To Save A Brother

Chicago, Jan. 19. - An event that will be historical not only in Masonio but in humanity's record took place Sunday forenoon. The deeds of self-sacrifice were in keeping with the day. The event and all its surroundings, personal, moral and scientific, were phenomenal. In order to save the life of John O. Dickerson 146 Sir Knights of St. Bernard Commandery, Knights Templar, submitted to the surgeon's knife, contributed each his portion of skin sliced from the tender, quivering flesh to be grafted upon the body of their brother. The strips cut from 14G arms were transplanted to Mr. Dickerson and 144 square inches of his body were covered with these voluntary contributions. It was a feat in surgery and a demonstration that heroic sentiment is not a thing of the past. Mr. Diekerson is 44 years of age and a widower, his wife having died several years ago. Since 1870 he has been recorder of St. Bernard Commandery of the Knights Templar and during that time has been active in Masonic work. About a year ago he became affected with a cancerous growth on his thigh and right hip, which rapidly developed into a dangerous condition. Last summer Dr. Fenger performed a Burgical operatiou, cutting away the diseased portions of the sMn and flesh to such an extent that the epidermis could not again join and cover the exposed surface. In other respects the patiënt improved rapidly. The surgeon made an attempt to cover the place with a piece of goat skin. This promised to be successful, but the piece was too largo and had to be removed. Then Dr. Fenger announced that the only certain method of healing the patiënt was to graft small pieces of human skin on the exposed and tender surface. St. Bernard Commandery heard of this and immediately offered to furnish as many subjects as the surgeons desired. It was suggested that 150 meinbers volunteer to assist in patching up the afflicted brother. The t?lunteers were readily forthcoming1, and Sunday at the emergency hospital, whcre Mr. Dickerson has been lying for a long time, a dozen surgeons assisted in transferring strips of epidermis from the intrepid knights to the body of the patiënt sulïerer on the cot. When the last patch was neatly set in Surgeon Fenger announced with some satisf action that the operation gave every appearance of being a signal success.