Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-05-20
'B|sHOP DAVID H. GREER
DIES AFTER OPERATION
During ST. Bartholomew Passionate
tic Built UP Greatest Church
Plant In America.
GAVE WHOLE SALARY TO poor
During Period OF Stringcncy in New
York lie Freely Distributed All
Possible Hclicf--Ncvcr Wore Sac
criOtal Robes Until Bishop.
Iriv Associated lrc.sl

NEW YORK, May l9.-Thc Right
kcv. David II. Greer. Protestant Epis-
copal bishop OF New York. dieL IN Il
hospital here at 6:l0 o'clock tonight
Hhhop Greer was operated upon FOR
Intestinal trouble week ago and his
condition had improved steadily until
this morning. when his physicians re-
ported that lie had suffered a rc!upsc.
y, first the relapse was not consd-
cred critical. but the patient continued
IL fail and this afternoon 1t became
apparent that he could not live. lie
sank into coma about an hour before
MS death and did not regain conscious
moss
Bishop Grccr's health had been moor
for several months. but despite his ad-
Nancvd a1u-hc was scvcnty-iivc years
= old-his condition had at no time been
considered dangerous.
He is survived by widow and
daughter and by two sons. Laurence
Greer and William Greer
One Of Leaders of Church.
The RI Ee": David Hummci Greer.
Protestant Episcopal Bishop 81 Sew
ofk, was ono Of the most active and
iahuentiai Episcopaiian leaders in The
United states. 81. Earthlomew's Parish
~ New York city be built ~ from
"bscurity to one Of the yichest and
largest working church plants in tho
COUNTRY.
The keynote OF activity which
marked Bishop Grccr's years OF labor
vas sounded in 1888. when he was rec
tor OF Grace Church in Providence, X.
} and when the pulpits in two par
ishes in New York waited upon his
opportunitiee, he then said:
81. Thomas con Fifth Aveuuc) has
~ pews full. has a large congresa-
Ton and docs an active work at 81.
barthoiomcw' con Madison Avcnuc)
nan the pews arc vacant, It's congrcga-
t'on is small and It's resources undo
tcIopeu. shall have more 20 do there
! shall have TO work harder: therefore
I'm going there"
INC great amount OF work necessary
10 bring about tho advance OF the
Parish Of -. Earthoionew stamped
III Greer as an able administrator.
GIVE Whole S"inry TO Poor.
vas SAID AZ one time, during "A
'nii"ncial strinGency. when there vas
WA, me rector gave practically ms
';ltlrc salary TO the poor Al the com.
inie,ioi, OF his work as rector AZ 81.
hartholoniaw's. I'm 1909, lac left as an
outstanding cyiGcncc or his I, bnr. no
parish house, which is one OF tho larp.
est ,snrch institutions. in America, 1t
ploymcnt bureau, boys ana girls
1,inbs. a sursica! clinic. al eye and car
u nnr,,, ,,rH q loan association and
Wood depot a roof garden. a seaside
cottage for the children and a gro
cery where FOOD was sold TO the poor
Bishop Greer accepted the election
Ss coadjutor b!shoS Of the Diocese OF
.'m jim after nAN!NS declined three
carter Offers 10 the episcopacy In Mas
sdchusctts. Rhode Island and PcnnsyI-
Nania On the death OF Bishop Henry
y Potter in 1905. Bishop Greer be-
came the hoad OF the diocese
%. Next 10 his ability a1 AN admins
.:ator ana originator, proba bly, Bishop
'rc"r most prominent characteristic
was MS extreme democracy He was
arokem OF as II Bishop without trap
pms ptmss II was said a, the Time Of his
LousccraNon as bishop that unit! he
had been invested with the Office he
mao never worm any OF the habilimcnts
@! the Saccrdotal Office
Wns Native OF Wheeling
Bishop Greer was born al Wheclirr
w Va. March 20. 1874. Ills father
ana mother were church people. and
MS grandfather was n clcrgy,nan o.
ihc thugCh .! England serving fo-
many years III Wheeling. He was grad.
"atcd from Washington College, Penn
SEiEani't, IN !S.2. and prepared him
self for tho study law, but frs,
Taught SCHOOL for year at Iohnstown
Pa and tncn determined to take m
ant cpisTopaI Seminary OF Kenyon
same year, and graduated i'm 1866 and
assumed charge OF Chris, Church
tiarkshure W. Va. lie was ordained a
priest In 1865. and became rector Of
Trinity Church. CovinGton. Ky. where
ne remained until he accepted a call
"a ISL to Grace Church. Providence,
II. He was married in 1869 10 Miss
caroline ~ Keith. OF Covinston Ky
They had TWO sons and TWO daugh,ers
As an author bishop Greer contrib
nied severa! books on religious tonire
Z" .nonG which WAS The IIistorio