The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-06-19

PHILADELPHIA, June l9.-Bishop Simpson
died at IL o'clock. His end was compare
lively sudden, coming unexpectedly when he
appeared to be resting easier.
Matthew Simpson vas born in Cadiz,
Ohio, June 2l, 1911. His father, james
Simpson, died the next year. Young
Matthew was educated i'll Cadia academy
and Madison college, Pennsylvania.
He became a tutor i'll the latter college,
but soon began the study Of medicine. He
had just entered into its practice when he
concluded to give it up for the ministry. He
was received into the Pittsbarg conference
of the Methodist church in 1885, just five
years after he began his collegiate educa-
zion. In 1884 he was given "A charge i'll
Pittsburs. He accepted position in Monon-
gaheia City two years later where lie re-
manned until 1887. He was then made pro-
fessor of natural sciences and vice presi-
dent of Allegheny college. Two
years afterward he became president
of Indiana Asbury university, which position
he held until lS4S. He then became editor
of the Western Christian Advocate This
place he held for four years. During that
time he declined the presidents chair and
life trnsteeship in Woodward college in
Cincinnati, the presidency of the Northwest
ern university at Evanston, H., and the
presidency of Dickinson college, in Penn
sylvania- He was elevated to the bishopric
thirty two years ago. The young min
lister had first shown himself TO be
strong thinker and able speaker
in 1874 during the debate at the Boston con-
ference which ended in the division of the
Methodist church into two sectional branches.
At the time of his appointment as bishop
there we're only three bishops III active ser
vice Waugh, Morris and James. They are
dead and Bishop Simpson at the time of his
ba Df
Methodist church, both in years and service.
He was the accredited representative of the
Methodists in America at the Irish
and British conferences at Cork and Liver
pool, and the sessions of the evangelical
alliance in Berlin in 1857, and after extended
travel in Asia and Egypt he returned to
America in 1858. He was strong believer
in the establishment by the church of theo-
logical schools, and in the higher education
of ministers. To add weight to his arguments
he accepted the presidency of the Garrett
Biblical institute at Evanston, ILL.,, where he
continued with success the advocacy of
his scheme. During the late war he was
an intimate friend of President Lincoln and
Secretary Stanton, and was among the first
to suggest the emancipation of the slaves.
Secretary Stanton, after the death of Mr..
Lincoln, urged him to so south and found a
freedman'S bureau He declined, saving:
My duty to my church must come first
President Grant offered him commission to
San Domingo, which he refused. He edited
the Encyclopedia of Methodism" wrote
"a Hundred Years of Methodism,"
Lectures on Preaching and various
pamphlets. He was "A powerful orator and
spoke on many memorable occasions I'm
mediately after the fall of Fort Sumter he
preached in the "wigwam" in Chicago upon
the troubles of the nation. In 1865 he spoke
upon the Future of Our Country" before
the Christian commission in Philadelphia.
This address became famous and was after
ward delivered in all the large cities. On
the death of Lincoln he made the prayer at
the White house before the funeral process
sion started, and delivered the
funeral address over the body at
Springfield, Ill. He made the opening pray
ers at the Republican national convention at
Chicago in 1S6S, at the breaking of the
ground for the Centennial buildings, and
again at the formal opening May TO- 1876.
In 1870 and 1875, at the German, Swedish,
Norwegian and English conferences, which
he attended as delegate, he was prom
inent speaker. In 1851 he delivered
the Introductory discourse at the ecu
menical council at the City Road
chapel, London. At the notable gathering
III Exeter hail. London, where a great audi
ence of English and Americans met to ex-
press sorrow at the death of President Gar
field, he made a very effective speech. Bishop
Simpson lived in Philadelphia for many
years before his death. He was married to
Miss Ellen H. Werner, of Pittsbmg, soon
after he entered the ministry. His only
living son is Matthew Werner Simp-
son assistant solicitor of Philadelphia
OF the four daughters two live at
the family residence, 1894 Arch street. An
other is the wife of the Rev. C. w. Buoy, of
Philadelphia and the foarth is the wife of
Col. James R. Weaver, consul general at
Vienna, and some time consul at Antwerp
During the general conference of the Metho-
dist church in Philadelphia in May, Bishop
Simpson, though feeble from long illness, at
tended on several occasions and made the
closing speech at the final session.