The Washington times., 1909-06-15
Pastor of the Mr.. Pleasant
Congregational Church
Expires Suddenly.
MINISTER TOO WEAK
TO RESIST DISEASE
Clergyman Had Been in Charge
of the Congregation Fifteen
Years.

After maintaining for many days
a determined fight with typhoid
fever, the Rev. DR.. M. Ross Fish
burn, who, for nearly fifteen years,
had been pastor of the congregation
of Mt. Pleasant Congregational
Church, died at a few minutes past
6 O'Clock this morning.
Death came SO suddenly there
was no time to call Mrs. Fishburn to
the bedside.
For just a few minutes before he
died the pastor became conscious.
and he spoke the name of two of
his parishioners. Then, almost be
fore the two physicians who were
with him realized what had happen
ed, the pastor closed his eyes again,
and for all time.
III Two Weeks
DR.. Fishburn had been critically i'll
for over two weeks at his home, Sl09
Mt. Pleasant street. where one OF two
physicians or two nurses have been in
constant attendance He was too weak
to be removed to hospital But the
cause Of his death. his physicians said
this morning. was not the fever. but
cerebral hemorrhage. brought on by his
weak condition Yesterday he was
conscious and talked 10 his wife and
was allowed . see Margaret, his twelve
year-old daughter. and Hummeu his
eighty year-oid son.
Enooura eed by the pastors restful
eveniEE ana apparent gain IN strength.
Mrs. Fishburn. for the first time in
many hours had retired. But the Wig
lance of his physicians was not re-
laxed and shortly after O'Clock Dr c
l. Bliss and DR. W r. Buchanan were
both az his bedside. A slightly flushed
face was the first sign of danger they
noted and a few minutes later Or. Fish
burn awakened and addressed a few
feeble words to members of his congre-
cation. whom he appeared TO believe
present
The physicians prepared 10 administer
stimulznt which they had been giving
him TO aid the action of his heart while
he was regaining strength. Before they
returned 10 his bedside he had died
Member after member Of Dr. Fish
burns congregation called at his home
this morning 10 send a message TO the
bereayed wife and quietly wenL)away
Before 10 O'Clock the news OF his death
had spread to all parts cf the city and
even al that early hour the flowers,
banked in the parior. bore silent testl-
rrcny to the esteem in which Dr. Fish
burn was held by those who knew him
In the community.
But the highest tribute 10 his mem
ory probably viii be the Mt Pleasant
Congregational Church. whose building
Is monument 10 his endeavOrs and
whose members carry 90 a wider sphere
ihe storS Of his life work.
Fifteen Years in Charge.
For nearly fifteen yea-s, since Novem-
Der. 1884, DR. Fishburn has been the
pastor Of that congregation. When he
resigned as assistant pastor Of the First
Cor gregatfonaI Church to take that post
his new charge was an infant and had
hut q few years merged frcrn a mission
church II mad lbs members who W0r
eniped IN a frame building, since demol
fshed. one year later a new Churcl
was erected and FIVE years ago tn,
auditorium was enlarged 10 its presenr
size. The present property Of the churci
s. valued al &e0.0o0
The Sunday school numbers over l. 90
pupils, and both In enrolment and il
It's average attendance IL ranks amonj
the foremost schools in Washington
DR. FishbuFn is the son OF The Rev
CONTINUED on Third Page)