GEORGE JACOB AUGUR

Moving to California from Connecticut, he practiced in Oakland for 15 years. During that time he was on the house staff at the Fabiola Hospital in Oakland. In the early part of his medical career Dr. Augur practiced allopathic medicine, but in 1895 he became a practitioner of homeopathy.

On June 16, 1892, Dr. Augur married Ruth Dyer at Oakland. Their one son, Morris Curtis Augur, was born while they were in Oakland.

Finding that the climate of Oakland did not agree with him, Dr. Augur came to Honolulu aboard the "Australia" on February 1, 1898, and was followed by Mrs. Augur and their son in July. Dr. Augur was licensed to practice a few days after his arrival and opened his first office on Richards Street near the Hawaiian Hotel. In his business card appearing in the newspaper, he listed himself as a "homeopathic practitioner and surgeon with special attention given to chronic diseases". In October he moved to Beretania Street where he had his residence and office. For some 16 years he practiced in Honolulu, during which time he was a member of the University Club, the Kilohana Art League, the Myrtle Boat Club, and the Healani Yacht and Boat Club.

Dr. Augur's first trip to the Orient was a three months vacation in Japan in 1906. A second visit brought the Augurs to Japan for a year from May, 1914 to May, 1915. Following this, Dr. Augur returned to Honolulu for a few months and then rejoined his family in Japan where they remained for four years. Although he had been a member of Central Union Church in Honolulu, and in 1911 was one of the representatives from Central Union to the first convention of the Laymen's Missionary Movement held in Honolulu, he later became a member of the Bahai movement. While in Japan, he taught under the direction of Abdul Baha, leader of the movement. During his years in Japan, he also traveled extensively in China and other eastern countries.

The doctor and his family returned to Honolulu in March, 1919, and he resumed his practice. Dr. Augur died September 13, 1927, in Honolulu within a few days of his 74th birthday.

He was a member of the Yale Alumni Association of Hawaii, the Association of Yale Alumni in Medicine, the International Hahnemannian Association, the Alameda County Homeopathic Medical Scoiety and the Odd Fellows.

Dr. Edward S. Goodhue, physician and author, interviewed Dr. Augur shortly before his death. Portions of his perceptive sketch ("Honolulu Advertiser" September 30, 1927) follow

"In his capacity as physician, I knew little of him. He belonged to a different school practicing conscientiously and with a consistent adherence to the principles laid down by the founder, Hahneman.

Few of his associates bearing the name of Homeopaths, at least now-a-days, have dared to do this, modifying their methods of treatment for commercial reasons, and to suit an age which would regard the rigid practice of Homeopathy an anomaly.

A typical New Englander to his 74th year -- erect in carriage as in character, a fine, fragile piece of humanity out of the Puritan block.

Careful in his mode of dress, in his language, his habits and friendships, fastidious as to order and routine of duty, he was a loyal, true friend to those he accepted as such.

Only a short time ago I sat with him in his cozy, little office on Beretania street --. And there very gently, and characteristically regardful of the feelings and perhaps prejudices of one belonging to a different school, he explained to me why he had left the system which gave him his technical training in basic medicine, and what his 'apostasy' had cost him in preferment and friends.

But with the firmness and loyalty to sincere conviction which have led brave men to martyrdom, he faced censure not only in medicine but in religion, accepting the Bahi Revelation in the advocacy of which he went to Japan as a missionary.

There his kindly attitude toward all men and things, as well as his artistic temperament, found a rich field for service. He loved Japan!

Like other missionaries who have gone to the wonderful people of Nippon for special propaganda, he found himself a convert to tolerance and a gentle courtesy."

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