Smyrna times., 1884-06-25
Bishop Simpson Dead.
THE LIFE WORK OF A NOBLE MAN IN
THE CAUSE OF METHODIsM-A
SKETCH OF HIS ELEVA-
TION TO THE BIsH-
OPRTC

After an illness that lasted for sew
elal months, Bishop Matthew Simpson
died at $50 o'clock Wednesday morn.
ing at his late home, 1884 Arch street
Philadelphia. His system had gradual.
~ been giving away to the strain OF
work and the wear of years. In the
hrst week of June he grew worse than
he had been before for many weeks.
and from that time on he sank nearer
and nearer death. The members of
his family were with him when he died
The name of Simpson was a magnetic
word III every Methodist home. A
bishop for over three decades of wears.
prominent Churchman for full half n
/ century, he gained and held the esteem
and admiration Of his entire Church .
won fame in America as its RECOGNIZED
chief, and became known the world
over as representative American and
Il powerful leader in the Protestant
schools of theology.
On his fathers side Bishop Simpson
traced his ancestry back to Scotch and
IRISH families. His mother came of an
old family Of French and English
blood, which early implanted itself up-
on American soil. James Sin,pson
his father, came to Baltimore from
Ireland in 1898. Sarah TingIev his
mother lived with her father. Jeremiah
llngley, in New Jersey, and soon after
the opening of the century moved to
Cadlz, Ohio, where she met Young
James Simpson. They were soon mar
ried, and on June 2lst, 1911, Matthew
was born. A year later his father died
III PIttsburg, whittier the family had
moved. The young widow took her
son back to Ohio, and there the educa-
ton Of the future bishop was begun.
In Eadiz Academy and in Madison
College, Pennsylvania, he read Latin
Greek, Hebrew and the modern
languages, and disciplined his intel
lectual faculties with constant review
ing OF the mathematical sciences. The
hIst recognition Of his youthful toll
was an appointment as college tutor
which he held until he gave uD college
work and returned to Ohio. There he
studied medicine, and had Just enter
ed upon its practice when his friends
persuaded him to abandon secuIar
labor and prepare himself for the
CHRISTIAN ministry. He yielded to
their inducements, and in the Summer
OF Io33-just five years after he began
his collegiate education-he was re-
ceived Into the Pittsburg Conference
at once placed on the circuit in which
he had lived, and in 1884 was piven a
charge in Pittsburg, which he surrend-
cred at the end of two years to accent n
position in MOnOngahela CITY. Here
ne remained until 1887. He was then
only tWenty-slX years old, but honOrs
were already seeking his acceptance
FIRST came the vice-presidencv of
Allegheny College, with its chair of
natural sciences, followed in 1889 with
the presidency Of Indiana Asburv
University, which position he held
until lS4S. The presidents chair and
life trusteeship in Woodward College.
in Cincinnati, were offered him. mi
declined.
HIS ELEVATION TO THE BIsHOPRIC.
When the year 1914 came the
Methodist Church was sorelv divided
Inc North was arrayed against the
oouth. Inc question of the actual
separation was discussed in the General
Conference, held that year in Boston.
NE young minister was there and won
MS hrst laurels as a strong thinker and
an able speaker in the memorable
debate, the final outcome of which was
the division of the Methodist Church
into the two sectional branches.
In 1913 he became editor Of the
Western Christian Adrocate Tbis
place he held for four wears. Then
came his great step of progress. The
presidency of the Northwestern Uni
Verslty, at Evanston, Ill.,, and the same
position IN Dickinson College. Penn
sylVania, had been urged upon him
but he declined both. A higher re-
ward was in store for him-the honor
able place Of bishop. There were then
only three in active service-Waurh.
Morrls and James. These and Others
appointed since then Bishop Simpson
0utiiVed, and at the time of his death /
ne was the oldest episcopal servant of |
the Methodist Church, both in years of /
life aud years of service.
The thirty-twO years of his bishopric
were filled with events big with inter
est to him and to his Church. First
came the Irish Conference of the .
churches at Cork in 1857, and the .
British Conference in the same wear at I
Liverpool. 70 these and the sessions
OF the Evangelical Alliance at Berlin .
bishop Simpson was the accredited .
representative of the Methodists i'm
Amerca. In 1858 he returned to the
United States, having passed through
Europe, Asia and Egypt.
a great question was then agitating
Methodists throughout the countrv2
should the Church establish theolo-
5lcal schools and have an biohlv
ministry" Bishop Simnson
believed in higher education for the
preachers of the gospel. and labored
to secure the adoption of
such policy. 70 the weight of his
arguments in favor Of this step he
added the strength of his own accept
lnee OF the presidency of the Garrett
Biblical Institute, at Evanston. Ill.
ana there continued the advocacy of
lhe new scheme. The Church at large
was brought to side with his views.
md theological institutions were at
once recognized as a necessary factor
IN the growth of the Methodist Church.
TIE FRIEND OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN
blSHOl NlmpSOn was an intimate
friend Of President Lincoln and Secre-
larry stanton, and all through the civil
war was in their close confidence.
Jne of the first to suggest the enamel
patton of the slaves, he was constantly
1t the side of the War President as
he greatest private citizen in the
Northern states. After the death of
Mr.. Lincoln, Secretary Stanton urged
lim to 90 South and study the condi-
ion of the negro, with the purpose of
a freedmans bureau. but
Bishop Simpson declined, saying, "My
luty to my Church must come first.n
President Grant offered him a commits
.ion to San Domingo, but this he re-
used for the same reason.
Bishop Simpson appeared before the
public, not as n church officer alone
'ut also as an author and orator. and a
loble citizen, having at heart the vel
are of his country. He edited the
'Cyclopedia of Methodism," the prent
'Oot of the Methodist Church. Other
works were "a Hundred Years of
and Lectures on Preach
ng," and various fugitive phamphlets
His ability as an orator was alwavs
cit. Whether it was in the simbIe
ermon of the Sabbath, or in the great