Dr. Urban Maes, prominent New Orleans surgeon died this week.
Some time prior to his death, Dr. Maes, an Episcopalian, requested the Rev. Dr. Julian B. Feibelman, rabbi of Temple Sinai, to deliver the eulogy at his funeral.
. Rabbi Feibelman's eulogy follows: 'My dear Friends:
"It becomes my sorrowful privilege to put into words the grief of our hearts and the tribute of our affection, for Dr. Urban Maes, whom we genuinely admired, sincerely loved and affectionately respected. Obviously I shall not attempt to depict his career as teacher and surgeon.
"That is beyond my ability and will certainly be adequately treated by his colleagues. My humble effort shall seek to epitomize what he, as a man and our friend, meant to each, of us; and what his ric'Ji attainment shall alwiays mean to our city, PRIZEP PRIVILEGE
"I cherish this as a prized privilege, first, because it was the request of my beloved friend, transmitted to me by his son and by his dearest friends; and secondly, because my colleague and brother minister makes it possible for me to observe this request. For both,,I. am humbly grateful.
"The passing of Urban Maes leaves an emptiness in our hearts where foe so securely and safely dwelt. There is not one of us here—and there are thousands beyond these walls—who has not felt an almost inexpressible pride in claiming ihis friendship.
"Nor can any of us forget the benign manner of his smile, so characteristic an expression of his countenance, the dignity of his bearing, the richness of his personality.
"Nor shall we outgrow the gentle and kind beneficance of his friendship*—which, in unique radiance touched us and remains forever a precious possession. TREASURED MEMORY
"Now he is a memory. Even the paths of glory lead but to the grave. But his memory, even as that of a precious and dear one, transcends the con-fin e s of sacred closeness, although treasured as such, and is inevitably enlarged upon the screen of community significance and professional distinction.
"To be sure, there are you who must feel a very personal loss in his passing. You his cherished son and his dear ones, who meant so imicb to him. And you who were privileged to know him intimately and share unforgettable hours with him.
"Each of you will know the deprivation that this sundered bond shall mean. To you he was less than kin, but more-than kin. But to him you were not less.
"Your prayers of thanksgiving for that perfect relationship and association must soften now your sorrow. May it convince you of what you were to him, especially in this last illness when in your home you stood so devotedly by his side. ESTEEM OF COLLEAGUES
"As personal as sorrow must always be, so does it become general wihen a man's life and career touches greatness. The truest appraisal of an illustrious savant lies in the esteem of colleague, and in the recorded chronicle of the learned societies. Let us say, in utter humility, that although Dr. Maes earned each high honor and merited all of his great distinctions, no man ever wore greatness with more simplicity, nor lived Ms simplicity with more greatness.
"He cherished the pride of rare satisfaction in his disciples, who generation after generation, follow in his footsteps. Some stood by Ms side as associates; all remained his devoted admirers and held him in that special honor which earnest student freely accords to sagacious scholar.
"Our City mourns the passing of this distinguished son. For in the painstaking enlargement of his achievements, although too preoccupied with duty to realize it, his skillful labors and growing renown cast an ever brighter luster upon our name. BLESS HIS NAME
"His attainments added increasing statue to the significance of this medical center, now so firmly established, and which he did so much to advance. Tou-ro Infirmary, Charity Hospital, Flint - Goodrich, Sarah Mayo; staff, board, director, officer; nurse, and school of nurses; have come to bless his name.
"His direction and teaching became synonomous with the great school of medicine, towards the progress and standing of #hich he contributed genuinely and wisely. Ever responsive to high duty, he valiantly served our country in time of war, our city in days of peril, and perhaps highest of all rank, his fellow-being in the hour and moment of their need.
"No opportunity, whether to respond to colleague, or to answer the beckoning beseechment of patient, could he ignore. The
greatest tribute is to recall the confidence and trust of those who felt secure because they were in his hands.
"Sacred memories now enshrine Urban Maes in our hearts.' We linger in the benign spell of their effulgence. We see him intelligently at ease with the great. We find him always with a word of friendliest concern j for the lowliest. THE COMMON BOND
"He did not know the false | distinction which separates man| from his fellowman. Instead, he, felt the common bond which united (him with them. In his heart there was a place for the man of every color, the member of each creed, and the levels of all conditions of men. His life
was a dedication to serving and healing, to understanding and comforting, to helpfulness and uplift
"Let us, his mourning friends, find now our comfort and solace in the chorus of thankfulness rising from the thousands to whom he brought healing and well-being. Let us hear, out of the generations of students who sat at his feet, the paean of praise for their master. Let us hear, as indeed our sorrowful hearts this moment echo, the gratitude of our friendship for his friendship, the response of our joy for his charm, and the recognition of the quiet dignified sincerity of his ways. Yes, let us admit the reflection of sacred pride, not only that we knew and loved him, but also! that he knew and lovedvus.
"His immortality is graved im-perishably upon our lives. It is in the transmitted skill of hands to carry on his life's work. It Is j in the halls of our schools, in j the corridors of our hospitals, | in the annals of his profession, and in the lasting glory of this City which his life and work shall always adorn. In our loving hearts he abides forever. HIS WORK DONE
"Surely he who worked right- j eousness in such utter love, and unselfish dedication to his neighbor, is one who hath served the j Lord. The children of God were | his wards, his patients, and his i Mends. Now as a child, he re- I turns to his Father. His work for j the day is done and Ms body is ] tired. Peace and utter rest has! come as blessing.
"Even so there must be in his I heart, a song, and in his eye, a) light. That song is the song of! our lasting love, and that is! stronger than death; and that! light is the light in our hearts I glowing upon the shrine of His | memory. Our song is the song | tribute of thankfulness for the! life, and for the work, and for the memory of Urban Maes.
"The Lord hath given him to serve His children; the Lord hath recalled him to receive the blessing for a great life. Blessed be the Name of the Lord."
