The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-11

| After preaching singularly solemn
Leaves"--"we all do fade as a leaf
al his II o'clock service yesterday, the
Rev John Thompson Plunket, d. D., pas
tor of the South Highland Presbyterian
church, died shortly after reaching his
residence at 1880 S. 10Th ST.. the exact
time of his death being 1870 p. m.
The immediate cause of his death was
organic heart disease. He had been
afflicted with heart trouble for some
time and although he had spoken re-
Gently of premonitions OF his approaching
end his sudden taking off came as a
great shock to his family and friends.
He was "a years of age.
| DR.. Plunket arose yesterday morning
apparently we'll. At the breakfast table
he was in his usual good spirits and
when he left his home for the church
| he gave no indication of his impending
demise He entered his pulpit with =
| firm step and but for his ashen complex
ion few persons in his congregation would
| have imagined that he was an i'll man.
Manner Characteristically Earnest
| In the scripture reading and prayer be-
| fore the sermon his voice quivered, but
his articulation was clear and his man
ner Enthusiastically earnest. Dr. Plum
ket was distinguished for his eloquence
and for the scholarly finish of his dis
courses. Yesterdays sermon was re-
ferred to by those who heard 1t as one
of his masterful efforts. The pastors pull
pit style was dramatic and when the sub
ject matter called for 1t he became i'm
POI stoned and his climaxes were electro
flying; but when he was speaking on
some touching or tender theme ne was
singularly gentle. His last discourse,
which was to remind his hearers that all
must fade as a leaf, was delivered
quietly but with profound impressiveness.
Mrs. Plunket and Henry C. Plunket. a
son, who were in the congregation. no.
ticed however, that the pastor seemed
tired and not in his best form and he
fore he had been speaking long it was
evident to several in the congregation
that he was suffering.
Taken Home Suffering Pain
-
perhaps, when the services were con-
Guided AS soon as DR.. Plunket walked
out of ehurch Sidney w. Lee, one of his
deasons, seeing that his pastor was i'll
asked him to get into his automobile and
ride home. Dr. Plunket quickly accept
ed the invitation. His residence was only
few blocks away. On reaching the
house he lay down on a couch He was
then suffering extreme pain in his stom-
ach. Dr. James l. Dawson. who lives
in the neighborhood. was sent for and
came hurrisdly, but in less than i've
minutes after the time he arrived DIR.
Plunket had breathed his last. Mrs. Plum
ket and her son walked from church and
arrived at the house a few minutes be-
fore the pastor died.
Recent Evidences of Heart Weakness
During the past summer DR.. Plunkst
was taken i'll with heart weakness in
his pulpit a few minutes after he
began preaching and had to dismiss
the congregation abruptly. He soon re
covered from that attack but last Mon
day at the meeting of the Pastors
union. of which he was president. ne
was requested to deliver discourse
at the next monthly meeting--a SER
mon to preachers-but his reply re-
vealed forebodings. for he expressed
grave doubt as to whether he would
be living then. While close friends
\ knew of DR. Plunkets serious condi-
ton hundreds who greeted him on the
! streets little thought that he was in
f,ail health, for he always seemed
Luoyant and his step was always elias
tie.
Came Here in 1909
| DR. Plunket was called to the South
Highland church from the First church
at Augusta in the early summer OF
1903. He began his pastorate here II,
! fully of that year and his popularity
was Immediate. He ranked as one OF
the foremost cIergymen in the south
| and many regarded him as the great
est orator in the southern Presbyter-
ian church. He made friends quickly
and held them, and his death viii be
| w.dely mourned.
The sad tidings Of Dr.. Plunket &