John Macky HERCUS

HERCUS, JOHN MACKY (b. Coonor, Southern India, 29 Dec 1912; d. Sydney, NSW, 11 Sept 1986). Ophthalmic surgeon and writer.

The third of six children of Harold Gladstone Hercus and Margaret (Greta) Macky, John's father was pastor of the Union Church, Coonor, South India. In 1914, the family returned to Hamilton, New Zealand. At age seven years John was stirred by a solo by his father, and, weeping, wanted 'to give his heart to Jesus'. In 1927 his father accepted the Burton Street Darlinghurst, Baptist pastorate in inner Sydney. Hercus studied at Sydney High School, won a University Exhibition and in 1930 commenced a science degree at Sydney University. His studies were interrupted by the depression, but he gained employment at Mark Foy's optometry department. His manager encouraged him to proceed with his studies: BSc, 1936; Dip Optometry, 1938; MB, BS, 1942. He studied part-time, secured a position at Trinity Grammar School teaching physics and chemistry, and tutored in medicine at Sydney University. He married Marjorie McIntosh Ormiston 4 July 1942. They had four children: Graham, Jocelyn, Robert and Andrew.

Hercus joined the AIF at the outbreak of World War Two, but his service was deferred until he graduated in medicine, and had undertaken a residency at Eastern Suburbs Hospital, 1942-43, and a locum tenens at Newcastle and Maitland under manpower direction, in late 1943. He was posted with the 2/2 AGH to Rocky Creek, NQ, as sole ophthalmologist to 7 and 9 Div in 1944. Then he served in Singapore, August 1945, with the Repatriation Hospital, 2/14 AGH and 101 AGH, to check the medical condition of returning POWs.

Hercus was introduced by F G N Stephens to the renowned eye surgeon F Gregory-Roberts, joining him, after demobilisation in September 1946, first as an assistant then partner. He was honorary medical superintendent, Eastern Suburbs Hospital; honorary assistant ophthalmic surgeon, Royal South Sydney Hospital; honorary ophthalmologist, Prince Henry and Prince of Wales Hospitals, and visiting practitioner and emeritus consultant, St Luke's Hospital. Elected Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons, 1962; and president, NSW branch of 'the Royal Australian College of Ophthalmologists, 1970, he had also been a founding member of the Christian Medical Fellowship of Australia in 1952.

Hercus retained Baptist Church membership throughout his life, especially at Mosman from 1951 where he was choirmaster for 20 years; and served on the Council of the Baptist Theological College.

His father had played a significant part in supporting students who established the EU at Sydney University in 1930. His older brother H D M (Macky), also a medical student, was the founding EU president. John Hercus was elected president, 1940-41, with Donald W B Robinson as secretary, when the membership reached 100. Hercus played a leading role in identifying and canvassing the scope and character of 'interdenominational' principles in view of 'sinless perfection' pressures still being mounted by Lindsay Grant, a former IVF staff worker. He argued that EU and IVFA members were entirely free to belong to the denomination of their choice, but should neither proselytise nor propound from 'interdenominational' platforms views held by one denomination alone.

During the 1950s and 1960s he argued that the EU membership declaration, 'I declare my personal faith in Jesus Christ as my Saviour, my Lord and my God', was essential to the character of IVFA affiliates. Hercus continued his commitment to IVFA as a founding member of its Graduates' Fellowship (NSW); he followed the inaugural president, Stuart B Babbage, as president for 15 years, introducing the concepts of evangelistic 'homes meetings' and 'house parties' for graduates, and public seminars on issues of public concern. He was appointed vice-president IVFA, 1969 and president, 1972 and 1973, speaking under EU sponsorship at universities in most states.

Hercus was also a member of the ISCF Schools Forum of the Air for 17 years. With his wife he hosted at their Neutral Bay home numerous Christian and evangelistic 'homes meetings', and the national IVFA Winter General Committee, 1956-70. They also hosted numerous distinguished international academics speaking for EU and IVFA groups and scientific and medical bodies including Frank H T Rhodes, Robert L F Boyd, Donald M MacKay, and missionaries including Kenneth L Pike, with all of whom he maintained contact and submitted manuscripts and ideas for criticism. Hercus was missioner at medical schools sponsored by medical students within EU three times —Adelaide University 1957, and Queensland and Otago Universities 1958, and twice for full university missions—Melbourne University, 1971, Griffiths University, 1981. Hercus undertook international journeys, one to the UK and four to the USA, visiting students and graduates societies including CMFUK and giving addresses on science, medicine and faith.

Hercus began writing early, but hesitated to publish widely until recognised professionally. IFES policy allowing affiliates to re-print each others' journal materials facilitated international circulation of 'How Far Will God Go?' (1957, 1958) and a subsequent request from IVFUK for a mss resulting in Pages From God's Casebook. This work, derived from medical school mission addresses applied medical casestudy techniques to central Biblical characters. More Pages (1965) justifies case study methodology as a major heuristic device, extending its application to complex socioeconomic structures as well as to individuals and families. David (1967) was trialled at an IVFA national conference and provides an example of an extended case-study applied to a complex individual. He considered the Book of Judges expounded in God is God(1971) fundamental to an understanding of human creatureliness, individual aggression and sexual assertiveness. Old Cases (1985) amplifies the range of case studies. There remain unpublished case studies on Balaam, Moses, the Ethiopian Eunuch and others, and essays evaluating the impact of modern science and medicine on the twin propositions that God is sovereign and men and women are truly human creatures; and that life with God is through faith in Christ and through death. Charles Troutman 'hounded' Hercus to write from the beginning, and considered: '... (his) uniqueness is in his biblical character studies worked out on medico-scientific basis ... (his) understanding of biblical truth in the light of scientific facts, is by far the best presentation I have seen ... (his) works are beautifully apologetic in that they provide a vehicle for presenting the Gospel without becoming involved in all kinds of cultural baggage.'

In his concurrent professional career, Hercus developed techniques of excellence and safety in cataract surgery, together with expertise in understanding patients as a whole. He sought to explain how a patient's condition could have occurred, providing treatment as part of this. He was a person of enquiring and independent mind who constantly engaged professionals, academics, clergy and especially students in discussions about the central truths of Scripture and the relevance of modern science and medicine to the understanding of the main characters of Scripture. He saw modern science and medicine confirming Scripture's central truths. For over half a century Hercus exercised a persuasive and exemplary influence on students and graduates in Sydney, and on student and graduate leaders through Australia. He melded intellectual, theological and scientific inquiry, with professional excellence, encouraged the examination of all questions, and blended confession of faith and missionary intent. To be a doctor is to teach; diagnosis must take account of all data; treatment must be sensitive to a patient's history; trauma in the human condition is normally apparent in clinical indications and understood in terms of male-female relationships; and, God's self disclosure occurs over a person's life-span.

John Hercus, papers held by Marjorie Hercus; C.H. Troutman to I and A Burnard 29 April 1986 (I.R. Burnard Papers); Ian R. Burnard, 'John Mackay Hercus (1912-1986): Bibliography', (held by Centre for the Study of Australian Christianity Robert Menzies College)

SELECT WRITINGS: Pages from God's Case-Book (London, 1962); More Pages from God's Case-Book (London, 1965); David (London, 1967); Out of the Miry Clay (Downer's Grove, 1968); God is God (London, 1971); Old Cases: New Files (Sydney, 1985)

IAN R BURNARD