The age-herald., 1900-12-18
A DISTINGUISHED
 ALABAMIAN DEAD
Hon. H. Clay Armstrong Passed
 Away Last Night
END CAME VERY SUDDENLY
Was consuI-GeneraI to Rio Under Pres ident cleveIand-Stood High in Masonic CircIes-WiII be Bur
 jed by the Grand Lodge.

Hon. Henry Clay Armstrong, known to the people of Alabama for twenty-five years as Clay Armstrong, died suddenly of heart failure at Auburn, at o'clock last night.
 Thus ends a long, useful and distinguished career; and in it's ending Alabama is be- reft of a citizen who has for many years honored it's name and whom its people have been glad constantly to honor.
 Mr. Armstrong was for four years State superintendent of education; was subse- quently a Representative in the General Assembly from Lee County, and was Speaker of the House of Representatives; and who has enjoyed innumerable minor honors from his people, having been but three weeks ago appointed and confirmed a trustee of the States great college at Au- burn, In which he took a frank mad con- stant pride.
 Mir Armstrong's highest public honor, and the one which he perhaps cher lsned most, was conferred In 1885, when President Cleveland appointed him consult general of the United States at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He filled that high position with rare distinction, and won the entire confidence of the Department of State and the personal esteem of President Cleveland. One of his sons, Dixon Armstrong, was with him at Rio; and in after years, by the way, his younger son, Henry Armstrong, was secretary of legation under Minister Hannis Taylor at Madrid, and subse- quently United States consul at Grenoble MT Armstrong resigned the consul-general- ship at Rio when MT. Cleveland went out of office in 1889.
 Returning to Alabama, he engaged in private business until 1892, when he was chosen grand secretary of the order of Ma sons, with the understanding, it was said that he should not again accept public of flee under Mir. Cleveland or to actively en- gage in politics.
 When The Age-Herald last night informed Grand Master Russell M Cunningham of Mr. Armstrong's death Dr. Cunningham said:
 ''The Masons of Alabama have lost one who was one of their ablest members, and perhaps the most useful of them all. MT Armstrong's death is indeed great loss to Masonry.
 T intend to call a meeting of the Grand Lodge to assemble in Auburn on Wednes- day to attend our brothers funeral and will ask all Knights Templar to go to Au- burn as representatives of the grand com mandery to do escort duty at the funeral" Dr. Cunningham continued.
 Mir Armstrong had long been recognized as a distinguished Mason. He was honored several years ago with the highest office in the gift of the Grand Lodge of Ala bama, that of most worshipful grand master, and after serving the craft iH that exalted capacity he was SieCteu .o the office of e.anu secretary' Wnch posi- tion he filled in such an acceptable manner iIarn was reelected at successive com munications of the Grand Lodge without opposition. He was also for many years and at the time of his deah grand secre- tary of Royal Arch Masons of Alabama. In ancient craft Masonry MT Armstrong was regarded not only as an authority on ritual but jurisprudence as we'll He loved the Blue Lodge" and capitular Masonry, and his counsel was always valued by off, cers of the subordinate bodies. In addition to the honors conferred on MT. Armstrong in the York Rite he was a prominent Knight Templar, being a member of the Grand Commandery, and had attained the thirty-second degree in the Ancient and Accepted Scotch Rite.