The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-03-25
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS


 on the downtown streets, that Bishop James H. Mccoy had passed away, and l there was gEeat sorrow. for he was greatly beloved in Birmingham All day Sunday there was an under current of sadness ss more and more people learned through the papers or l his death. At the churches and on the street corners men stopped in groups to speak of his sterling character ana l of the great loss the entire community had sustained in his home-g going. I had an out of town engagement to preach and as I stood before congre' gation of Baptists, before entering upon the sermon, paid as best could a loving tribute to the man whom TOT years I had known and loved for his splendid abilities, his fearlessness, hhs scholarly attainments, and for his ! modesty.
 Although Bishop Mccoy rose tc | the highest rank in the gift of ms church. yet the honor came not oe- cause he sought it, but from the fact that he was worthy of it, and that Southern Methodism was promoting ils | own best interests in elevating him to | the bishopric, which he so consciep- ! tiously performed.
 l The denomination to which I belong does not believe in the episcopacy in the way some of the other churches do but I am not blinded to the fact thai ] in an ecclesiastical organization the functions of bishop call for richly endowed men in mind, in heart ana In experience, and all these Bishop Mo- Coy had in a prodigal measure. l I was greatly interested in the sym- pathetic telling by Dr. Simpson of the inside story of Bishop McCoy's election at Asheville at the general conference They were friends of quarter l 0f a century and were rooming to- l gether at the time, but even in such i intimacy Dr. Simpson said that the man whose name was prominently De- 1 fore the bondy was not conscious or | the fact.
 l
 1 John Bradley, Jr., with whom 1 rode 1 to the cemetery this morning, told rae that his father who was Bishop Mc- jCoy's brother-in-law, used to say that he had rather be a Methodist bishoa than the President of the United States, and added he reckoned that he was thinking more especially about the culinary chances coming bishops 8 way than of his religious opportuni- ties.
 This brings me to what I wanted 10 call special attention to in the life , of Bishop Mccoy. Dr. Simpson, in his talk at the funeral services, stat ed that he had heard few make the remark that "Jim' Mccoy was ambitious" and, he added, "It was true, but not in the sense in which It was made, for he was only ambitious to fit himself for any tasks which his church might lay upon him" Person. ally I think it laudable ambition for any Methodist preacher to covet the office of bishop.
 Did Bishop Mccoy use his great of flee well? If Southern Methodism could answer with one voice, we would hear the answer from Maryland to Tex as. He did" His friends knew that he had the intellectual gifts necessary, that his heart power was more than sufficient. that his experience was wide enough, but even few of his most intimate friends feared that he might fail in the chair as he had never had any experience in presiding, but
 when he took the gavel and began
 his work they realized that he was a
 born parlamentarian and master of assemblies. This was the more re- markable as he had never filled the
 office of presiding elder.
 | I now come to the more personal side
 of Bishop Mccoy, and will speak of him
 familiarity as my friend "Jim,'' for un'
 til his death that is what I called him.
 and he always called me Frank.
 learned to know his 1ovableness and
 strength when he became the editor
 of the Alabama Christian Advocate, for
 was editor of the Alabama Baptist
 Both papers were printed on the same
 press and we had adjoining offices ard
 saw much of each other. He was truly
 great editor just as he was great
 college president and just as he was a great preacher.
 l I was greatly touched by pr. BranS-
 combs talk about him at the Method .st church. He had been his school
 mate at the Southern university, he had |
 had him as a helper in his pastorate at Bessemer and had roomed with him
 and knew his aspirations in his bri.- liant young manhood, just as he was
 entering upon the ministerial career
 which was rewarded by his elevation
 to the episcopacy. His tribute to his
 cheery outlook on life and to his cour-
 ageous devotion to his high calling
 brought tears to the eyes of all wha
 head it.
 ] l sat in the rear of the church. Tht
 pulpit was a mass of wreathes. The
 from all walks of life and c1
 varying creeds. The organ music
 was sweet and low, the gosps hymns comforting. the talks of pr
 Branscomb and Dr. Simpson were ten,
 der. the prayer of pr. stuart, filled