Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1911-01-27

IL oAe u tAe leduluS uOCelS OF JacKSOn-
vile, Fla. After a short study of
theology, he was ordained minister,
and sixteen years later was made a
bishop Of the A.. NJ. E. church. In
1904 he became bishop of this the
Fifth Episcopal district, and, while his
diocese embraces only states west of
the Mississippi river, he welded great
influence over the entire race.
The bishop had no years of declining
power. Year by year he became more
and more the leader Of his people. He
and DR.. Booker T. Washington had be-
come recognized as the race 3 two fore
most leaders, and both have served on
many prominent boards directing the
education of the negro in the southland.
Together they were members of the
Trustee Board Of the 100000 Jeanes
fund given for the education Of the
rural negro. Bishop Grant, himself,
was one of the trustees of Tuskegee
Institute He was head of the fnan-
cial department Of the A. M. E. church,
and was to have presided over the next
general conference Of the A. M. F..
church to be held in Kansas City, NO.,
in 1912
The bishop was by virtue of his po-
sition, president of both church and
state boards of Western University.
He last visited this institution in the
fall of the year at the time of the
November meeting of the boards. Be-
ing BILE to ascend the stairs to the
main chapel, the students appeared in
dress parade while he viewed them
from a convenient position. Immed-
lately after this he went to his home
where his illness confined him till his
death. Owing to his illness, the boards
met at the Episcopal residence, where
he would preside while and would
lie down to rest while until the bus
mess had been transacted and the
meetings adjourned.
AS man with strong will power,
there was much in him to emulate.
Practically during all his last sickness
he was conscious man, and realized
how near death door he stood. Ere
quently, he would remark to his fell
low ministers, "Well, Brother, do not
be surprised when you hear I am gone
over into Glory
The bishop during the time of all
his illness was yet cheerful and some-
times bit of humor was evident.
Bishop was a strict grammarian, thor
oughly polished, despite the fact that
his years of academic training in the
school room were few, and he often
would comment on the old and new
ways of pronunciation. About the
last bit Of humor shown by him was a
few. moments before his death, when
one of the brethren came into his room
and asked, tWell, Bishop, would you
like to lay downf" The bishop had
been suffering, and suffered to the
last moment, with an intensely severe
pain in his side-to relieve it somewhat
he was sitting in his bed. "No,' the
bishop ronlied, "But I would like to
lie down. ...'
When it became evident that the
bishops life was numbered in days, he
began to make out his funeral program.
Those in charge have not completely
arranged every detail But Senior
Bishop Henry McNeal Turner of the
Tenth Episcopal district, is expected to
preach the sermon, and Bishop. Parks
will conduct the services. Bishop Lee
and DR.. Hurst, who left only few
days before his death for points in the
east, are expected to return to have
part in the Kansas City program.
Gov. W. r. Stuble, of Kansas, win
doubtless have conspicuous part in
the program. #.-. .-.
The body will lie in state in Allen
Chapel all of Wednesday, and Wednes-
day at midnight the Masons will con-
duct their funeral rites. The funeral
services proper win be held at half
past ten O'Clock the following day,
Thursday, and Immediately after the
services are concluded the body will
be taken to San Antonio, Texas, where
a general program has Tbaen arranged
and where the body will be inferred.
The body of Mrs. Grant will betaken
from the vault in the Woodland ceme-
terry, Thursday, and with the body Of
Bishop Grant carried to San Antonio.
The two bodies will be inferred to.
gether.
Death, indeed, has no choice. The
race feel this more deeply now than
ever. The Bishop and wife left no I'M
mediate relatives, hence the entire fam