Doctor who cared for body and soul
TWO doctors made headlines in the Kilsyth Chronicle of September 2, 1910, one whose name lives on in infamy and another who might long have been forgotten in his own town were it not for some friends who saw to it that a fitting memorial was erected.
The paper told its readers that the notorious Dr Crippen - who was to hang for the murder of his wife - and his lover had been brought ashore at Liverpool Docks to face justice after their abortive attempt to flee to America.
But Kilsythians were probably more interested to read the eloquent tributes paid in the various local churches to the Rev Dr William Jeffrey whose death the previous week had robbed the town of a man who had, quite literally cared for them body and soul.
For besides being minister of the United Free High Church (later Burns Church) in Kilsyth for 21 years, Jeffrey was also a physician who offered his services gratis to those who, in those days before the NHS made medical care freely available to all at the point of need, were too poor to pay doctors' bills.
Breaking the news of his death at the age of 66 the Chronicle said in its August 25 issue: "While studiously avoiding any encroachment on the medical men of the town, Dr Jeffrey rendered invaluable aid to hundreds of poor in the town and district. He kept himself abreast in the advances of the healing art and spent as a rule one day a week in visiting the Western Infirmary, Glasgow."
The Chronicle said that Jeffrey had himself been ill for some weeks but following surgery was "able to be up and about for a little". However, he suffered a relapse and passed away at home.
A merchant's son, Jeffrey studied divinity at St Andrews and Edinburgh. In 1875 he became minister of St Paul's Church in Glasgow and it was there that Jeffrey seems to have felt the need to study medicine.
"Having become early impressed with the need among the poor of medical as well as spiritual advice, Mr Jeffrey by hard work qualified as a medical practitioner. His labours in St Paul's were thus greatly increased in usefulness but added immensely to the burden."
The Chronicle went on to say that friends of the doctor-preacher, who moved to Kilsyth in 1889, often worried about his punishing workload.
Jeffrey made sure his medical work did not diminish his effectiveness as a minister. "In Kilsyth, as elsewhere," said the Chronicle, "Dr Jeffrey was painstaking in preparation for the pulpit. He realised that there he could most effectively influence the mass of the congregation.
"Sermons marked by individuality of thought, expressed in crisp and telling words, with an earnest evangelical ring, commanded the attention and admiration of his listeners." While his wife, referred to in the style of the time simply as "Mrs Jeffrey" taught a thriving Sunday school Jeffrey ran a popular Bible class for young men and women. It was, said the Chronicle, "a special feature of his work".
The paper also mentioned Jeffrey's work in starting what were called "the Pleasant Sunday Afternoon (PSA) gatherings" in Kilsyth. This appears to have been a temperance society. "Throwing himself into the movement with characteristic energy and enthusiasm, phenomenal success has attended the Brotherhood in Kilsyth," the Chronicle said.
This PSA Brotherhood - and Sisters too according to the inscription on the monument - erected an obelisk in their founder's memory at the corner of Howe Road and Murray Avenue.
A marble tablet placed in Burns Parish Church was moved to Burns and Old Parish after the former buidling was demolished some years ago. The minister is also commemorated in the street name Jeffrey Place. His grave is in Warriston Cemetery in his native Edinburgh.
In his last sermon, preached the month before he died, Jeffrey had pleaded with the men taking part in a church parade from St Mirren's Lodge in the town to "let the religion of Jesus Christ permeate your lives. Do not look askance at it or fight shy of it," he said. "If you allow it to influence, you will be no losers but great gainers. It is profitable for all things. You will be better men, better husbands, better fathers, better companions and better friends than you can be without it."
Few in Kilsyth in 1910 would have taken issue with the Chronicle when it said: "Of few men could it be more truly said he will be greatly missed. Touching so many interests and sympathising with so many aspirations, Dr Jeffrey's personality appealed to a wide circle. His death will be lamented in many homes and hearts."
alister.blyth@jnscotland.co.uk
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Cumbernauld
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North west
