Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-07
Mrs. Harding Passes Away at
st. PauFs ReCtory.
Joy TURNED TO SORROW
Last Illness Began Soon After Hus-
bands Conservation.
OVERCOME AFTER RECEPTION
An Invalid for Twelve Years and
Strain of Church Ceremony
Brought on Collapse.

Mrs. Justine Butler Prindle Harding
wife of the Bishop of Washington died
at st. PauIs rectory, go I'D street
northwest. shortly after q o'clock yes
Ierday afternoon.
Within a few hours after she and her
husband had received the heartfelt con-
CALCULATIONS of thousands of FRIENDS
including many of prominence IN tue
National capital. upon the elevation OF
her husband to the bishopric. Mrs. Har-
ding was overcome with the Illness
which twelve days later proved fa!al.
Returning from the reception in the
New Willard Hotel given in honor or
Bishop and Mrs. Harding and thoroughly
exhausted from the efforts of the constN
Grafton day, Mrs. Harding was taken ILL.,
FOR several days prior to that time she
had not been. feeling as we'll as usual; but
her indomitable determination to be near
her husband when the high honors of the
church she loved were being heaped upon
him kept her from yielding to the illness.
Although confined TO her bed from the
night following the conservation OF DIR.
Harding as Bishop of Washington. Mrs
Harding planned for the removal of her
household. TO the episcopal residence on
Massachusetts avenue and her early res
toration to health and strength. so that
she could take up her duties as the host
ess of the home of the head of the do
ceSe. Her strength. however. began 10
morning she had a sinking spell from
which she never rallied
AS Friday wore away, the physicians.
nurses and relatives who were at the bed
side realized that the end was near. About
O'Clock the patient regained conscious
ness, which she lost early in the morning.
and she participated. as her strength
would allow, in a communion service con-
Quoted by Bishop Harding. Following.
she spoke to the members of her family
gathered about the bedside as if she
realized that her death was imminent
Shortly afterward she lapsed into I'M
consciousness and died shortly a1ter
o'clock yesterday afternoon.
Family at the Bedside.
At her bedside when death came were
Bishop Harding. her three children. Al
fred, Charlotte and Paul. and her sister
and two step-sisters. They were worn
out by the long vigil in the sick chamber
and denied themselves to all callers last
evening.
Until Friday afternoon. Bishop Hard
ing shared with his wife an optimistic
feeling regarding the outcome of her ILL
ness. Friday morning he left St Pauls
rectory on I'D street to carry out his
duties as an instructor in the National
Cathedral School for Girls on Mount st.
Alban.
When the message reached him over
the telephone that his wifes illness had
taken a serious turn he was hopeful and
replied to those at her bedside that he
was sure she would soon be better. Upon
the earnest solicitation of the doctor,
however he FASTENED back to his home
and from that time until the end came he
practically never left the bedside. While
Mrs. Hardings death was terrible shock
to him. 1t was stated al his home last
evening that he was bearing up well.
Sorrow Throughout Diocese.
When the news of Mrs. Harding's
death began to be known about the
parish in which DR.. Harding and she
had labored for nearly a quarter of a
century many of the Pensioners called
at the rectory to express their sorrow,
and later friends of the bishop and his
family all over the Washington diocese
called at the residence or sent messages
OF sympathy. To practically all callers
Bishop Harding denied himself.
The arrangements for the funeral have
not been completed, although tentative
plans were talked over last evening. 1t is
expected that the last rites will be held
in st. Paul's Church Tuesday morning at
II o'clock and it is likely that some
bishop of the Episcopal Church Will Off
ciate. All the arrangements are in the
hands of DR.. Hardings assistant at St
Paurs Church. Rev. Charles III. Holmead.
Bishop Harding expressed the wish last
evening that the committee on arrange
ments for his conservation should be in
the chancel at the funeral service.
They were Canon G.. F. G. Bratenahl
of st. Adams Church. Rev c. Ernest
Smi h of st. Thomas Church. Rev Dr.
w. L. DeVries of ST Marks Church.
Rev. J. II. w Blake Of Christ Church
Georgetown: Rev. George F.. Dudley Of
st. Stephens Church, and Rev. +. S.
Dunlap of st. Johns Church.
An Invalid Twelve Years.
Mrs. Harding has been an invalid for
over twelve years. suffering from sew
eral diseases. During all that time she
tried to do her full duty as the wife of
the rector of one of Washington's lead
ing churches. and the tender and watch
full care which Bishop Harding bestowed
on her during those years won the loving