Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 311, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 January 1918 — BOB FITZSIMMONS, FORMER PUGILIST, HAD INTENDED TO TURN EVANGELIST [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BOB FITZSIMMONS, FORMER PUGILIST, HAD INTENDED TO TURN EVANGELIST

“Bob” Fitzsinlmons,' the , former heavyweight champion pugilist, who died recently in Chicago, was contemplating becoming an evangelist before he was stricken with the illness that resulted in his death. It was through the efforts of Charles Lee, a former pugilist, who battled In the arena under the name of Charlie Carter, and a physical director in the Camden Y. M. C. A., that Fitzsimmons became a church member. In May, 1916, Fitzsimmons visited Lee in Camden. Lee persuaded the former champion to accompany him to Grace Baptist church, in East Camden. He was introduced to Rev. Mr. Zebley, pastor of the church. “Bob” was induced to make an address from the pulpit. A few months later he joined the church

and was baptized in San Diego, Cal. To Settle in California. Some time ago Lee received a letter from Fitzsimmons, in which the former pugilist said that he was going to settle down in California. The letter read, in part, as follows: “I am going to settle down in California and spend the remainder of my days there. Do you know that I was baptized last Sunday, and I suppose that I will be a Christian from now on. My wife is a good Christian. She is an evangelist, and does a lot of good and wonderful work, and I am proud Of her. Give my regards to the minister. I am glad I joined his chnrch. I have never felt better in my life than I do now since joining, I will probably becotne an evangelist, too.”

FITZSIMMONS READING BIBLE TO JIM JEFFRIES.