The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-10-04
From Wednesdays Conference Daily.J
OUR BISHOP.

Our presiding Bishop, Rev. Mat
thew Simpson, d. d., l.. L. D., was
born in Cadiz, O., June 20, 1911.
He received an academic eduea-
ton in his native town, and subse-
quently attended Madison College,
Uniontown, Pa, where he was
elected to the office of tutor in his
nineteenth year. In 1888, feeling
it was his duty to enter the minis
try, he was licensed to preach, and
was received on trial in the Pitts
burgh Conference. In 1887, Bish-
OPP Simpson was elected Vice Pres
ident of Allegheny College, Mead
vile, Pa, and in 1889, when he
WAS but twenty eight years Of age,
he was elected President of Indi-
ana Asbury University. Not a
few Of the great men Of Methodism
were, like Bishop Simpson, placed
in positions Of influence and pow
er at a comparatively early age.
The Napoleonic Joshua Soule was
made Presiding Elder of the Maine
District at twentythree, and was
distinguished member of Gener-
al Conference at twenty seven.
The apostolic James was elected
to the office of Bishop at the age
Of thirty-seven. The gifted Ed
ward Thomson was President of
the Ohio Wesleyan University at
thirty-six. The list might be
greatly extended if space permit
ted.
In 1913, the subject of our
sketch was made editor of the
Western Christian AdUocate, and
in 1852 he was chosen to be a
a Bishop of the Methodist Episco-
pal Church. Bishop Simpson held
his first conference in Morgantown
twenty seven years ago. Then he
was in the beginning of his SPLEEN
did fame,-n0w his name is q
treasured word in all Methodist
homes, and q constant source of
inspiration to all young Method
list preachers. In the discharge
Of his Episcopal duties he has Wis
tied and held conferences in all
the States and in most Of the Ter
ritories. In 1857, he was dele
gate to the Irish and British Con
ferences, and in the same year was
a delegate to the Evangelical ALI
ance in Berlin, from whence he
eXtenned his travels to Turkey,
the Holy Land, Egypt and Greece.
He was made President of Garrett
Biblical Institute in 1859. He
visited Europe in 1870 to complete
Bishop Kingsley's work and as
delegate to the English Conference,
and again in 1875 to hold the con-
terences in Germany and Switzer-
land. He is the author of "a
Hundred years of Methodism,"
and of the Encyclopedia of Method
ism" In 1.-THE winter of 1883 he
delivered ten lectures on preaching
before the Divinity students of
Yale College, which have since
been published in book form.
During the war Bishop Simpson
was a tower of strength to the
Union cause. In the darkest hours
of the struggle for the National
existence, his eloquent voice was
heard in his lecture on the Future
of our Country" summoning ev-
cry patriot to it's defence, and in
glowing colors painting the .mag-
nifcent destiny we are yet to full
fill. He was more than once the
trusted adviser, as he was always
the warm personal friend of Presi-
dent Lincoln, over whose grave at
Springfield, he delivered, perhaps,
the most eloquent address Of his
ife.
His influence Oh Methodism has
been powerful and benefcent. His
conservatism has been intellig ent
and tolerant, his liberalism con-
structiye and SAFE He is a wise
as well as a gifted man. He pos
sesses, in large measure for a man
of the oratorical temperament, the
insight and sagacity of the prac-
teal statesman.
The pulpit, however, is Bishop
Simpsons home. 1t is the throne
Of his power. He is great in many
elements Of intellect and character,