Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-06-19
EDITION,
Death Of Bishop simpson

Rev. Matthew Simpson, u. ~, LII;
D., Bishop Of the Methodist Episcopal
church, whose death had been momen.
tarily expected since last Friday, passed
away quietly at Philadelphia on We'd
nesday morning at nine o'clock, sur
rounded by his wife aud children. The
Bishop was sevent y.three years OF age,
and his death was the result Of nervous
prostration and debility, from which il
was impossible for him to recover.
During nearly the whole OF bishop
mpson's life his strength and endur'
ance were great, and 1t was not until a
few years ago, while preaching q SER
mon In San Francisco that . definite
sign Of weakness, the effect OF years OF
ceaseless labor In the church, mani
tested itself.
He WAS forced to leave the pulpit and
seek rest. A severe attack Of nervous
prostration followed, and his physical
troubles date from that time. Shortly
be fore the opening Of the General Con-
ference the Bishop was again pros
trated by weakness, and though he
recovered sufficiently to attend few
meetings, he Immediately suffered a
relapse, and thereafter was unable to
leave his bed. He was born at Cadiz,
Ohio, June q, 1911, the son OF James
and Mary Simpson. Here he received
his primary education, and Afterwards
graduated at Allegheny College, Pa,
receiving the degree OF A. NJ. he
studied medicine and was graduated
in Cadiz in 1888, at the age OF twenty
two.
At this time he resolved to enter the
ministry, and after being licensed as a
local preacher, Joined the Pittsburg
Conference. lie was ordained deacon in
1885, and took elders orders in 1887,
the same year in which he became Pro-
lessor Of Natural Sciences in Allegheny
College and Vice President OF thauinsti-
tuition. At the end Of two years he was
chosen President of the Indiana Asbury
University, where he remained until
l848 Then he bee anne the editor OF the
Western Christian Advocate, in Cincin.
natl He was elevated to the Episco-
pate in 1862, and received the degree OF
Doctor of Divinity from the Wesleyan
University at Middletown, Conn. The
same institution in the year 1871 con.
ferred upon him the degree Of LII. d.
In 1857 he went as delegate from
the General Conference to the Irish and
British Conference and the Evangelical
Alliance in Berlin, and while in Europe
travelled through Turkey, the Holy
Land, Egypt and Greece, returning u
America in 1858 During the late war be
shoyed his patriotism in every word and
action. He WAS requested by Presiden,
Grant to serve as Commissioner to San
Domingo, and was asked to superintend
the organization OF the Frsedmeu's Blu
reau, but declined both. AT the open ing
of the Centennial Exhibition, May 10,
1876, he was selected to invoke the Di.
vine blessing. In 1873 he delivered d
series OF lectures before the Theological
department Of Yale College, and. during
the sessions Of the General Conference
in Cincinnati in 1880 delivered proba.
bly, the greatest sermon in his life before
An audience Of 9, 0OUsouls.
His subject on that occasion wal
The Growth and Ultimate Triumph
of Christianity His sermons before
the Wesleyan Ecumenical Council IL
London in 1880, and his speech before
the Exeter Hall meeting, to mourn the
death Of President Garfield, are no lesl
memorable. Bishop simpson leaves
widow, five daughters and one son; thu
latter is member Of the Philadelphia
bar, and was An assistant City SOlieito
during Mr.. VESTS administration.
meeting OF Methodist ministers ha
been called for to-day in Wesley Hall
to take action upon the death Of tn
| Bishop.