The age-herald., 1901-09-30

chancel or rom any rostrum his Worus carried weight because he always had something to say.
 Mir. Adams paid a glowing tribute to the late rector's memory as q loving friend. and as a faithful priest. Dr. Fitzsimons had proved himself an artifcer in building up from little flock a great parish, which was recognized as one of the strongest and best in Alabama; as an ar tihcer in directing the construction of this splendid church of St. Marys, which he had loved as a father might love his child
 Mir. Adams drew from his second text comfort In the midst of bereavement. The beloved rector had departed to rest in peace with God His flock mourned, but he had only gone before to welcome the faithful when in turn they would be called hence. In closing. MT. Adams ex- horted his hearers to walk in the path of righteousness. and those who had taken upon themselves the VOWS of the church to be steadfast in their holy religion.
 The minister introduced MT. Johnston, who had been selected. by the Elks to make a short address in behalf of their order. MT. Johnston said in part:
 MT. Johnston's Tribute.
 When death claimed the late Dr. Fitz- simons, whose memory we are here today to revere, Lodge No. 7s. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of this city lost one of It's most beloved and highly es- teemed members. Dr. Fitzsimons made an excellent Elk because he was essen tially American and he was essentially manly. Our order is not one with deep mysteries occult inheritances. It is a plain aggregation of American citizens brought together for mutual pleasure and mutual sustenance in times of dis tress. In that order all it's members stand upon the same footing. Dr. Fitzsimons liked the order because of it's simplicity and because It makes no pretention to anything which it does not possess nor carry out.
 'Tn common with the other citizens of Birmingham and irrespective of Dr. Fitzsimons' membership in our order, we had learned to love and admire him ere he became one of us. We had known of the work he had done for the community in the erection of this handsome edifice and the cementing and making strong of this congregation. He seldom spoke of things that he did and was as little dis posed to vaunt himself for an accom- phshment as any man I know of.
 ''He was singularly manly. He took the position that 1t was never unclerical never unbecoming the cloth for a minis ter to take firm stand for what he be- lieved to be for the public good. When the question of the abolition of pool-sell- ing on horse races came up in this city several years ago-when this city was a seething caldron of feeling, many per- sons desiring the retention of pool-selling because 1t brought horse racing and the expenditure of cert ain money in the city, Dr. Fftzsimons stood out fiat-footed and squarely for the abolition of the sale of pools. It was suggested to him by many h ,tr .,,I a-A. L not required to take an active public stand in the matter-that he could grace fully remain in his closet or preach doc trines agreeable to his congregation but that he could keep his hands off this purely lay question. He did not budge from his purpose, but led the anti-pool- selling fight until 1t was crowned with victory and the practice driven out of the State. After he had accomplished the great victory he retired modestly from the public gaze until pool-selling again attempted to rear its head. when he again arose in his might and smote it to the ground once more.
 "When he was an officer in the First Alabama Volunteers he took one position with reference to the policy of the regi- ment and some of his brethren took an- other. He suffered much for the position assumed by him, but the suffering he en- ~NN'N~ tion.
 'In the early manhood he was a Pres- byterian by faith and became a Presby- terian minister. He came to disbelieve the doctrines of the Presbyterian church and left It's folds. retiring both from the church as well as surrendering the cloth. He became an Episcopalian in faith and eventually minister in that church and one of It's ornaments. His retiring from membership and ministry In the Presby- terian church was a manly act, because 1t was prompted on a solemn conviction. Dr. Fitzsimons never trifed with him self.
 Tt was this quality of manfulness that made Dr. Fitzsimons such a power In this State and such a beloved and admired Elk. His brethren in that order have al- ready laid white chaplets upon the mound of his memory and have joined in the general sorrow that pervades all who knew and loved him. But we believe we have an Elk's Rest in the great beyond. We believe there is grandeur in a manfui life and a manly man, and that when Dr. Fftzsimons died he left an example of courage and sincerity of purpose that 1t were well for all men to emulate.
 Major Wheelock's Generous Words.
 Dr. R. M. Cunningham, past grand master of Masons in Alabama and past grand commander of the Knights Templar in Alabama. had been appointed to make the address for Cyrene Com mandery, but he was kept away by an urgent professional call, and in his stead Major Wheelock, past grand commander, was introduced and he pronounced a chaste and eloquent eulogy. His remarks were directed to the valued services of Dr. Fitzsimons as prelate of Cyrene Comg,andery and as prelate of the Grand Commandery. In those positions he had been ever faithful and his genial pres- ence had always been welcomed.
 At the conclusion of Major wheelock's s eulogy MT. Adams announced that he would hold a special memorial eucharis- tic service at St. Mary's this morning at 7:3O o'clock, and extended an invitation to the Eiks and Knights Templar to be present.
 MT. Adams preached at Avondale last night.