The Washington herald., 1909-06-16

Out Of a clear sky yesterday came the
news that Washington had lost one Of
its chief workers for the common good" :"
that the ministry had been bereft OF one
Of It's strong. creative spirits who do
the vital pioneer work FOR the Christian
cause. Rev. n Ross Fishburn. pastor
Of the Mount Pleasant Congregational
Church. passed away In the early morn
ing.
The death startled the city with its sud
denness. Rev. DR.. Fishburn had been
I'll with typhoid fever for two weeks. and
his condition had fuctuated, but never
with any warning that the end might
come.
Daybreak saw a new phase ofthis con-
dition. a cerebral hemorrhage. Drs. c.
L. Bliss and W. r. Buchanan. vigilant
and watchful at all hours, prepared 10
administer a. stimulant Death came be-
fore they retained 10 his bedside.
Not at the Bedside.
There was no time 70 call Mrs. Fish
burn. who had iretired for a brief rest af-
ter a long vigil at the side OF the patient
The pastor died with the names OF two
pariskiOners on his lips. They were the
last words he spoke. Weakened as II
was, the mind centered upon the field OF
!ts labors TO the ias1.
Only Sunday. DR.. Fishburn had been
conscious, and conveHsed with his wife,
his daughter Margaret and his son Hum
NELL The family was tconhdent the crisis
was passed. Friends and parishioners
were given a sense Of false security by
his condition. and were totally unpre-
pared for the tidings. which shocked the
city
As the news spread, the Fishburn home.
slo9 Mount Pleasant street, became the
mecca of scores of friends. who came 10
extend their sympathy for the family
Brothers OF the ministry. members Of the
church friends. and neighbors all called
10 bespeak the loss they had sustained.
The parlOr was banked with wreaths ard
flowers. Mrs. Fishburn bore the shock
bravely. and those who visited the home
last night remarked upon her fortitude.
Among the pastors who called were
Rev. J. J. Muir. OF the Temple Baptist
Church; Rev. John ". Frizzeu, Of the IN
gram Memorial Church: Rev. Samuel II.
Woodrow. OF the First Congregational
Church; Rev. Joseph Dawson, OF Calvary
Methodist Church, and Rev. ]. L. Allison.
Two sisters-AIrs. Mary Burkholder and
Miss Ella Fishburn. Of Philadelphia-ar-
rived at the home last night. and a broth
ct, Rev. n. H Eishburn. of Belchertown
Pa. is expected 20 arrive to-day. Two
other ssters-Mrs Elizabeth Perrett Of
Elizabethtown. Pa. and Mrs John
Schunk-Rill attend the funeral The
other brother. Rev DR.. w. II. Fishburn.
OF Los Angeles. wEi not be present.
Plans fOr5 the Funeral.
Funeral services viii be held at the
Mount Pleasant congregational Church.
Fourteenth streez and Columbia road
northwest, at 2zsO o'clock tomorrow aft
ernoon. The officiating clergymen viii be
Rev. DR.. Samuel II. Woodrow, pastor OF
the First Congregational Church. and
Rev. DR.. Samuel N. Newman. former
pastor OF that chuIteh and now OF Front
Royal. Va Rev Dr. Oliver Huckel. OF
Baltimore. and Rev. John W. Frizzen Of
the Ingram Memorial, Church. viii assist
in the obseQuies Interment viii be in
Rock Creek Cemetery and VIII be private.
The pallbearers weret determined upon
at a joint meeting OF 1.-THE deacons and
trustees OF the church last evening. They
are Edward s. Peck. David S. CARL. W.
J. Bowman. M ". Baldwin. Norton ".
Little, and NJ. T. NIoomaw, all deacons
The body Will lie in statel IN the church
from 1890 70 ? o'clock tomorrow, and a
prayer service Will be helds at the home
at 10 o'clock
Rev. Dr. Fishburn leaves, an enduring
monument behind him-the Mount Pleas
ant Congregational Church. II is essen
TALLY his creation. He came 1to 1t fifteen
rr-nn a ov,H ce,-
Cling parish. numbering barely 100 mem
bers. When he died Il was one OF the
strongest and progressive church OF
Washington. More than 1000 members are
upon its rolls. including some OF the lead
ing citizens OF the Capital.
Under his guiding hand a splendid new
edifce was erected at a cost OF $4,000
church which is an architectural orna-
ment 10 the city and growing power
for good.
The Sunday school ranks with the
largest in Washington. FOR It has one of
the largest enrollments. and its average
attendance Is high
AL this has been accomplished since
DR.. Fishburn assumed charge. in No
vember 1894 and decided 10 leave his
work as assistant pastor OF the First
Congregational Church, under Rev. Sam
ueI NJ. Newman. for a hazard OF new
fortunes in what was then a suburb OF
the city. IL is an inspiring tribute to the
character Of the man
Rev DR.. Fishburn was forty-two years
Of age on Friday last. He was born in
Toronto. Canada, IN 1857, and his father.
Rev. ]. Fishburn, determined the future
career OF his son. for he also was a min
ister He was for years an active factor
IN the Lutheran ministry Of Pennsyl-
vania and Canada. When eleven years
OF age DR.. Fishburn's parents left Can
ada for their former home, IN the Key
stone State. He was graduated from
Pennsylvania College IN 1857, and then
entered the Yale Divinity School from
which he received his degree In 1891
Ordained in 1891.
Before ordination he was supply for
two Wisconsin churches. and began his
serious work IN the ministry at Roxbury.
Conn. where he was ordained In Sep
tember, 1891 He was called to the First
Congregational Church Of this city as
assistant pastor shortly afterward.
Before he accepted the call TO the
church which was his life work. a col
ieefate romance eliminated IN hts mar
riase TO Miss Emma N Hummel, OF Har-
risburg. Pa. October 10. 1898 Their life
has been serene ard happy
Through his pastorate DR.. Fishburn
marked out a broadly religious policy
Which surprised many preachers Of his
ovn denomination. 1t proved a real fac
;or in making the Mount Pleasant Con-
eregational Church stand for what Il
dccs II became a real church home for
The community without regard 70 the