# Isaac William Wiley

Isaac William Wiley (simplified Chinese: 怀礼; traditional Chinese: 懷禮; Pinyin: Huáilǐ; Foochow Romanized: Huài-lā̤; 29 March 1825 – 22 November 1884) was an American who distinguished himself as a physician, a Methodist missionary to China, a pastor, as the president of a seminary, as an editor, and as a bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, elected in 1872.

## Birth and early years

Part of a series on :
Methodism :
John Wesley :
Background
History (in the United States)
Anglicanism
Arminianism
First Great Awakening
Moravianism
Nonconformism
Pietism
Wesleyan theology :
Doctrine
Doctrinal standards
Bible
Old Testament
New Testament
Creeds
Nicene Creed
Apostles' Creed
Articles of Religion
Sermons on Several Occasions
Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament
Distinctive beliefs and practices
Assurance of faith
Conditional preservation of the saints
Priesthood of all believers
Four sources of theological authority
Covenant theology
Substitutionary atonement
Imparted righteousness
Moral law
New birth
Free will
Outward holiness
Prevenient grace
Real presence
Sanctification (growth in grace)
Sunday Sabbatarianism
Christian perfection
Second work of grace
Baptism with the Holy Spirit
Views on sin
Works of piety
Works of mercy :
Worship
The Sunday Service of the Methodists
Covenant Renewal Service
Revival service
Altar call
Mourner's bench
Camp meeting
Tabernacle
Tent revival
Brush arbour revival
Lovefeast
Watchnight service :
People
John WesleyCharles Wesley
Richard Allen
Francis Asbury
Thomas Coke
John William Fletcher
Orange Scott
William Williams Pantycelyn
Benjamin Titus Roberts
Walter Ashbel Sellew
Howell Harris
Albert Outler
James Varick
Countess of Huntingdon
Phoebe Palmer
George Whitefield
Bishops
Theologians :
GroupsChurches
Methodist Church of Great Britain
Free Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
World Methodist Council
Global Methodist Church
Other Methodist denominations :
Organization
Connexionalism
General Conference
Methodist Circuit
Pastoral charge
Class meeting
Penitent band :
Related groups
Holiness movement
Conservative holiness movement
Holiness Pentecostalism
Evangelicalism :
Other relevant topics
Saints in Methodism
Methodist views on alcohol
Methodist local preacher
Itinerant preacher
Circuit rider
Steward
Homosexuality and Methodism
Ordination of women in Methodism
Bishops in Methodism :
Christianity • Protestantism
Christianity portal :
vte :
Isaac was born 29 March 1825 in Lewistown, Pennsylvania. He joined the Methodist Episcopal Church at ten years of age.

## Education

Isaac had been preparing to enter the sophomore class at Dickinson College, but the affection of his throat being considered permanent, he commenced the study of medicine, instead. He was graduated in 1846 from the medical department of the University of New York. He pursued a course of classical study in the same institution.

## Medical missionary

Dr. Isaac Wiley commenced the practice of medicine in Western Pennsylvania, subsequently moving to Pottsville in 1849. Shortly thereafter, at the request of Dr. Durbin, Isaac agreed to go as a medical missionary to Fuzhou, China.
Isaac first was received into the ministry of the Genesee Annual Conference of the M.E. Church. He also attended an additional course of lectures in the University of New York. Finally, he sailed for China, March 1850, transferring his conference membership to the Philadelphia Conference.

## Pastoral, academic, and editorial ministries

The Rev. Dr. Wiley returned from China in May 1854. He then was appointed to fill a pastoral vacancy on Staten Island. In 1855 he transferred his conference membership again, this time to the Newark Annual Conference. He was successively appointed to Newark and then Jersey City.
In 1858 the Rev. Dr. Wiley took charge of the Pennington Seminary. He served this position until 1863. In 1864 he was elected editor of the Ladies' Repository, an important periodical of his denomination. He was re-elected to this position in 1868. While editor, he also edited books for the M.E. Book Concern.

## Episcopal ministry

The Rev. Dr. Isaac William Wiley was elected to the episcopacy of the Methodist Episcopal Church by the General Conference of 1872. As bishop he was one of the founders of Wiley College, the first and oldest historically Black college west of the Mississippi River, located in Marshall, Texas. Wiley College was founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1873 and chartered by the Freedman's Aid Society of the M.E. Church in 1882 for the purpose of providing education to the "newly freed men" (following emancipation and the American Civil War), preparing them for a new life.
Bishop Wiley traveled extensively to the various U.S. States and Territories. In 1877 he made an extensive tour in support of the M.E. missions in Japan and China.
Bishop Wiley died in Fuzhou, China, 22 November 1884. The funeral services took place the next day at Tieng Ang Tong.

## Selected writings

* The Fallen Missionaries of Foo Chow.
* The Religion of the Family.
* China and Japan: a record of observations made during a residence of several years in China, and a tour of official visitation to the missions of both countries in 1877-78 (1879)