The Washington herald., 1909-06-18

Mount Pleasant Congregational Church
was crowded 10 its utmost yesterday aft
ernoon. when the funeral services for
Rev. DIT. N. Ross Fishburn were held.
The interior Of the edIhce was banked
with hundreds Of floral offerings.
Tse casket which was placed m front
OF the rostrum. was covered with flowers
The Ministerial Association OF Washing
ton, OF which the deceased pastor was
prominent and weII-beloved member. at
tended the services IN a body The ros-
trum. clothed with a wealth OF flowers
was occupied BY Bev DR.. Newman. for
ner pastor Of the First Congregational
Church; Rev. Dr. 5. II. woodrow. pastor
Of the First Congregational Church: Rev
DR.. John ". Frizzell. pastor OF the IN
gram Memorial Church. and Rev DR..
Oliver Huckel. pastor Of the Baltimore
Associate Congregational Church.
The opening prayer was made by Rev
Dr. Woodrow. Rev DR.. Newman read
a chapter from the Bible and delivered a
short address. He said, IN part:
DIR. NeWman's EulOgy.
When we. who had so much affection
for the deceased. attempt 10 anaIyze
Gods providence in taking him away. We
should never lose sight OF the fact that
God has taken him into His kingdom.
The servants God has called away He has
IN His precious care. In the death Of my
younger brother and friend the stroke
has come into my own life Out OF all
Of you who are here. was the first 10
greet him when he came 10 Washington;
the first 10 look into his face and clasp
his hand I had obtained him as a helper
when the burden OF my pasJ0rate was
weighing heavily upon me. and needed
a courageous and strong man 10 carry
part OF H.
Seventeen years ago. on the day he
was 20 come 10 me. l waited his arrival
az the train gates IN the old Baltimore
and Ohio station. I saw a young man
swing himself from the train and advance
toward me I was not sure OF the man.
/ but my heart said, ] hope that Is he,
and he was. he advanced, shook nv
hand. smiled his greeting, and a fellow
ship was begun that day that VIII never
/ end. Shortly after his coming I was com
I PEELED 70 60 10 Europe. as my health
was growing worse. When I returned I
found my young friend had grappled with
his work and mine, and had done every
thing well
The fellowship grew as the years ad-
vanced. and every time I met him I
/ found him doing his work bravely and
manfully. and I have often thought.
/ Providence OF Cod certainly did direct
I his f0orEfarlc ~ NWaehfuu4n-1
/ There are certain qualities which Dr.
/ F'ishburn possessed that are consoEng
/ Influences 70 those OF US who loved and
/ respected him he reserved none OF his
\ talents. His time. his strength, and al
I his great, good common sense were used
/ unreservedly. With him 4 was a case
I OF pouring out constantly.
His lie was extremely natural, but
until the present a1aicJion came 70 Us.
/ We never realized that great power that
was in IL Like all natural things-the
I cir We breathe, the fruits OF the earth
the power OF natural action IN a man
/ IS never realized until It IS missed.
Another Quality.
/ Another quality that endeared him 70
Us Is that he was always growing. his
/ spirit enlarged into greater usefulness
as the years went by. I consider this
expanding process as one OF the great
I characteristics OF his life.
He was a brave man when he was
at the First Church and you know that
/ he has performed his work here man
I fully and well. he did as much IN his
short life as usually falls 10 the lot Of
I two or three lives. and this church ana
! congregation IS living monument 70
ais great zeal
7 have given you this personal esti-
mate. this personal appreciation, this per
sOnal Renaissance. for I dearly loved
| your pastor II is strangely analogous
that I should perform this service for
him. as for the past ten years I have
| been looking forward 20 the day when
he should perform q similar service for
me"
Rev. DIT. Woodrow said:
A good uan IN the fun strength of his powers
and az the high tide Of his usefulness. has been
called from the scene Of his earthly hborS
devoted minister Of the Gospel, with the respet
ard confidence q the entire ecuulunity and the
devotion and lcve Of his Own church, has been
called 10 his eternal reward
Stunned by Loss.
We are stunned by the greatness Of Tire beTeave-
mert ard loss that has 50 suddenly come upon Us
Three weeks ago he was with us in the maturity Of
his strength and power. with apparently many years
Of happy life and great usefulness; to-day he Is
gone.
Long years have been spent II obtaining an sduca-
ton; education has been naatured and ripened b.
experience ard at the moment when education and
experience have prepared for longest usefulness and
efficiency the life comes 10 an end
I hrst knew Or. Fishbum in our theological
school DAYS az Yale. He vas not IN my class. 80
] rnlV ola
but knew hin well a young man Of preposes-
ing appearances. with the sane genial smie and
friendly manner that he had 20 the elC-a young
man who. even in his student days. impressed one
telect and heart which would make themselves felt
for good IN the world
Followed His Course.
I followed his course with interest. and vas elss
10 iea-n Of bis great Success in building I'D II this
part Of the city great. strong church When 1
was called 10 this city the fact that be was here
and would be ny neighbor and friend. was al I'M
Portant factor IN deciding ne 70 oome.
point On which WaVered was the climate
and wrote him for information. receiving for an
swer the reply that be had lived hego for fifteen
years, and that he and bis family had always
enjoyed good health.
Or. Fish6uTn was a friendly man. His friendIi-
ness was not week amiablity OF passive good na-
ture but was the expression Of a strong. sympa-
thetc heart. Like all strong men. he was able 70
detect sham and inposture; he knew bis rights as
well as bis cutlesi but ever case of genuine need
met from him a prompt and hearty response
The Of a minister and with older brothers
in the ministry. his antece6e1ts and environment
were rot only religious. but ministerial Ee wus q
bonn minister; but the nOt lost in the
minister. but ennobled and perfected.
You were impressed by what be said and did
because you felt that Il man who was spsak-
ing and doing. He could speak and preach we'll
but with him the shenherdinR instinct was slfun,e
ir a1v