The age-herald., 1901-09-19
TeIegrams Announcing Death Came Tuesday But Was
 Not Opened
DIED AT ASHEvILLF, N. C.
Will Be Laid to Rest at Monticello, Ga.--He Had Been In III. Health All the Past
 Summer.

Fitzsimons, rector of St. Marys-on-the- Highlands who died at Ashevllle N. C., Tuesday afternoon, will be held at Mon ticello, Ga, today A committee of the church left yesterday to attend the obse- quies.
 A telegram conveying the sad intelli- gence was sent from Asheville to General E. W. Fucker, a close friend of the de- ceased, Tuesday evening, but the general being out of the city, 1t remained unop- ened A second telegram came for General Fucker yesterday and former Governor Johnston thinking these messages might relate to some urgent matter took the liberty to open them He was shocked to find that they announced Dr. Fitzsim- ons' death.
 The second contained a notice of the fu- neral, which Is to take place At MonFi- cello, Ga, today, Dr. Fitzsimoris home. Governor Johnston quickly conn., municated the fact to the vestry of St. Mary's, and a meeting was soon held for the purpose of appointing committee to attend the rectors obseduies. Three were selected, R. P. Wetmore, N. N. Polk and Governor Johnston, and they left for Monticello at 4:10 p. m.
 Had Been In Ill-lealth Some Time.
 Dr. Fitzsimons had been in bad health for some time. He left for his vacation about the 1st of August He went from here to New York. and upon reaching that city was taken very iil He lay In hospital there for two weeks at the point of death. He had a complication Of all ments, chiefly in his kidneys and heart. But he rallied and left New York for Newport, R. l., where he was the guest of his brother, who is a surgeon in the United States navy. From Newport he wrote to General Rueker, giving him detailed account of the illness through which he had passed. and said he thought he would be able to return to Birming- ham and resume his parish work by the latter part of September. In this letter he described his suffering while in New York as well-nigh unbearabde and said that rather than have another attack of his kidney trouble he would far sooner | meet death. He concluded cheerfully, however, by saying that he would stop at Tate Springs on his way home. and after spending little while there would regain his strength lie subsequently, changed his plans and decided to try the invigorat- ing air of western North Carolina | He left Newport for Asheville only last week. Just before starting south he wrote to Governor Johnston. and the 1 tenor of his letter was reassuring. The l Governor has heard nothing from him since, and thus 1t was the news of his death came as a startling blow.
 Sketch of Ills Life.
 pr. Fitzsimons was born in Georgia in 1851. He was son of Colonel Fitzs1mons. who served as United States marshal in Atlanta some years ago but who now lives in Russell County. Ala The deceased has been a widower for many years and Miss Lucille Fitssimons is his only child. She was with her father at Asheville.
 pr. Frtzsimons was reared in the Pres- byterian church and was q minister of that denomination. He received his early education from the late Col Richard Malcolm Johnston, the distinguished au- thor, who conducted school at Sparta, Ga. His theological training began at the seminary at Columbia. S. C. After taking the course there he went to Union Theo- logical Seminary. New York. where he attended the lectures of the famous Dr. Briggs. From New York he went to the | University of Edinburg, where he studied | exegesis for one year under Prof. David | son. There he was ciassmate of Henry | Dr,rmmond. author of Natural Law in | the Spiritual World" '"rhe Greatest Thing in the World" and other popular works. From Scotland he went to Ger many and studied two years at the Uni- versity of Leipsic, where he listened to lectures on exegesis by the eminent schol- ar. Prof. Delitzsch. And when he returned to Georgia and entered upon pastoral work he was perhaps the best educated man in the Presbyterian ministry fin his state. After filling pulpit for a few years, he resigned his pastorate and quit | the ministry, giving as his reason that he could no longer subscribe to certain ar- ticles of the Westminster Confession.
 Became an EpIsoopaiian. l After being out of the ministry for five | years, Dr. F'itzsimons entered the Epis- | copal church and took orders. He served one or two Episcopal congregations in Georgia, and in 1890 was called by the vestry of St. Mary's to be Its rector. The cornerstone of this handsome church had just been laid when he came to Birming- | ham, and it's construction was pushed under his direction. St. Mary's was very dear to him. and one of the proudest days of his life was when about year ago, he saw the magnificent stained glass win dow, which he had designed and had made in Munich at cost of 5000, placed in position in the western side of the | building.
 | He was a forceful preacher and his parishiners were devoted to him. | Tn May. 1sss when troops were raised l for the Spanish war, Dr. F1tzsimons went | as chaplain on the staff of Col. E. l.. l Higdon, commanding the First Regiment | of Alabama Volunteers.
 The deceased was a Knight Templar and Knight Rose Croix, 18th degree, and was member of the B. P. O. Els. Popular With Every One. In disposition Dr. Fftzsimons was re- markedly genial and his personal friends were found in nearly every walk of life. His commanding figure will be missed from the streets. Ills deep. eloquent voice