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  • The Masonic Illustrated
  • Jan. 1, 1902
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The Masonic Illustrated, Jan. 1, 1902: Page 15

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    Article Death of Bro. Sir William MacCormac, Bart., K.C.V.O., F.R.C.S. Page 1 of 1
Page 15

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Death Of Bro. Sir William Maccormac, Bart., K.C.V.O., F.R.C.S.

Death of Bro . Sir William MacCormac , Bart ., K . C . V . O ., F . R . C . S .

'"pHE medical profession , as Avell as the country generally , I has sustained a severe loss by the sudden death of Sir William MacCormac , which took place on the qth December . Sir William was born at Belfast in 18 36 . He graduated at the Queen ' s University of Ireland in 1858 . During his college days he was an athlete of some note , and

by his geniality and diligence gained very many friends . After an unusually active and brilliant term as a student he qualified at the Queen ' s University of Ireland , and in 186 4 became a felloAV of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland . From that time to his death his professional career has been one of almost unexampled

success and brilliant achievements . It must be left to the medical press and his future biographer to describe in detail the work of his

life , but Ave may refer to one or two episodes which appeal strongly to the national sentiment , and which exhibit the

strength and earnestness of his character . In the year 1870 the Franco - Prussian War broke out , and Sir Wi 11 i a m M a c C o r in a c

threw up his appointment at Belfast to volunteer his services for the aid of the wounded French soldiers on the German frontier .

The English surgeon Avas Avelcomed by the medical staff , but by the military authorities , still on the almost insanely ardent

search for spies , he Avas requested to leave Metz and to retire to Chalons . During his short stay he had nevertheless seen a good deal of the practice in the Metz hospitals and

was thus prepared foi what he was to see anon . After some trouble with the authorities MacCormac succeeded in joining the Anglo - American

Ambulance , and was placed second in command , which position he shortly afterwaids , on the return of Dr . Marion Sims to New York , changed for that of Surgeon-in-Chief . Within a feAV days of his joining this noble mission MacCormac and his companions were in the thick of the frav . Each day considerably more than a hundred major

operations were performed , and MacCormac ' s share of these was more than would have fallen to him by lot , and he did very many such days' work before the war on the frontier practically terminated . On his return to England MacCormac was elected assistant

surgeon to St . Thomas ' s Hospital , in recognition of the unique surgical experiences through which he had just passed . Wit Ii the affairs of this institution he maintained the closest

COUTH K f . ATK HliO . SIR WILLIAM . MAOCOHMAC .

nection until the day of his death , and it is interesting to note that one of the last appearances of the great surgeon at a function not of a professional character was at St . Thomas ' s Hospital on the occasion of the consecration , on the 4 th of November , of the Cheselden Lodge , which had been formed in connection with that institution . He had taken much

interest in the arrangements , and it was hoped that he would for many years become more closely identified Avith the Craft than his busy professional life had hitherto permitted . In July , 18 9 8 , Sir William MacCormac was summoned to . attend the King , then Prince of WalesAVIIO it will be

, remembered , fractured his knee . His treatment resulted in a satisfactory union , and as a reward for his

services he Avas made a Knight Commander of the Victorian Order . In the next year the routine of his official and professional work was

rudely broken into , and for the third time in his life he started for the seat of a bloody Avar lo place his services at the disposal of the

Avounded . Soon after the outbreak of the South African War the Government determined to avail itself of the

services of three civilian consultants , and in November , 18 99 , Sir William MacCormac left England for Cape Town , being shortly followed

by ih \ G . H . Makins and Air . ( IIOAV Sir Frederick ) Treves . On arriving at the Cape Sir William MacCormac lost no time in setting to

work , beginning bis e x p e r i e 11 c e of the campaign by visiting the General Hospital at Wynberg . From Cape-Town he proceeded to Durban , thence to Pietermaritzburg and Frere .

He assisted in the care of the wounded after Colenso , and then , returning to Cape Town , accompanied Lord Roberts to the Modder River , and Avent on to Jacobsdal and Kimberley . He served four mouths as civilian consulting surgeon , returning to England at the beginning of May , 1900 .

Bro . Sir William MacCormac had suffered for the hist two or three months from insomnia , depression , and vague pains in the back , but his sudden death from cardiac failure has come as a great surprise to the medical profession . Onl y his intimate friends and medical advisers considered him to be in a serious state of health . The funeral took place on Monday , December ytli , at Kensal Green Cemetery .

“The Masonic Illustrated: 1902-01-01, Page 15” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 13 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mil/issues/mil_01011902/page/15/.
  • List
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Title Category Page
Untitled Article 1
Freemasonry in the Province of Norfolk. Article 2
United Grand Lodge of England. Article 6
Grand Mark Lodge. Article 6
Consecration of the Army and Navy Royal Arch Chapter. Article 7
Consecration of the United Service Royal Ark Mariners Lodge, No. 489. Article 8
Lod ge L 'Entente Cordiale , No. 2796. Article 9
Untitled Ad 9
Untitled Ad 10
Untitled Ad 10
The New Officers. Article 10
At the Sign of the Perfect Ashlar Article 11
Untitled Ad 13
Death of Bro. Sir William MacCormac, Bart., K.C.V.O., F.R.C.S. Article 15
Mock Masonry : or the Grand Procession. Article 16
Freemasonry in Natal. Article 16
London Stone Chapter, No. 2536. Article 17
Jonic Lodge, No. 227. Article 17
History of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement, No. 256. Article 18
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Death Of Bro. Sir William Maccormac, Bart., K.C.V.O., F.R.C.S.

Death of Bro . Sir William MacCormac , Bart ., K . C . V . O ., F . R . C . S .

'"pHE medical profession , as Avell as the country generally , I has sustained a severe loss by the sudden death of Sir William MacCormac , which took place on the qth December . Sir William was born at Belfast in 18 36 . He graduated at the Queen ' s University of Ireland in 1858 . During his college days he was an athlete of some note , and

by his geniality and diligence gained very many friends . After an unusually active and brilliant term as a student he qualified at the Queen ' s University of Ireland , and in 186 4 became a felloAV of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland . From that time to his death his professional career has been one of almost unexampled

success and brilliant achievements . It must be left to the medical press and his future biographer to describe in detail the work of his

life , but Ave may refer to one or two episodes which appeal strongly to the national sentiment , and which exhibit the

strength and earnestness of his character . In the year 1870 the Franco - Prussian War broke out , and Sir Wi 11 i a m M a c C o r in a c

threw up his appointment at Belfast to volunteer his services for the aid of the wounded French soldiers on the German frontier .

The English surgeon Avas Avelcomed by the medical staff , but by the military authorities , still on the almost insanely ardent

search for spies , he Avas requested to leave Metz and to retire to Chalons . During his short stay he had nevertheless seen a good deal of the practice in the Metz hospitals and

was thus prepared foi what he was to see anon . After some trouble with the authorities MacCormac succeeded in joining the Anglo - American

Ambulance , and was placed second in command , which position he shortly afterwaids , on the return of Dr . Marion Sims to New York , changed for that of Surgeon-in-Chief . Within a feAV days of his joining this noble mission MacCormac and his companions were in the thick of the frav . Each day considerably more than a hundred major

operations were performed , and MacCormac ' s share of these was more than would have fallen to him by lot , and he did very many such days' work before the war on the frontier practically terminated . On his return to England MacCormac was elected assistant

surgeon to St . Thomas ' s Hospital , in recognition of the unique surgical experiences through which he had just passed . Wit Ii the affairs of this institution he maintained the closest

COUTH K f . ATK HliO . SIR WILLIAM . MAOCOHMAC .

nection until the day of his death , and it is interesting to note that one of the last appearances of the great surgeon at a function not of a professional character was at St . Thomas ' s Hospital on the occasion of the consecration , on the 4 th of November , of the Cheselden Lodge , which had been formed in connection with that institution . He had taken much

interest in the arrangements , and it was hoped that he would for many years become more closely identified Avith the Craft than his busy professional life had hitherto permitted . In July , 18 9 8 , Sir William MacCormac was summoned to . attend the King , then Prince of WalesAVIIO it will be

, remembered , fractured his knee . His treatment resulted in a satisfactory union , and as a reward for his

services he Avas made a Knight Commander of the Victorian Order . In the next year the routine of his official and professional work was

rudely broken into , and for the third time in his life he started for the seat of a bloody Avar lo place his services at the disposal of the

Avounded . Soon after the outbreak of the South African War the Government determined to avail itself of the

services of three civilian consultants , and in November , 18 99 , Sir William MacCormac left England for Cape Town , being shortly followed

by ih \ G . H . Makins and Air . ( IIOAV Sir Frederick ) Treves . On arriving at the Cape Sir William MacCormac lost no time in setting to

work , beginning bis e x p e r i e 11 c e of the campaign by visiting the General Hospital at Wynberg . From Cape-Town he proceeded to Durban , thence to Pietermaritzburg and Frere .

He assisted in the care of the wounded after Colenso , and then , returning to Cape Town , accompanied Lord Roberts to the Modder River , and Avent on to Jacobsdal and Kimberley . He served four mouths as civilian consulting surgeon , returning to England at the beginning of May , 1900 .

Bro . Sir William MacCormac had suffered for the hist two or three months from insomnia , depression , and vague pains in the back , but his sudden death from cardiac failure has come as a great surprise to the medical profession . Onl y his intimate friends and medical advisers considered him to be in a serious state of health . The funeral took place on Monday , December ytli , at Kensal Green Cemetery .

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