"Dr.
Henry Foster's Spirit Lives On"
By Jim Conners, Village Historian
We
know that Dr. Foster's spirit lives on in the
Clifton
Springs Hospital & Clinic,
and
now his spirit can live on in each of our lives.
It
is truly amazing how things come together,
for
some they may be called coincidences but for many
they
are called God-incidences, and here is one of them.
The story starts with Dr.
Les Moore, who is the Medical Director of "The Springs", which is
the new section at our hospital specializing in Integrative Medicine. This type
of practice has often been referred to as Alternative Medicine, however in
reality it is designed to work in conjunction with regular medical practices, to
promote healing and wholeness. This is straight from the opinions and workings
of Dr. Foster, the founder of the Clifton Springs Water Cure in 1850 that is
today's modern hospital. Dr. Foster did not rely solely on medicines and medical
practices, he believed in caring for the mind, spirit and body, integrating many
therapies in order to make the person whole and well again.
Dr. Moore found a book in a bookstore called
Christian Classics "Life's Secrets" "Daily Encouragement For The
Soul" by Henry Foster, *Paraclete Press
(ISBN: 1557251495) which was edited and published in 1995 by a Hal Helms. This
is a book of daily readings for each day of the year taken from Dr. Foster's own
words and thoughts. It is amazing that no one here was even aware of this book.
Dr. Moore felt that the book should be made available to everyone for daily
encouragement.
My first thought was that this 239-page book
would only be modern day interpretations of Dr. Foster's words and thoughts. The
Forward in the book indicated Hal Helms had come across an old book in a
seminary library and came to the following conclusion; "although the author
is unknown today, having passed away almost a century ago, he being dead yet
speaketh. Dr. Foster speaks with a freshness that. is as enlivening and
instructive today as when he first spoke:" Mr. Helm indicated the book he
found was published in 1902 by Theadora Crosby Bliss. Theadora compiled the
material from Dr. Fosters Chapel talks and sermons, which he gave frequently
each week. I was aware of a small book entitled "Chapel Talks" but I
was not aware of a book published in 1902. After some research I couldn't
believe that I was able to track down a copy of this book in a Seminary Library
syrup) in Andover, Massachusetts. And through the interlibrary system they
indicated that they could loan it to me.
To my surprise, with only some minor grammar
and punctuation changes, the words in the 1995 book are the same as in the 1902
book entitled "Life Secrets" Spiritual Insights of .a Christian
Physician, by Henry Foster. I have started my daily readings and it is truly
amazing how Dr. Foster's words are as relevant today as they were over 100 years
ago. You really feel he is talking to you.
To others who are also walking with God in
daily service, these words may be as footprints of one who has traveled the same
road, and has gone a little farther on, to the Father's House" words
written by Theadora Crosby Bliss in 1902
A special thank you to Dr. Les Moore. Through his efforts we are now able to make this book available to you. The book is available at the Clifton Springs Museum in the Foster Cottage and in "The Springs" in the Hospital.
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