The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-22

Birmingham schools and undertake 6 the task of their upbuilding.
 pr. Phillips entered whole-hearted- ly and with single mindedness into the business of establishing a modern public school system in Birmingham, and it was not many years before he had attracted the attention of the school system of Birmingham became model for the most progressive American cities.
 Took Leading Part
 Dr. Phillips took postgraduate courses at the University of Edin- burg and University of Chicago. He devoted himself almost exclusively to his duties as superintendent of the Birmingham schools, but also took a leading part in Ahe national and southern educational associations. He was president of the Southern Edu- eational association fn 1895 and pres ident of the council of education Of the National Educational association in 1902. The University of Alabama and Marietta college conferred upon him the degree of ILL. D.
 pr. Phillips contributed many arti- cles to leading magazines and was author of several works of note d11OnS OlHcTH Dbtn6 ohN Literature in Grammar Schools 1892 "The Negro and Education" 1894; and "Old Tales and Modern Ideals" 1905.
 Masonic Career
 Dr. Phillips was very prominent and very active as a Mason. He was an honorary S3d degree Mason of the Scottish Rite and at the time of his death was deputy for the sovereign grand inspector general for North Alabama Of the Scottish Rite. He had held numerous important posi- tions in the order but was perhaps best known for the scholarship he brought to bear in his study of Masonic subjects. Being gifted were Illuminating and inspiring to the members of the order who had the pleasure of hearing them.
 His activities covered not only the advanced Masonic bodies such as the Knights Templar, and the Shrine, but his interpretations of the historic sig nificance of the various features of blue lodge Masonry were edifying.
 He was a member of the First Presbyterian church and prominent there as in every other place In which he mingled with his fellow man.
 hdFTIeu III lSSO
 Dr. Phillips married Miss Nellie T. Cobbs. daughter of the late chancellor Thomas Cobbs, in 1886. Several years after her death he married Miss Min nie Holman, whose death occurred on July IL.
 Dr. Phillips was man of pro- nounced ideas and firm resolve. The Birmingham school system Is what he made it by his unflinching adherence to the high standard to which he hitched his car of achievement when he came here stranger In a strange land and from it never deviated amid the storms that were often raised about his head. He was a speaker of dignity, polish and force. His literary attainments were of a high order and made him a man of distinc- tion no matter where placed.
 Work for Libraries
 In addition to his work in building up the school system from that of a village to that of 60 schools with property valued at $4,500,o00 and s5,o00.000 more appropriated and now going into new High school < and and equipment, Dr. Phillips is father of the Birmingham public li- brary. That owes it's origin to the nucleus of books which Dr. Phillips gathered and caused to be gathered in the old High school. The library now has 66,0o0 volumes, with a large corps of librarians and several branch libraries.
 The Booker T. Washington Negro library in Birmingham is also the fruit of Dr. Philips concepton of the fruit of pr. Phillips conception of the value of such an institution for the
 His interest in church work caused him to teach the Bible class of the First Presbyterian church for many years.
 Dr. Phillips leaves nephew by his last marriage, w. H. Wolyerton of Birmingham, and the following s!s- ters: Mrs. Thomas D. Williams of Jackson o.; Mrs. w. H. Davis of Denver, Col, and Mrs. M. A. Thomas of Otway, o.