Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-12
DIR. A. c. HlRST PASSES AWAY
Pastor of 0maha'I First Methodist Church
Dies at haywood, III.
AFTER THIRTY YEARS IN THE MINISTRY
Executive Board of Church Appoints
Committees to Attend Funeral Mt
Chicago and Draft SUITE
b Resolutions.

The oft-repeated desire Of DIR. A. c.. Hirst
to round out his work on earth as pastor
Of the First Methodist church of Omaha
has been fulfilled. DR.. Hirst died Friday
night of Bright's disease at the home OF
his daughter. Mrs. Burnett, at haywood,
ILL.,, a suburb Of Chicago.
kilograms received yesterday morning
stated that the funeral would occur from
Centenary church, Chicago, at 3 Sunday
afternoon. after which the remains would
be sent to Columbus, o., his old home, for
interment.
The illness of DR.. Hirst began in Feb
ruary. The executive board Of the church,
noticing his gradual decline, prevailed upon
him to take a vacation. Or. Hirst did so,
going to Hot Springs, Ark, March 1. He
remained at Hot Springs three weeks and
returned, seemingly much improved, to Off =
ciate at the Easter services at his church.
He again began to fail and at the boards
request he went to Excelsior Springs. Mo-,
and remained six weeks. After his return
from there he resumed his duties as pastor
of the church. but there was evidence that
he was seriously Ill. On June 16 he went
to the home of his daughter, Mrs. r. B.
Moorehead, near Chicago, accompanied by
Mr.. Moorehead. who came to Omaha for him.
EaAAA ~ vain IN OtNSA8Nhs
Tho church granted him a vacation until
September l, physicians believing that a
thorough rest and freedom from care would
soon restore him to his old-time vigor and
health. The expected change in his health
did not occur. Instead. DIR. Hirst gradually
grew weaker. and several days ago 1t wal
announced that he could not recover.
DR.. Hirst was born In Ohio and was 6;
uoarg 81 - He baa ananf thfrty xaar.
in the ministry. He was twice married
and Of his Immediate family leaves a widow
n two daughters. He was appointed pas.
tor Of the First Methodist church by Bishop
Merrill, presiding elder Of the Rock Rive
conference, two years ago, upon the unani'
nous request Of the members of the churcl
and Presiding Elder Jennings.
DR.. Hirst cam to Omaha from the Cen
tenary church Of Chicago, OF which he ha'
been pastor for q number Of years. lie wa
one Of the best known preachers in tn
Methodist church of the United States an
had filled some OF lite most important pull
pits. At one tine he was president Of tn
University Of the Pacific at San Francisco
resigning that place to go to Chicago. A
other times he was pastor at Pittsburl
Pa; Chillicothe, o.; Columbus. o., an
many other important places.
In Close Touch with Members.
He not only kept in close touch wit
the elder members Of his congregation, bu
equally so with the young members OF N
Epworth league and other junior organiza
tons. d~evoting considerable Of his time I
this work. The great love for him born
by the member OF the church was notices
BILE yesterday by the many expression
/ Of sorrow voiced by them when the news
his death was made known.
Presiding Elder Jennings said OF hin
1.-THE pulpit Of the First church has new,
| been more ably and rarely has any pulp
been equally as well filled as that Of Il
First church when DR.. Hirst Was its pa