose business
leads them into close contact with humanity. Upon this rock
the "sheep" of the profession stand, to its heights the "goats"
may never attain.
  Of the "sheep" of his profession was Dr. M. 0. Grace. from
his early boyhood, a great ambition gnawed at his heart. It
commanded him to do big things in life without preparing an
easy way for him to climb the heights toward which his as-
pirations looked. Because he had the peculiar gift, obstacles,
insuperable to most, did not deter him. It was sufficient that
his objective was clearly defined and his indomitable will to
reach it unimpaired by the "goblins" in the way.
  And what was this driving force you ask? What hidden
force was it, that impelled him in the lace of many adverse
circumstances to strike out boldly to become a great physician
and surgeon? As one who knew him intimately from boyhood, 
who was permitted to look behind the scenes, at the motive 
power behind his tremendous efforts. It may be said in a
single word-Love. Love for humanity.
  He aspired to be a great surgeon and he was rapidly becom-
ing that, when death stopped him in full flush. It was not
the material increment, which flows naturally to the successful 
surgeon, that tempted him, or drove him on; for he was
ever as quietly jublllant over the successful outcome of an
operation upon an indigent as of that upon one whose gratitude 
and ability would reward him handsomely in a material way. 
It was not to satisfy a hungry ego, for the plaudits which
renown brings, that he was driven, relentlessly, to invest
his earnings in better mechanisms, better instruments and
new medical and surgical knowledge. For he was always re-
ticent to the point of secretiveness with regard to himself and
his professional successes.
  It was because there burned in his heart a ceaseless flame
of great compassion for suffering humanity that he drove
himself relentlessly, investing with prodigality his strength
and his resources in human happiness and human lives. He
was a good surgeon and a good doctor, but as a man who loved
his fellowman with a compassion patterned after that of the
lowly Gallilean he has inscribed his name deathlessly upon
the hearts of the people of this countryside.
  On the morning following his death, the writer, going down
the street, met one of life's extreme unfortunates. Said he,
with a quiver in his voice, "me an' you lost a mighty good
friend last night." And thus he spoke the verdict of hundreds
of our people, of every degree and walk in life, who, with bowed 
heads and sorrowing hearts mourn the going away of a friend.



Additional Comments:
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http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/dale/obits/gob180grace.txt

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