The age-herald., 1898-09-13
DR. FITZSIMMONS SIDE OF II. The Sermon He Preached to Soldiers
 in Jacksonville. DID NOT CENSURE MOTHERS EXOnerat0S Officers of All MerC8nary
 Motives.
SAYS LAY DENIES HIS INTERVIEW
First Alabama Will Die by the Conspir- ator-His Everlasting Regret is That Colors Made by Birmingham La
 dies Were Not Sent to Cuba.

NA ioi 6S NOh3i 3icSdllou dSoeIllDieu OuHudy morning at St Mary son the Highlands to hear Chaplain o. R. Fitzsimmons of the First Alabama volunteers, repeat the now famous sermon which he first preached in Jacksonville two weeks ago. The announce ment he made last week to the effect that he would repeat this sermon, together with the special musical programme which had been prepared, proved quite an attraction for church-goers.
 pr. Fitzsimmons was very bitter in an- swering the charges which he says has been made against him. He was also elo- quent in his defense of the officers of the regiment, speaking of their devotion to duty and of the utter lack of any mer- cenary motives which prompted them in their desire to go to Cuba.
 Chaplain Fitzsimmons appeared in the usual vestments of the Episcopal clergy, which he had thrown over his military uni form, thus emphasizing the fact that he appeared both as rector of the church and as a chaplain of the United States army. He spoke in his usual foTceful and eloquent style, and received marked attention from the congregation all the way through.
 In the introduction to his sermon, Dr. Fitzsimmons said that it was strange sen sation after four months of camp life to preach again to d civilized congregation. He said that he would repeat nearly as possible the sermon which he preached two weeks ago in Jacksonville, though he hadn't the same conditions and emergencies con- fronting him that he had at that time. The Text
  His text was one of Davids: "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?' and the answer: ''He who swears to his own hurt and changeth not"
 Whatever may be the opinion of the world in this later day. said the chaplain, David thought that man who wiilingiy made a VOW and stuck to it, no matter what happened, was entitled to Gods rec ognition if not to mans
 He said that in the old testament history it was customary on all serious occasions for man to take an oath. Jesus, however, taught that a man should not swear at all, but that his communication should be yea and nay" Jesus represents that Christianity which mankind IS constantly trying to attain.
 At this point dos nch had strayed into the church began lo park, and the chaplain stopped and asked some one to put him out. Governor Johnston, who was ill the congregation, volunteered and drove the brute out of the church.
 '"rhe bark Of that oog," said the chaplain, Hike that of some other anlmals know, is more dangerous than it's bite" He then continued his discourse, showing the bind ing obligation of an oath.
 ToGo or Not toGo
 "The question with us in Jacksonville,' said he was not like hamlet, To be or not to be- but to go not to go There were a number of men in the regiment who had wives and families dependent on them, and who tor various reasons were entitled to an honorable discharge in order that they might go home The relief offered to all such was to apply through their captain for an honorable discharge, and Lieutenant Colonel Mcdonald not only promised to m dorse it, but he said he would do everything in his power to get the war department to grant it. This is the only method of relief which the government offers to the private or non-commissioned officer. An officer is allowed to resign when he pleases, by send ing Ill nlS feSlBndllOu lO tHS wal uSpdIt U ment.
 "When this relief is offered to z soldier any men who, by reason of their education and other qualifications, attempt to break up a regiment by circulating untruths and arraying classes against each other, for them l have an unmtlSated contempt.
 Il have shown, he continued the oo- legations which every soldier assumes when he enlists, and 1 have shown the only honorable way in which he can be relieved of this obligation. But it is not right for anybody in reasonable and false manner to disrupt an organization which the gov ernment needs.
 "Now comes the point in dispute think I have never felt so indignant when sitting in my tent at Jacksonville, I read in a Birmingham paper that had criticised the mothers of Alabama" Here he paid a beautiful tribute to his own dead mother
 q heard of an officer in Jacksonville. from another regiment, who said that four hundred mothers at home had entrusted their sons to his care, and that he proposed to take them home safe if he could. But I'll venture to say that there was not a mother in all that number who would have