Evening star., 1925-12-07
|DR. CONWELL DIES;
| HAD NOTED CAREER
Famous Clergyman Made
Millions as Lecturer, But
Gave All to Charities.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
PHILADELPHIA, December =
The Rev Dr. Russell II. Conwell, re-
nowned Baptist clergyman, founder
and president OF Temple University,
lecturer, author and philanthropist,
died yesterday after a long illness.
Conscious until the end, DR.. Conwell
bade goodbye to his only daughter,
Mrs. Anna Buttell, and several close
friends, who had been summoned to
his beside, and then passed quietly
away. He was so years old.
DR.. Conwell has been in failing
health for more than year. About
10 weeks ago he was operated upon
for cancer of the bladder. For a time
he appeared to be growing stronger
and hope for his recovery was held
out. He took a turn for the worse
Saturday and died at 2:O5 am. yester-
day.
Funeral arrangements had not been
completed last night, but members OF
his family said he probably would be
buried Wednesday at Worthington,
Mass, where his first wife is buried.
The body will lie in state tomorrow
in Baptist Temple, one of the largest
churches in the country and Of which
DR.. Conwell was pastor.
Although DIR. Conwell had earned
more than $11 ,000,00 on the lecture
platform he is believed to have died
almost penniless. having given all his
earnings to charity. Only recently he
mortgaged his home and used the
money for improvements at the Sa-
maritan Hospital. of which he was
the founder. He also was the founder
of Garretson Hospital in this city and
had been a large contributor to both
institutions.
Dr. Conwell was said to have ad-
dressed more people as public
speaker than any cotemporary. He
memorized % lectures, all of which
he gave without notes. and had de
livered his famous lecture Acres of
Diamonds" 6,152 times, the first time
when he was 16 years old. He was
the author of many books. mostly
biogra phieS. stories and travels.
Transformation of wealth. estimated
in millions, reaped from his lectures
into education for the needy but am
bilious. caused the Rev. DIR. Russell
Herman Conwell TO become known as
the penniless millionaire" He gave
as he earned, keeping for himself
only his actual expenses. Thus,
through his varied career, from farm
'NSN
known as a philanthropist, lecturer
from being the only activities with
which he had been associated. for, in
turn, he had lived the life of a soldier,
newspaper man, war correspondent,
author, immigration agent, lawyer
and traveller.
Desires to Help Students.
1t was his desire to help struggling
young students. men and women,
which led him to found Temple Uni
versity, Philadelphia, which, under
his presidency, grew from modest be-
ginnings to a school with an enroll
ment of many thousands. He also
founded the Samaritan and Garretson
hospitals and the Baptist Temple in
Philadelphia.
DIR. Conwell's great popularity was
gained as a lecturer, for in that capa-
city he appeared not only before
thousands in the United States. but
throughout the civilized world. He
dwelt upon many topics in his %
years on the platform, but his Acres
of Diamonds" was the outstanding
theme and was delivered for the six
thousandth time in 1921. And from
this lecture alone he earned approx,
mately 100000
Born in South Worthington, Mass,
February IS, 1843, he was educated
at Wilbraham Academy and Yale. En-
listing in the Civil War as a captain
in the 46th Massachusetts Infantry, he
rose to the rank of colonel and was
wounded After the war he practiced
law and founded a newspaper in Min
nesota.
AS a newspaper man he was cores
pondent for the New York Tribune
during the Franco-Prussian war, OBJ
tanning interviews with Bismarck and
Emperor William l. Later he made
world tour as a newspaper correspond
ent.
Entering the ministry in 1879, his
first charge was at Lexington, Mass,
where he remained for several years
before moving to Philadelphia.