Evening star., 1909-06-15

man going to Pennsylvania 10 perform
the ceremony.
Upon the same journey went DR.. j. w
Bischoff. organist of the First Churcn'
who played the wedding march In this
connection ii has been noted that both
DR.. Fishburn and DIR. Bischof. who dleu
recently. were i'll at the same time. Ihey
were always devoted friends, and when
DR.. Bschoff passed away DR.. Fishburn
was much grieved.
Church Growth Under Him.
Since Or. Fishburn became pastor of the
Mount Pleasant Congregational Church
the growth of the church and Sunday
school has been phenomenal. Churchmen
throughout the city of Washington have
gszed on with admiration they watched
the pastor build the small congregation
into one of the strongest in the Capital
city. with a membership of 1000 in both.
He believed in a church for the people,
and throughout his ministry many COM
municantS of other denominations than his
own united with the church. desiring to
he members of a congregation with the
vitality of that Of the Mount Pleasant
church. which had a pastor with his
whole heart and soul looking toward the
final triumphant success of the work.
Under his guidance the splendid edifice
at 14th street and Columbia road was fin
ished. Upon its completion DIR. Fishburn
began a campaign for greater sociability
among the members Prominent men in
the affairs OF the nation attended the
church from time to time and discussed
important measures.
IN each instance they were accorded re-
ceptions in the pariors of the church,
where the pastor, always at the head of
the receiving line, worked indefatiSably
for the success of the affair. The great
crowds of the members which attended
the affairs attested. il is said, the popu-
larity OF the pastor and the interest of
the communicates and friends of the
church 70 aid him in every way possible
in his mission.
DIR. FiShburn was a deep student and
impressed men. His thorough manliness
particularly impressed a churchman of
another denomination other than that of
the late pastor, and when he was seen
today he said he felt that In DIR. Fishburns s
death he had sustained a deep personal
loss.
From the time he first met the pastor
tAey were drawn together by close per-
eonal bonds of friendship. Both being
college men. they delighted from time TO
time to enjoy the company of each other
and TO discuss affairs in general from the
days of the college halls to the present.
To this friend DR. Fishburn from time to
time. told his ideals in the work of the
Mount Pleasant Church. He knew every
member of his flock and took a deep per-
sonal interest in their welfare. When
there was sickness in any of the families
in his church DIR. Fishburn was always
first to ascertain the illness. and went
at once to the bedside to give them spir-
itual comfort.
Interest in Mems Club.
This fact alone did much to build up
the popularity. his friend said. which the
pastor enjoyed in the National Capital and
in all parts of Mount Pleasant. The
Mems Club of the church was the object
of a great deal of DR.. Fishburn's effort.
Its success was on his mind much of the
time. From time TO time he planned for
new and timely subjects which would in
terest men, and the large membership of
the organization attests. it is said, again
the remarkable success which he had In
this line.
At Christmas and the other festivals
of the year in the church the pastor was
always one of the leaders in the work.
the little tots of the Sunday school would
always rush toward him as soon as they
met him Sunday mornings, showing, it
is said, to a great measure. the fact that
the children loved him and that he al
ways took a deep interest in them. AL
though there were nearly 1000 members
of the Sunday school, DR.. Fishburn all
ways knew each by name.
While lying on a sickbed the last trib-
ute to his work was paid, when Pres
ident w. F. Blackman Of Rollins Col
lese of Florida, one of the oldest instl-
tutions of higher learning in that state,
telegraphed him that he had been given
The degree of doctor of divinity in alb
sentia. DIR. Fishburn had hoped to go
10 Florida to deliver the annual COM
mencement address at the college and
receive the degree, but his illness pre-
vented.
Although Rollins College never gives
degrees In absentia, President Biackman
at once telegraphed the announcement of
the trustees of the college that 1t had been
conferred when he heard that DIR. Fish
burn had been taken I'll with typhoid
fever. This news was pleasing to DIR.
Fishburn. Pennsylvania College had pre-
viously given him the degree of B. A.
and NJ. A. and Yale B. ID.