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PREFACE.

THE

HE following papers have been collected from various sources at the request of personal friends, and have been printed for preservation and convenience of reference. The addresses and remarks of other gentlemen have been included, with their approbation, when necessary to preserve the continuity of the subject or explain the matter treated.

44 WEST 49TH STREET,

NEW YORK, January, 1883.

ANNIVERSARY OF THE ORDER OF

ESCULAPIUS.

Address delivered at the Fourth Annual Re-Union of the Order of
Esculapius, at the Bellevue Hospital Medical College,

on the evening of February 27, 1868.

Fellows of the Order of Esculapius:

We are here assembled this evening, to celebrate the fourth anniversary of our existence as a society. To those in our audience who have come from the busy fields of professional labor, I extend, in behalf of the society, a fraternal greeting. To our invited guests, I say welcome. To the ladies, whose brilliant countenances lend enchantment to the hour, I say welcome, thrice welcome.

Many of our fellows whom we greeted one year ago this hour, have transferred their labors to the scenes of active medical life, and have already begun to build upon the foundation laid under the fostering guidance of our noble Alma Mater, and are pressing on the toilsome road to fame and fortune. The O. E., as an institution of our college, bids them God-speed, with a hearty good will.

But many old faces still gladden our hearts, and many new ones have appeared among us, whom we welcome to these classic halls, hallowed by fond memories, and dear to us from past association. Their experience will be as ours, in her cementing friendships, whose memory and influence time or space shall never obliterate. In the circle of interest which here exists, and under the favorable auspices of a weekly intercourse, in the sharing of each other's hopes and aspirations, we come to know each other better, and esteem each other's excellencies more, while the little failings, incident to human nature become only peculiarities of character, or are screened from the observation of outsiders with jealous care. The principle,

"stand by your friends," is carried out to the last degree, and it is right that it should be so. The warm grasp of the hand and the hearty salutation which encounter us, form strong and pleasant contrasts to the formal bow, and indifferent greeting of the cold, calculating world, into which we all expect soon to hurl our gauntlets—where before us, with alternately inspiring or depressing effect, loom all the uncertain issues of the conflict involving success or defeat.

Truly, these are halcyon days-days of enjoyment, but above all, days for improvement. In them we meet the Rubicon of our destiny; in them we make or mar our future: for man is the architect of his own fortune."

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During the four brief years that have elapsed since the organization of our Society many interesting changes have taken place, both in its members and in our college. It is a fitting time to recall some of the reminiscences which are shared by so many of our members, who are now convened from different parts of foreign countries, and our again happy United States.

The founding of this society was the result of the energetic action of three students connected with the class of 1864-5 of Bellevue Hospital Medical College, who wished to organize a society among the students to meet once a week, for the purpose of having interesting essays read, quizes upon what subject most perplexed them, and to establish that brotherly love and good feeling toward each other, to be ever after remembered through life; also, to bind themselves more closely to their Alma Mater. They met alternately at each other's rooms; but in a few weeks their numbers had so much increased, that they requested the Faculty to give them the use of the little green room of the old college for their meetings; which request they kindly granted, and in that room many pleasant and profitable evenings were spent. Before the close of the session, the first annual reunion took place, which proved a grand success. Most of the professors honored the society with their presence, and by their pleasing speeches added greatly to the pleasure of the night. Each Fellow wore the insignia of our Order, which is now widely known throughout this and the European continent.

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