Evening star., 1943-05-05

Bishop Leonard
Churchmon Had Kept
Motto Above Desk,
Let Ne Die Workinq'
Church leaders and 1aymen IN
Washington were stunned and sad
dened by the tragic death of Bishop
Adna Wright Leonard, resident
Methodist Bishop of the Washing
ton area who lost his life in a plane
crash in Iceland while touring
American battle fronts.
A man who took a deep, personal
interest in many affairs outside of
the church as well as within,
Bishop Leonard was known, re-
spected and honored in many strata
of society. His sudden passing was
keen. heavy blow to all
Bishop James E Freeman, Episco-
pal Bishop of Washington, paid
tribute to Bishop Leonard as "a man
of fine intellectual poise, forceful
preacher, an excellent administra-
tor" Bishop Freeman was associ-
ated with him on the General Com
mission on Army and Navy Chap
lains, representing Protestant faiths
in the service.
II was associated with Bishop
Leonard as a member of the commit
tee to which he had given all of
his time and for which work he had
shown rare aptitude" Bishop Free
man said. His visit to the men was
inspired by deep affection for
them. He was fortnight, plain
speaking and deeply serious man. In
the two years of his residence here
I had the opportunity of coming to
know him we'll and to admire him
greatly. His going to the battlefront
no doubt involved great personal
sacrifice but he felt SO keenly his
duty to go that he went whole
heartedly to the remote fields of ac-
ton. . !.
Il share with my Methodist friends
the great loss they have sustained
in his sudden and tragic death"
DR.. Paul F. Douglass, president of
American University, whose coming
to washington in his present ca
pacity was at the behest of Bishop
Leonard, said
Bishop Leonard was the senior
bishop of the Methodist church. His
life was characterized by two de-
votions, a devotion to the church
and to his country He undertook
the trip on which he was killed at
the personal request of President
Roosevelt He understood the
hazards but believed that the chap
laincy of whose general commission
he was chairman needed all of the
assistance he could give. His death
is tragic loss to the church and
to education"
Let Me Die Working"
Over Bishop Leonards desk he
always had sign which read, Let
Me Die Working" That, said DR..
Douglass, best summed up his at
titude toward life and toward his
duty.
The Right Rev. John NJ. Nc
Namara. Auxiliary Bishop of the
Catholic archdiocese of Baltimore
and Washington, said:
Il did not know Bishop Leonard
personally, but I deeply regret to
hear of his untimely death. His
friends and relatives will find, am
sure, great consolation in the
thought that he died in the service
of his country"
Paul B. Cromelin, president Of
the District Bar Association, a close
friend and legal adviser to Bishop
Leonard, had not heard the news
until called by Star reporter, and
it stunned him.
This is terrible shock he said
Bishop Leonard's death is a ter
rife loss to Methodism and to our
country at this particular time I
am simply appalled,. saw him just
e day or so before he left. It's al
most unbelievable"
DR.. John R. Edwards, superintend-
ent of the West Washington dis
trict, said:
THE word of the sudden death of
Bishop Leonard comes as a great
shock to wide circle throughout
America. Through his death Wash
ington Methodism sustains an ir-
reparable loss. Bishop Leonard's
election to the episcopacy at the age
Of AZ placed him as one of the
youngest in the college of bishops
to attain that honor. He was noted
for his courage in administration.
his remarkable capacity for work
and his great and fearless patriot
ISM
An Outstanding Leader.
DR.. Horace E. Cromer. superin-
tendent of the East Washington
district, said:
Bishop Leonard was one of the
most careful administrators the
church had. He has been an out
standing leader in the educational
field and had given himself to the
matter of the chaplains and the
spiritual ministry Of the church for
the armed forces unsparingly. He
was responsible more than any other
single person for the position of the
Methodist Church in its relation to
the Army and Navy"
DR.. James Shera Montgomery,
chaplain Of the House. called Bish-
op Leonard's death tragic loss
Il feel deeply the loss of our dis
tinguished bishop" he said. He was
an outstanding administrator. loyal
patriot most thoroughly devoted to