The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-06-25
GONE TO HIS REWARD.
Mathew Simpson, Bishop, Quits This
Life.

lhlLADfLfdAA, d. "N1S
Mathew Simpson Bishop Of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, died at
his home. in this city, at half-past 8
o'clock this morning. His illness
dates since last February. de was
advanced in age, being in his l4th
wear. and while hale and hearty he
has not been in robust health for
some time. After bis return from
Denver, where he attended the we'd
ding of bishop Warren, he has done
but little since. By strong effort he
succeeded in presiding over the
opening of the conference IN May,
and this was his last work for the
Church he had so steadily labored
in, for half century. He had no
organic disease, and his death re-
suited from the Prostration of old age
and over work. For three days he
has been lying with but the faintest
flutterings oflife about him but, with
the vitality which astonishes his
friends be clung to existence long
after hope had been abandoned.
MATHEW SIMPSON.
Much of Bishop Simpsons life
having been spent in Pittsburgh, and
inWestern Pennsylvania. his death
is deeply felt by all Methodists in
this city having been apastor here,
earning his early laurels in this sec
ton, and marrying a Pittsburgh la
dy, the older members OF our
local churches had become accus-
toned TO look upon him as one of
their number. la his discourse and
in private conversation he had often
been heard to speak of himself as a
Pittsburgher with pride. Yet his
field of work extended far beyond the
confines of any one city. 1t embra-
ced the whole continent, and in one
sense, the world. His name and
fame were commensurate with
Methodism, and even reached be-
yond it. From the STRIPPING of
young preacher beginning his labors
in the Pittsburgh Conference. he
rose to the distinction of Senior
Bishop in the great Methodist Epis
copal Church, and to-day tens and
hundreds of thousands Of people
everywhere mourn his loss.
HIS EARLY MINISTERIAL LIFE.
Matthew Simpson, l.. d., Ii. d., /
was born at Cadiz, Ohio, on June
20, 1911, and was therefore 73 years
old. He received an academic edu-
cation in his native town, which gave
him a taste for more knowledge /
He then went on foot to Uniontown, |
Pa, where he became a student in
Madison College, where he gradua-
ted, and was elected a tutor in his
18th year In 1893 be received the !
degree of NJ. d.. and at once COM
menced the practice of medicine 1
About the same time. feeling it his
duty TO enter the ministry, he was
licensed TO preach and was received |
on trial in the Pittsburgh Conference. |
He entered upon the work that year
with enthusiasm, and developed .
such ability that he was sent the
next year to Pittsburgh, in connec-
ton with Rev. Thomas NJ. Hudson !
and DR.. William Hunter. Much of
his moral and intellectual develop
ment is to be credited to his uncle,
also named Matthew Simpson, who |
died in Allegheny City in 1878, at the
age of 9S. In 1885 the future bishop /
was stationed at Liberty Street
Church, Pittsburgh, in 1886 at Mon
ongahela City, and in 1888 he was
elected Vice President and Professor
of Natural Science in Allegheny
College, at Meadville Pa, into which
Madison College had been merged. !
In 1889 he was elected President of
Indiana Asbury University where
he remained until, in 1913, he was
elected editor of the Western Christ
ian 4dvocate, with headquarters at
Cincinnati. In 1852 the General |
Conference of the NJ. E. Church, at .
its meeting in the city of Boston,
elected him to the office of bishop.
He nov removed to Pittsburgh, where
he was located until 1859, when he
changed his residence from Pitts
burgh to Evanston, where he remain
ed for several years, part of which
time he was the honorary president
of the Garrett Biblical Institute.
Later he removed to Philadelphia,
and ever claimed that city as his
residence.
AT HOME AND ABROAD.
In the discharge of the duties of
his Office, Bishop Simpson has at
tended conferences held in all the |
States and nearly all the Territories.
He has presided at the Pittsburgh !
Conference four tilnes-in 1852, at
Washington, Pa. /; in 1857, at Mon
cngahela City in 1872, in Allegheny
City, and in 1871 he assisted Bishop /
Clark at Steubenvillc. On the oc- I
casion of the bishops meeting in
Pittsburgh, in the spring of 1883, !
the semi-centennial of Bishop Simp-
soh's entrance into the ministry was
celebrated by an immense outpour-
ing of Methodists at Library Hall
on a Sabbath afternoon, when Bish-
ops Warren and Simpson delivered /
addresses. His position af Bishop
took him to Euaope upon Ecclesias- |
tical affairs frequently In 1857 be
was sent as delegate from the Gen.
eral Conference to the British-irish |
Conference, and was also a delegate
to the Evangelical Alliance, which
met in Berlin the same year. On
the close of his religious work he
made an extensive tour of the old
continent, going through Turkey
and the Holy Land, and returned
to the United States in 1858. In
1870 he was again sent to Europe
as delegate to the English Confer
ence of that year. In 1874 he made
a tour of Mexico, accompanied by
his wife, and the succeeding year
went to Europe to hold the Confer
ence of Germany and Switzerland.
In 1854 he made an extended
tour, studying the missionary status
and wants of his church in SYRIA,
European Turkey and Switzerland.
Germany and Scandinavia. He was
three times member of General
Conference. and a fraternal delegate