The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-06-14
Bishop Matthew Simpson.

Bishop Matthew Simpson.
The telegraph announces that Bishop Matthew
Simpson is lying at the point of death in Phila
delphia
This venerable man, so dear to the hearts of
all Methodists. and so high in the esteem of peo
in Cadiz O., June 20, 1911. He received an
academic education in his native town, at
tended Madison College, Pennsylvania (subse-
quently merged into Allegheny College, wherein
he was elected to the Office of tutor in his nine
teenth year. He engaged in teaching and hav
ing studied medicine, in 1888 he commenced its
practice. About the same time, feeling it his
duty to enter the ministry, he was licensed to
preach, and was received on trial in the Pitts
burg Conference. In 1887 he was elected vice
president and professor of natural science in
Allegheny College. In 1889 he was elected
president of Indiana Asbury University.
where he remained until 1848, when he was
elected editor of the Western Christian Advo
cate In 1852 he was chosen to the Office of
bishop In discharging his duties as bishop
he has held conferences in all the States and
Territories was sent by the General Conference
as delegate to the Irish and British conference
in 1857, and was also delegate to the Evangeh-
cal Alliance, in Berlin, the same year, from
whence he extended his travels through Turkey,
the Holy Land Egypt and Greece, returning in
1858. In 1885, he was elected president of Gar
rett Biblical Institute He accepted the position
to which, however, he devoted but little active
work. During the civil war he delivered num-
Der of addresses in behalf of the Union. A
l. I.
one of these addresses, delivered in the famous
Republican wigwam in Chicago, says:
'The immense building was densely crowded
by patriotic people, and as the eloquent bishop
pictured the duty of Christian citizenship in
that trying hour placing the stars and stripes
just below the cross, as the two fitting emblems
of the hour, the vast assemblage was most pro
foundly affected, and from that meeting-rich
with sacred aspirations-there went out over
Chicago and the broad West a wave of patriot
ism and devotion to the Union cause that told
with mighty effect upon the hearts of men,
Bishop Simpson was urged by the Secretary
of War to undertake the organization of the
freedmen and the establishment of the Freed
mems Bureau, and was afterward invited by
President Grant to go as commissioner to San
Domingo. Both of these offers he respectfully
declined.
In 1870 at the death of Bishop Kingsley, he
visited Europe to complete the work which had
been assigned the deceased Bishop on the con
tinent and also as a delegate to the English
conference In 1874 he visited Mexico, and in
1875 again visited Europe to hold the conference
of Germany and Switzerland, and also to meet
the missionaries in different parts of the
timent He was delegate to the recent
menical conference held in London, and de-
livered the opening service in City Road Chapel
the church in which John Wesley formerly
preached, His residence for number of years
has been in Philadelphia. He has written IA
Hundred Years of Methodsm," and edited the
Encyclopedia of Methodism."
AS pulpit orator Bishop Simpson has never
been surpassed in the history of Method
ism; for unctuous, pathos and glowing de-
scription he was inimitable. AS preacher of
the gospel he was masterful AS presiding of
ficer he was dignifed in his bearing, gentle in
spirit, accurate in his rulings, clear in his state
ments; commanding at all times the respect and
admiration of all His character was well-nigh
perfect, and his reputation spotless. He had the
everincreasing affection and perfect confidence
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was
universally esteemed by his countrymen for
his ripe practical wisdom and unfail-
ing devotion to the Union, during the
great crisis of the country's history
He was greatly beloved and esteemed by Presi-
dent Lincoln, and was frequently called by him
into close counsel. At the recent session of the
General Conference the bishop was in feeble
health unable to preside over its deliberations,
and cut off from the kindly intercourse of the
church and her representatives DR.. Buckley,
Of New York, offered to the General Conference
some very appropriate resolutions, expressive of
the universal love and respect of the church for
their senior bishop, which were unanimously
adopted, by a rising vote. He was permitted to
be present at the opening and closing services
and make the closing address, which was full of
matchless tenderness, wise council and bright
hopes for the future of Methodism. The death
of Bishop Simpson will leave Thomas Bowman
the senior bishop The last public service
which Bishop Simpson performed in Indianapo-
lis was the dedication Of Roberts Park Church,
he delivering the dedicatory sermon.