The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1926-03-27
BISHOP B. r. LEE, DISTIN-
GUISHED A. VI. z. CHURCH
LEADER LAID TO REST AT
WILBERFORCE
preston News Service)

Wilberforce, Ohio, March 26-The
funeral services for the Rt. Rev. Ben
jamin Franklin Lee, for many years
a prominent Bishop of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church, at one
time president of Wilberforce Univer-
sity and Chief Editor of the Christian
Recorder, the Oldest paper published
by colored church denominations, as
well as an author and educator, were
held Tuesday afternoon at / o'clock in
the Auditorium Of Galloway Hall.
AT ten o'clock the pail bearers, Rev.
George F. David, Lexington, KY, Rev.
]. c. Beckett, Philadelphia; Rev. E. A.
Clarke, former instructor OF the univer-
sity, now of Cleveland; Rev. E. B.
Thor, Harrodsburg, Va; Mr.. Chas. S.
Smith and Mr.. William Hunnicutt OF
the G. N. |. Department, and the Hon
orary Pail Bearers, President Gilbert
Fl. Jones. Dean Geo. r. Woodson,
Supt. R. G. Bundy, DR.. Geo. Hender-
son, Profs. G. HI. Johnson, Norwood
Shields, and Geo. I. Simpson, also stu
dent representatives from the several
educational departments and Payne
Theological Seminary, escorted the re-
mains from the late residence of the
deceased to the Auditorium to lay in
state. A military guard under COM
mand of Col. John Greene, was in
charge.
The oak casket, covered with a
heavy blanket Of flowers and beautiful
floral designs from the family, General
Faculty Of the school, student body,
fraternities and different church or
ganizations, was placed in front of the
rostrum where citizens and friends
from abroad viewed the remains.
Bishop J. Albert Johnson, Baltimore;
Bishop W. H. Heard, Philadelphia;
Bishop A. L. Gaines, Chicago; Bishop
l. N. Ross, Washington, D. c.; Bishop
R. c. Ransom, Nashville, Tenn, and
Bishop ]. II. Jones were present to
pay their respect to their co-worker,
many Of whom had served their church
for many years.
The following General Officers were
also present: Prof. John R. Hawkins,
Financial Secretary, Washington, D.
c.; Rev. J. G. Robinson, editor of the
A. NJ. E. Church Review, and DR.. R.
R. Wright, Jr., editor of the Christian
Recorder, both of Philadelphia.
More than two hundred ministers
who had known Bishop Lee and
served under him while an active
Bishop, came from the east, west,
south and north to pay a last tribute
of respect to the churchman whom
they had known and held in the high
est esteem for more than half a cen
tury for his great wealth of integrity,
his great love of truth and his deep
sense OF justice to all men.
Bishop J. Albert Johnson presided
during the funeral services. The choir
of the school, under the direction of
Mr.. Norton Dennis, sang "Abide With
Me-" Bishop /. NJ Ross offered
prayer. The scripture lesson was read
by Bishop w. III. Heard, reading ap-
propriate verses from the 18th chapter
Of the First Corinthians. Mr.. w. "A.
Anderson read the obituary. Bishop
R. c. Ransom, an alumnus of the col
lege and a student while Bishop Lee
served as President, delivered the SER
mon. Prof. John K. Hawkins read
resolutions from the faculty, students,
and letters and kilograms from friends
who were not able to attend the fu-
neral. TeIegrams were also read from
Bishop Sampson w. Brooks in charge
Of the work in Liberia, and Bishop
John A. Gregg, located in Cape Town.
South Africa. At the conclusion Of
the service Bishop J. Fl. Jones pro-
nounced the benediction and the in
terrnent took place in Cherry Grove
cemetery.