Dear Doctor:
One of our great chiropractic icons has left us — Dr. Fred Barge is dead. This won’t be a sappy obituary — Dr. Barge was an articulate statesman for chiropractic, and he appreciated the use of the language too much for me to default to insipid or hackneyed platitudes.
I’d rather concentrate on his steadfast support and promotion of the chiropractic message, a message he wore on his sleeve and was only too happy to expound upon.
Barge wrote books on a wide spectrum of topics, from the philosophical to the clinical to the political, and what shines through all of his work is the awe he felt for what we do and the principle behind it. He really got the idea of Innate Intelligence, he clearly saw the devastation subluxations cause, and he dedicated his life to bringing that notion to public awareness, for chiropractors and patients alike.
He was a teacher extraordinaire, and accepted the responsibility to be a yardstick for students to measure against. He was always ready with a wry smile, a story plucked from chiropractic lore, or an application of a philosophical tenet in a real life experience.
As jovial as he was, he never let you forget that he stood for something — yet, as erudite as he was, he never let an opportunity for a laugh or a social moment elude him. He enjoyed his role as a chiropractor and as a leader, even running for and winning the vice presidency of the ICA at his advanced age, simply because he perceived that he was needed, and was willing to serve.
There are precious few of these old soldiers left, and we must treasure them, and be sure to give them audience for their collected wisdom. Barge was an eloquent and prolific writer, and left a marvelous legacy of his thinking and research. But how many wise old chiropractors have stories to tell, and where is the platform from which they can share what they know?
When I was in practice, I tended to overlook the elderly, preferring to interact with and fill my office with young people. I now realize the missed opportunities — our seniors have a lot of world under their belt, and it would benefit us to listen and learn from them.
Is there an old-time chiropractor in your town? Why not make a call, take him or her out to lunch, listen to some stories about the old days — it will inspire and motivate you, to know that such fine people paved the way for you to practice the way you prefer. As much as we complain about present day practice, it’s a lot better than fearing the dreaded knock on the door in the times prior to licensure.
Find a way to say thank you to one of our chiropractic pioneers, and show your gratitude…as we say goodbye to one of the great ones. Fred Barge may be gone, but the principle he exemplified lives on, in the form of every chiropractor who honors the philosophy, pure and simple. Enuf said!
Dennis Perman DC, for The Masters Circle
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