The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-04

David Hummell Greer, Coadjutor-elect
20 Bishop Potter, refused three bishoprics
before he was chosen to fill his new office.
He might have been the successor of the
late Phillips Brooks as Bishop Of Massa-
chusetts, and he was later elected Coadju-
bishop Of Rhode Island and Bishop Of
Pennsylvania. All these honors he de-
clined.
Nobody, to look at him, would ever think
of him as Bishop or, for that matter, as a
priest. There is nothing clerical in his
appearance.
A successful physician or banker, yes.
or a merchant, he might be, II one judged
from his appearance. But in the slight.
wiry man, wearing a mustache and dressed
in a black cutaway suit, there Is little to
suggest to the spectator the head Of the
second most important parish Of the Epis-
copal Church in this city.
He defers to the traditional idea OF cleri-
cal dress only in the use Of a black necktie,
which is a narrow four-in-hand without a
pin. He has been known even to wear
q colored tie.
Bishop Doane Of Albany in his shovel hat
and leggings represents one type Of bishop
In the comprehensive Episcopal body.
Certainly Bishop-elect Greer represents
the antithesis Of that more conservative
cleric, with all kinds Of Bishops intervening
between these two extremes.
II he did not live In the rectory adjoining
st. Bartholomew Church, 1t might be said
that the new Bishop-elect's way Of life
did not in it's external aspects distinguish
him from other God-fearing, prosperous
New York citizens. His two daughters
are In society and his sons are members Of
New York clubs.
The summer home Of the family is at
Easthampton. and there they are active In
the gayeties of the New York colony. DIR.
Greer has always been one Of the most popu-
lar summer residents OF the place.
He has been the rector OF the most
fashionable and richest OF New York's
Episcopal parishes-not richer than Trinity
with its accumulated millions, but pos
sessing greater wealth in relation to its
size 1t was largely through the initiative
OF the late Cornelius Vanderbilt that DIR.
Greer was called from Providence to take
charge OF the church.
The Vanderbilt family has always been
loyal in it's devotion to him, and there are
many other families among the richest
In New York that belong to the congrega-
ton which on one Sunday morning con-
trbuted to a charity more than $4,000
In one collection. Pew rents there are
naturally among the highest in the city
and are said to be 81 900 In some cases.
Yet DR.. Greer's most devoted adherents
In the work Of the parish have not been
those persons who paid the highest pew
rents or contributed the largest share to
the big Easter Sunday collections. Men
and women who had the cheapest sittings
IN the church and those who paid for no
seat at all, but were placed wherever the
ushers could find room for them. were as
devoted to him and met with the same
cordially from him.
They were the principal helpers that the
rector Of st. Bartholomew found in the
parish charities that he established. To
the support Of these went the $4,000 which
DR.. Greer annually dispensed.
As an Administrator and organizer be has
been most praised by those persons who
have not come into contact with him in
the services Of his church. 1t was his
ability as a preacher that first won the
hearts Of all who heard him; and his success
In New York is a contradiction Of the theory
that good preachers are not wanted here.
but that an agreeable speaker OF graceful
platitudes better serves the purposes Of
wealthy congregation.
DR.. Greer speaks without notes, and Is
good elocutionist, although he speaks
simply and gestculates sparingly but
eloquently. Nobody was ever heard to COM
plain that his sermons were too long, and
one exact member OF his parish who has
heard him for some years cannot recall
a sermon that lasted more than half an
hour. Most of them were shorter.
Although he confined himself in his SER
NOR to religious topics, he has always been
in demand as a speaker at purely secular
gatherings He accepted these invita-
tions rarely, declining on the plea that his
parish engagements kept him too busy.
Dr. Greer's Southern accent, while not
strongly marked, modulates his voice
pleasantly.
During his incumbency of st. Bartholo-
news parish DR.. Greer probably drew the
largest salary paid to the rector Of any
Episcopal church in the city Its exact
amount was never made public. 1t Is said
to have been for the last five years Sl2. 900.
In addition to this he had the house at
842 Madison avenue and officiated at many
marriages Of wealthy persons. An insur-
ance of $4,000 on his life Is carried by
the church. A wealthy ?arishioner sew
eral years ago bequeathed legacy of
$50 900 to the rector out Of the millions
he left.
Under any circumstances it seems likely
that the Coadjutor Bshop-elect will make
financial sacrifice to serve with Bishop
Potter, who has volunteered to add half
Of his salary to the sum which the diocese
will pay his assistant.
1t seems scarcely probable that the parish
he has served 30 devotedly will allow him
to depart without some substantial testi-
monial of it's affection. Afund that would
make him independent for life could very
easily be raised In a congregation that has
contributed nearly 500 900 to charity at
one service.
His success at st. Bartholomew's showed
only one phase of the work that he has
accomplished since he came here In 1885.
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