The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1937-09-18
DIVINE
STRICKEN IN
PHILADELPHIA
Death Comes Three
Weeks After Trip
To Scotland

Pnllduetpnld, Id.--(by W. Jduct
Fleming for AMP Death laid It's
hands on Bishop william H. Heard
OF the A. NJ. E. Church. here at
4:33 a. m. Sunday just three weeks
after the s7-year-old divine had
walked sprightly down the gang
plank OF the Queen Mary on a
return trip from Scotland.
Slave, legislator, diplomat and
high churchman, Bis. Heard was
in more than usual good health I'M
iii Thursday OF last week. Friday
he was taken 10 the Hahnemann
Hospital. and he increasingly turn
ed for the worst. until, just as
Sunday was about 10 dawn. he
breafhed his last in the city where
he had lived good part of his
life. He lived at 43s y. 5Srd street
Because Of his failing health and
age, the Council OF Bishops OF the
A. NJ L. church. had relieved him
OF his active duties 4 few months
ago. but up 10 last Sunday. he had
attended church services as was
his wont every sunday that he was
we'll enough.
Built Memorial To Richard Allen
He had been a bishop since iHns.
serving in West Africa. and in The
first and third districts OF his
church. Before that he had pastor
ed the historic Mother Bethel
church, Sixth and Lombard
streets. which is a memorial TO the
founder OF African methodism aud
which contains the body OF Rich
ard Allen. The present Mother
Bethel edifice was built by Bishop
Heard and here his funeral SER
vices were held Thursday noon
September is, with the Right Rev
erend James S Flipper, sem
ior bishop Of the church. presiding,
assisted by the Rev. Or. II. J.
Jones, pastor OF the church. and
with all the A. NJ Z. bishops 10
America present.
The body will lie In state at the
church Wednesday until 10 a. m.
Walter c. Beckett, grandson OF
Bishop J. S. Campbell, was the un-
dertaker in charge.
A member Of national and inter-
national church organizations,
Bishop Heard was horn on June
%. 1850 in Elberton. Ga. He at
tended Atlanta University. where
he received the bachelor of arts de-
gree. and was ordained TO the min
lstry in 1870.
When heard from again William
II. Heard was member OF the South
Carolina legislature during Recon-
struction; then from 1869,
he was U. S. minister to Liberia,
being appointed by President Gro
yer Cleveland. From 19OS-l2 he
was bishop OF West Africa. and
from 1920. bishop over the
Mississippi and Louisiana district.
In 1920. he was first assigned 20
the First District which covers
Delaware. Pennsylvania. New Jer-
sey, New York and New England
and parts of Canada
Crossed Atlantic - Times
Bishop Heard had crossed the
Atlantic twenty-nine times. had
written much on church subjects.
including story OF his life. aud
was a forceful speaker and we'll re-
spected among churchmen. lie
was for ten years a member Of the
combinations committee OF the
World Faith and Order conference.
and attended this years meeting
last month In Einburgh
II was while in Edinburgh that
he was refused hotel accomoda-
lions on account Of his color. a
situation which led sir ]. Simon.
British chancellor OF the exche-
quer to offer his personal regrets
TO the bishop and which drew much
condemnation from Scottish papers.
At Edinburgh he was The Oldest
delegate TO the conference and was
called the father OF this important
body OF leading churchmen.
Bishop Heard was one OF the
leading figures in the African
Methodist Episcopal church. He
was honored with honorary de-
grees from wilberiorce and Allen
Confined on Pare Twol