THE LATE DR. LEONARD HUGH McBRIDE

New Zealand Tablet, 5 February 1920, Page 28

THE LATE DR. LEONARD HUGH McBRIDE

." ■ ■» ——— ■ AN APPRECIATION. - i - ' : The removal by death of one who has- proved himself a worthy citizen, and who by his untiring, zeal to lighten the burden of suffering and to devote himself ungrudgingly .to the good he can find to do around him naturally entwines one such in the affections of the whole community. When the death occurs of a medical practitioner who has reached the highest eminence in his profession, the people among whom he has labored and lavished his benefactions, are stricken with a sense of irreparable loss; but when that professional man is one who, by his kindly disposition, his generous nature, his goodness and charity to the poor, has endeared himself to the hearts of all, then his death is much more keenly felt. Such a one was Dr. Leonard Hugh Mcßride, who passsd away at his residence, St. Clair, Dunedin, on Saturday night, January 24. At Frankton, a district wherein Nature has dispensed some of her grandest and richest treasures, and with a generosity typified in his own character, Leo-

nard Mcßride was born. It was at the Convent of the Sisters of St. Dominic, Queenstown, and afterwards at the Christian Brothers' School, Dunedin, that lie received the groundwork of his education. At these schools the moulding of his character was begun. Here also were implanted in his nature the seeds of kindness and generosity which blossomed forth so brilliantly in his professional career. His career, like that of the great Napoleon's was short and brilliant. It is sad to think that he should be cut off at the height of his tame, and when he was so useful to the community. But the ways of God are not our ways. Though brief, he crowded many charitable and even heroic deeds into his life. He had performed a long life's work in a few years. He will long be remembered by the afflicted poor, to whom he so generously gave his services. To his friends, especially, and he had made many lasting and intimate ones in Dunedin, the news of his death came as a severe shock. As his friend since the time of his student days, and one who knew him intimately, I wish to show, my appreciation of the great work he performed in Dunedin, especially the work he did, gratis, for the poor. On behalf of his many friends 1 offer my heartfelt sympathy to his bereaved wife and little ones, to his father and relations in their great sorrow. May eternal rest be his portion. B. Kaveney.