The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-20
BISHOP GREER DIES
IN SUDDEN RELAPSE
Seemed Convalescing From OPP
Grafton Until Turn for Worse
Yesterday Morning.
SUCCUMBS AT 6:10 P. NJ.
Distinguished Protestant Epis-
cOpal Prelate Was IS
Years Old.


Years Old.
The Right Rev. David Hummell Greer.
Bishop Of the Episcopal Diocese of New
York since 1908. and one of the most
noted clergymen in the United States,
died at $40 o'clock last night in st.
Luke's Hospital at 18th street and
Amsterdam avenue. With him when the
end came were his daughter. Miss Jane,
and his physician. DR.. Frank Matthews.
Bishop Greer's health had been very
poor for the larger part of the past
winter. Several months ago he spent
ten days in the hospital under treat
ment for intestinal trouble. At that
time however. he appeared to have
FULLY recovered and he was able to re-
sumo his dutiea He was to have pre-
SIDED over the annual convention of the
New York Diocesan Council in Synod
Hall week ago Monday, but on the
morning of that day he became suddenly
III and was hurriedly removed to the
hospital. whore physicians in consulta-
ton decided upon an operation. This
operation was performed by Dra Mat
thews. Charles Peck and Austin Hollis.
The Bishop rallied splendidly from the
operation and seemed TO gain rapidly
In strength. On Sunday he passed q
comfortable day. was cheerful and his
recovery seemed certain. Yesterday
morning. however. a turn for the worse
developed, and from that time until his
death he sank gradually. Early in the
morning his daughters, Miss Jane Greer
and Mrs Thomas s. McLane OF ~ East
Eightieth street, and his sons. Lawrence
and William A. Greer, were hastily
summoned to his bedside. The Bishops
wife. Mrs. Caroline Keith Greer, has
been Ill for a year. and was unable to
60 TO the hospital.
Dies Unconscious.
Early In the afternoon Bishop Greer
relapsed into state of coma, and al
though the physicians held out no hope
for his recovery. they believed that he
would be able to live through the night
At o'clock he seemed fairly strong
and his sons left the hospital and went
TO their homes for dinner. Soon after
ward Bishop Greer got rapidly worse.
He died without regaining consciousness
and before his SINS could return to the
hospital.
Arrangements for the funeral of
Bishop Greer were made last night at
a conference between Suffragan Bishop
Charles Sumner Burch. Dean Howard
C. Robbins Of the Cathedral of ST John
the Divine, and members OF the Bishops
family. Services will be held Friday
morning at IL o'clock in the Cathedral.
and will be attended by the Episcopal
clergymen of this and neighboring do
ceses, and by between twenty and
twenty-five Bishops.
The service will be conducted by
Bishop Burch. Bishop Edward g. Lyons
Of Newark, Bishop Arthur 8. Lloyd.
president OF the Board of Missions. and
Bishop Charles II Brent Of the Diocese
Of Western New York Interment will
be in tho crypt OF the Cathedral.
It was announced last night that the
body Of the Bishop Greer will be taken
| to-day from the hospital to his home,
but II has not yet been decided whether
1t will lie In state.
There have been few characters more
influential in New York affairs than
that of David Hummell Greer. for six
teen years rector OF St Bartholomew.
for four years coadjutor Bishop and
from 1904 to the time OF his death the
Bishop OF the Protestant Episcopal do
u N
came to New York in 1883 the city was
growing out OF tie village stage. Huge
fortunes amassed during this time of the
country's expansion were being CONSOLE
dated in the hands of hereditary houses.
Into this atmosphere came DR.. Greer,
who was, first OF all. democratic IN the
I widest and best sense How far his splr-
itual influence was important in mould
ing the material influence OF his pa
rishioners may best be gauged by the
character Of his pastoral works.
His IndomitabIe Energy.
Though he came to church which
was richer than Trinity in proportion to
Its size and though his ministry to its
members never tagged, his indomitable
energy reached into all corners OF the
city, embraced all phases of the city $
life and focused all It's extremes In the
manifold activities Of the parish house
which grew under his hands in Forty
second street, east OF Third avenue. and
in the Swedish, Chinese. Syrian and
Oriental missions he founded In various
parts Of the city. His scholarly attain
ments, his profound spiritual concepts OF
his duty and his gracious, polished per
sonality gained for him the confidence OF
the great; while his all embracing hu-
man understanding. his skill in organiza-
ton and his appreciation OF social and
economic needs enabled him to direct
their activities along lines that to-day
are making New York far less fertile a
field for Bolshevism than II might other
wise have been.
When DR.. Greer was called TO st.
Barthoiomew's in 1855. largely through
the recommendation OF Cornelius Van
derbnt he came from Providence, r.
I. Two Invitations were open to him in
New York. One was from a church al
ready popular and we'll attended. At
that time St Bartholomew was not.
Il will CO." said DR.. Greer TO a friend.
in announcing his decision. "where there
are empty pews 10 I'LL and untouched re-
sources to be developed. i will go where
l will have TO work hard"
His broad conceptions of social duties
to both rich and poor found their &C.
clesiastical counterpart in his success
| in oonciliating both the high and the
| low church parties within the ecclesjss-
teal field in which he worked. He was
| proposed for the bishopric by the Rev.
Morgan Dix, the leader of the high
church party as rector OF Trinity. He
was seconded by DR.. Huntington, equally
powerful as an exponent OF the low
church principle. Bishop Greer himself
was undoubtedly OF the latter party. He
never wore clerical clothes favoring
tweeds and a wing collar-yet the late
Bishop Doane OF Albany. famous for
years on account of his shovel hat and
CATERS no less than for the ritualistic
!