The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1872-05-31
THE OHIO BISHOPS.

,e THE OHIO BISHOPS.
Il OF the five Methodistl Epiecopa
Il bishops elected on Tuesday as IN
e BROOKLYN Conference three are na-
! tives of this State. The following
brief sketches of their lives will b'
n of interest to cur Methodist readers
BISHOP HARRIS.
The Rev. William L. Harris, d. ID.
was born in Ohio in November, 1917,
and became member of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church in his seven
! teenth year. Two years after he was
licensed to preach and the next year
he joined the Ohio Conference, and
spent ten years in the pastoral work.
He was then elected principal OF the
Baldwin Institute, and alter three
D years. service resigned to accept 3
professorship in the Ohio Wesleyan
University st Delaware, Ohio, where
he spent ten years, part of the time
under the presidency Of the late
Bishop Thomson. In 1860, at the
: General Conference held in Buffalo,
New York, he was elected assistant
missionary secretary, which office he
has held to the present time Had
he not been elected to the Episco-
pacy he would have been chosen
chief secretary of the Missionary So
ciety in the place Of the Rev. DIR.
Durbin, who declined ~ reelection
owing to his advanced years and i'll
healths Doctor Harris was first elect
ed to the general conference in
1856, and has been reelected to
every subsequent quadrennial session
as chairman of his delegation. AT
the first session at which he appeared
as delegate, he was chosen secre-
tary of the body, and has been re-
elected at every subsequent session.
DR.. Harris is q writer OF ability, and
though he is not known as an author,
his labors in preparing the proceed
ings of each general conference, and
editing and revising the discipline
every four years, entitled him to con-
sideration IN this respect. During
the great anti slavery struggle in the
church he wrote mach and well, and
some of his pamphlets will long be
priced. He is fine specimen OF vig-
orous manhood, nearly six feet high,
well built, with courteous manners.
and social habits that make him q
great fayorite.
BISHOP FOSTER.
The Rev. Randolph S. Foster, DID.
was born in Clermont county, Ohio,
in 1920. Converted in early life,
he entered the ministry ofthe Metho-
dist Episcopal Church joining the
Ohio Conference in 1887. Soon
after he began preaching he attracted
the attention of the Church authori-
ties, and was appointed to some of Il
the important churches in Cincinnati 8
and adjoining places. In 1850 he /
was transferred to the New York con- .
ference, and spent eighteen years in
the pastoral work, chiefly at some of ,
the mGst prominent churches in this
city. When Drew Theological Sem
mary wss established at Madison,
New Jersey, he was elected one OF
the professors, and on the death OF
DIR. McCllntock, President of tha.
institution, he was elected to the va
cant position, which he still occupies.
While residing at Cincinnati he ac-
quired great popularity for his able
defense of the Church, and published
q volume on "Calvinism,' which is
acknowledge to be an able produc
ton. Since his residence in the East
he has published several volumes in
cluding "Cbristian Purity,' "Minis- |
try snd Lectures on Darwinism.'
These works have placed him high in
the ranks of scholarship. As wri-
ter he is vigorous and lucid, and he
thoroughly analyzes whatever he dis
cusses, and presents it clearly to the
reader. Few ministers excel DR..
Foster in preaching. Without hav
ing popular qualities as speaker, he
rsrely fails to command the close
attention of congregation, and to
interest and instruct them. In per-
son he is tall and imposing, and when
speaking he is dignified and graceful.
The solid elements Of his character
early attracted the attention of the
Church, and when the late Bishops |
Clark, Thomson and Kingsley were
elected at Philadelphia in 1864, he
also was named for the Episcopate.
When the General Conference was
held at Chicago in 1868, if the Board
of Bishops had been increased, no
doubt he would have been chosen,the
BISHOP MERRILL,
The Rev. Stephen III. Merrill, d.
D., is native OF Ohio, and was born
in September, 1925. When quite
young he joined the Methodist Epis
copal church, and in his twenty-frst
year was received into the Ohio Con-
ference. Very early in his ministry
he gave promise of usefulness, and
by study he rapidly rose, and was
finally appointed presiding elGer.
In this responsible office he displayed
|, Judgment and discrimination. Nat
urally a man of strong convictions,
he become thoroughly imbued with
the work of Methodist. all his
l ministerial life, except four years,
: has been spent as anitinerant preach
e er, and he is therefore the beau ideal
J, of q Methodist bishop in the estima
e ton of grea. many delegates. When
t important questions were agitating
} the church, some years ago, he wrote
e papers which gave indications OF
o marked ability, and when the General
q Conference was held in Chicago, in
1868, he was elected editor Of the
e Western Christian Advocate, pub
It lished at Cincinnati. Papers ol
r marked ability on disputed theologic
II al questions, and of an exegetieal
character have appeared from his pen
: in connection with his editorial duties.
v He breaches with power, and occa-
r sions have occurred in his pulpit
: ministrations when he has exhibited
signal ability Heis quite tall, rather
e grave and dignified IN bearing, and a
I, fsyorite in social circles.
2, HAIR DRESSING IN PARIs.-A trav-
e eler in Paris, having occasion for q
hair cutter, sent for one. At the
/. appointed time an elegantly attired
d person arrived, and the gentleman
sat down before his dressing case to
D, prepare for the operation. The man
8, walked round his "client" once or
twice, and finally taking his stand at
some distance, attentively serutinized
r the gentleman's face with the air of 8
to connoisseur looking at a picture
I'd "Well," said the traveller, impatient
ly, "wben are you going to begin p
.Pardon me, sir,' was the polite re
ply. 81 am not the operator, bu