Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-08-08
OSCAR FITZGERALD,
METHODIST BISHOP,
DIES IN NASHVILLE
Leader of Southern Methodism
Passes Away After Several
Days Illness With Neuralgia
of the Heart

j NASHVILLE. Tenn, Aug. 5.-Bishop
o. P. fitzgerald. of the Southern Meth
odist church. died this afternoon at
Mont Eagle. Tenn, at 1855.
He had been suffering for several
days with neuralgia OF the heart.
SKETCH OF LIFE.
Oscar Penn Fitzgerald was the son
Of Richard and Martha James Hooper
Fitzgerald. and was born in Gaswell.
n. c.. August A. 1929 lis middle
name was taken from that of the Rev.
DR.. Abram Penn. who baptized him in
infancy. praying at the time that he
might become a Methodist preacher. AS
a boy in North Carolina he received a
common sch DOL education very early IN
life catching the four-horse stage coach
for Virginia, where he went in search
Of work His first service was In the
composing room of the Lynchburg Re-
publican. Later he became a clerk IN
the office OF the Lynchburg Post. and
while so engaged the Mexican war came
on His father. responding to the call
Of his country. marched to Mexico with
General Scott.
When the elder Fitzgerald went to
hight his countrys battles. his SON re-
turned home to North Carolina to sup
port his mother, doing so by teaching
In the neighborhood. When the war
was over the young man returned to
his newspaper work. going to Richmond
and. obtaining place on the Richmond
Examiner. of which the late John NJ
Daniel was then political editor, and
of which Edgar Allen Poe was about
to be made literary editor when his
genius was stilled in death.
| It was a favorite "reminiscences with
Bishop Fitzgerald. this acquaintance
with Poe. On one occasion he heard Poe
lecture. the impression being profound
one. Bishop Fitzgerald at this time was
about 20 years Of age.
MOVED TO GEORGIA.
From Virginia, the young man went to
Georgia, where, after a trying spell of
typhoid fever. his attention was directed
to the ministry. In 1854. at the Georgia
Methodist conference meeting at Atlanta,
with Bishop Capers presiding, he was
admitted, and was sent to Savannah as a
junior preacher. short time later he
went to the far west as missionary.
In 1867 he was. chosen superintendent Of
public instruction Of California, continu-
ing in the position for four years. While
/ in California he was for a time editor of
the Pacific Methodist and Christian Spec
tator. Returning to the south in 1878, he
was elected editor OF the Nashville
/ = A Of ha
Southern Methodist church. succeeding
Rev Dr. T. r. Summers. In 1885, when
the general conference of the church met
i in Richmond, he was suggested as
bishop and four years later, when the
conference met In St. Louis, this honor
For many years Bishop Fitzgerald had
been incapacitated by age and failing
strength, but his interest In his church
never tagged To the end of his days
too, he retained his interest in the news
paper business in which he had started
hts career He wrote extensively him
self. and a son, the late Lee Fitzgerald,
was at one time editor of the Nashville
American, later absorbed by the Ten
nessean In 1856 Bishop Fitzgerald was
married to Miss Sarah Banks, of Enon
/ Ala who survives him with the follow
ing children:
Mrs C. F. Nye and Mrs. ]. B. Robert
! son, of Nashville, Tenn; william >. tltz-
gerald. of Tullahoma, Tenn, and Oscar
P. Fitzgerald. Jr., of Charleston, w. Va.
The body will arrive at Nashville at
1870 o'clock Monday morning and be
taken to the residence, II Garland ave-
nue. The funeral will be held from
West End Methodist church at 2:30
O'Clock Monday afternoon. The services
will be conducted by DIR. G. B Winton,
DR.. r. X. Brown, Bishop Collins Denny
and DR.. Fitzgerald Parker. Burial will
be at Mount Olivet cemetery.
Pail bearers will be:
Honorary-J. w. Manner, ST.. DIR. w. j.
Ewing. w. R. Cole, DR.. I. Lowenthal,
DIR. ]. H. McNeilly. Rev. r. Lin Cave,
Jesse Cage D. M. Smith. Rsv. Henry
Beech Carrie.
Actiye-Chancellor ]. H. kirkland, DR..
Allen @. Hall. @. M. Nicely, John Bell
Keeble. John Early, VIII Vaughn, ]. e.
Hart, w. E. Park