The Washington bee., 1911-02-04

beautiful solo hymn at the close of the
sermon. Prof R. G. Jackson and Miss
Beulah Douglass, of the department
of music of Western University, as
sisted in the music.
At the close of the services the
body was carried to Woodlawn Gem
etery, where the last funeral rites were
conducted and the body placed in
vault
Mrs. Grant died at the age of So
years. At the age of Is she pro-
fessed a hope in Christ and Joined
the church at Lakeview, Fla She
was married twice, the first time to
Bishop Armstrong, who died shortly
after he had been elected to the
BiShopric. On Oct. 3, 1902, at Wilber-
force University, she was married to
Bishop Grant, TO whom she remained
faithful until death separated them a
few short evenings ago.
At this point news comes that
Bishop Grant passed away few mo-
ments ago after a lingering illness
which confined him to his couch dur
ing the last two or three months. A
most remarkable type of man, with a
strong will power. At the time Of the
death of his wife. the Bishop was al
most in the Death Angels arms. Upon
hearing of his wife's death, though he
took it hard, he rallied through it. anc
Immediately set TO thinking how he
might attend the funeral of his dearly
beloved wife. Finding it impossible,
he urged that he must live long
enough to change his will, and inn
mediately DR.. John Hurst, his admin
istrator Washington, D. c. was
wired to come at once. The Bishor
lived to change his will
Bishop Grant was born Aug. "a
I847, near Lake City, Fla, and was
almost o. years of age at his death
He had been in the ministry for the
last 80 years, and received his minis
terlal training from several Bishops
and clergymen of the Methodist Epis-
cOpal Church (South), who were at
tracted by his brightness during the
earlier years of his life, when he was
employed as head waiter in one of the
leading hotels of Jacksonville, Fla.
After short study of theology, he
was ordained a minister, and 10 years
later was made Bishop of the A. NJ
Z. Church. In 1904 he became Bish-
op OF this diocese, and for the past
seven years has lived in this city.
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 decl;n-
ing power. Year by year he became
recognized as a leader. He and DR..
Booker T. Washington had become
recognized as the races two foremost
leaders, and both have served on
many prominent boards directing the
education of the Negro in the South
land. Together they were members
OF the Trustee Board of the $1,000. 900
Jeanes Fund given for the education
of the rural Negro He was head of
the financial department of the A. NJ.
T. Church, and was to have presided
over the next general conference of
the A NJ. E. Church, to be held in
Kansas City, Mo, in 1912
The Bishop was, by virtue of his
position, President of both the State
and Church boards of Western Uni
versity. He last visited this institu-
tlOn in the fall of last year at the
time of the November meetings of the
boards. Being unable to ascend the
stairs to the main chapel, the students
appeared in dress parade while he
viewed them from a convenient posi-
ton. Immediately afterward he went
to his home, where his illness confined
him till death. Owing to his illness,
the boards met at the Episcopal resi-
dence, where he would preside for a
while and would lie down and rest
a while until all the business had
been transacted and the meetings ad-
Journed.
Shortly after Bishop Lee, Bishop
Parks and others had broken sacra-
ment to him and his wife she became
suddenly i'll, and, hearing the hurry
ING of persons through the halls,
Bishop Grant realized that her case
was serious, and insisted on knowing
just how his wife might be getting
along. At first those around him fear
ed to tell him of her death an hour
after the sacrament, but he insisted
that the sudden rush in the house
meant turn in affairs, and he must
know of her condition. He rallied
through the terrible moment, and
then set to thinking how he might at
tend the funeral, which, of course,
was impossible.
Here he found it necessary to
change his will Immediately his ad-
ministratOr, DR.. John Hurst, of Wash
ington, D. C., was wired to come at
once. Meanwhile the Bishop was be-
coming somewhat better; but after
the arrival of his administrator and
his affairs had been finally straight
ened out for the last time, he lapsed
into his former state, with a still
greater pain in his side
The Bishop was, during all his i'll
ness, cheerful and sometimes even a
bit of humor was evident. Bishop
Grant was a strict grammarian, thor
Oughly polished, despite the fact that
his years of academic training in the
school room were few. He often
would comment on the old and new
fashioned 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 chamber and asked: "Well,
Bishop, would you like to lay DOWN."
The Bishop had been suffering, and
suffered to the last moment with an