“Remember the Grace, not the Gross”

In 1849, Dr. George Parkman of Harvard Medical disappeared in what became a famous murder case.

Sometime before his disappearance, Dr. Parkman lent money to his colleague Dr. John White Webster. As collateral, Dr. White offered the mortgage of his personal property and a valuable mineral collection. Parkman accepted the terms but became suspicious later when he found out the same property and mineral collection had been used to secure another loan with someone else.

Naturally Parkman wanted his money back and began “relentlessly pursuing Webster for his debt.” Suddenly, Dr. Parkman disappeared.

One week after Dr. Parkman’s disappearance, “a suspicious janitor” broke through a brick vault below Dr. Webster’s lab and found human body parts in different locations of the room.

Authorities would find Webster guilty of first-degree murder and Webster ‘belatedly’ confessed to appeal for clemency. He was not granted it.

On August 30, 1850 Webster was hanged.

It’s safe to assume that Webster had financial troubles and this fell at the feet of his wife and children who survived him. I mean, the fact that he mortgaged his own home for a loan speaks to his level of financial desperation.

Recently widowed Mrs. Parkman (Sarah Rogers) led a fund drive to support the wife and children of her husband’s assailant to help lift their financial burdens. She loved another when love couldn’t have ever been expected, and that my friends is called–grace. What White did to Parkman was despicable and gross, but what Sarah did was love in spite of this atrocity. She let Grace and Love win in her own life and this was the result.

11/23/1849 was the day Dr. Parkman perished. For this reason, I dubbed 11/23 “Sarah Rogers Day.” A day to remember the graceful act that was produced from such a heinous one. Sometimes the 23rd of November will be Thanksgiving, and don’t we all need a reminder of Grace on that day.

Remember the grace, not the gross.

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So, happy Sarah Rogers Day. A day to remember that even in the most trying times and when we are tested the most, there is room for grace to be shown others. Choose grace over the gross.

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Now–someone remind me of this in about two hours when the North London Derby is at its most intense.

Find the Humor and Keep on Movin’

Whit W.