Charles Bayard Mitchell
Encyclopedia
Charles Bayard Mitchell was an American Bishop
of the Methodist Episcopal Church
, elected in 1916. He also distinguished himself as a pastor
and in service to his denomination
.
. Charles married Miss Clara Aull of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 6 July 1882. She was the daughter of James Aull and a sister of Major Willam F. Aull (State Senator).
class at Mount Union College
, Mount Union, Ohio. He completed the first three years of the college course in just two years (1875–77). He then left Mount Union for Allegheny College
, Meadville, Pennsylvania
, at that time a school of higher grade. Charles entered the senior class and graduated June 1879 with the A.B.
degree. While at Allegheny he was editor-in-chief of the "Crescent," the official organ of the Delta Tau Delta
fraternity
. Charles graduated with the honors of his class, being designated "Master Orator."
Charles went on to earn the A.M. degree at Allegheny June 1882. He also earned the Ph.D.
degree from Allegheny in 1892.
in 1911.
. In March 1880 he entered the South Kansas
Annual Conference
of the M.E. Church as a Probationer
, being a charter member of the conference. He was ordained Elder in this Conference before transferring to the S.W. Kansas Conference in 1881. He transferred again, to the Kansas Conference, in 1884, where he was appointed Pastor
in Leavenworth
. Among his other appointments were Coyville, Burton and Marion.
He went on to serve large churches scattered from New Jersey to Minnesota. By the time he was elected to the Episcopacy, he had been a member of eight different Annual Conferences.
, serving until his retirement in 1928.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Methodist Episcopal Church
The Methodist Episcopal Church, sometimes referred to as the M.E. Church, was a development of the first expression of Methodism in the United States. It officially began at the Baltimore Christmas Conference in 1784, with Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke as the first bishops. Through a series of...
, elected in 1916. He also distinguished himself as a pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
and in service to his denomination
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
.
Birth and Family
Charles was born 27 August 1857 in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania. He was the son of the Rev. Daniel Patrick Mitchell (a M.E. preacher) and Anne Eliza (Baker) Mitchell. At the age of five, Daniel moved his family to KansasKansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
. Charles married Miss Clara Aull of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 6 July 1882. She was the daughter of James Aull and a sister of Major Willam F. Aull (State Senator).
Education
After completing high school, and receiving further preparations in the classics by his sister, Mrs. L.B. Kellogg, at the age of eighteen Charles entered the freshmanFreshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
class at Mount Union College
Mount Union College
The University of Mount Union is a 4-year private, coeducational, liberal arts college in Alliance, Ohio.Mount Union enrolls 2200 undergraduates. Approximately 50 percent are women and 50 percent are men, representing more than 22 states and 13 countries. Mount Union has an active alumni base of...
, Mount Union, Ohio. He completed the first three years of the college course in just two years (1875–77). He then left Mount Union for Allegheny College
Allegheny College
Allegheny College is a private liberal arts college located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the town of Meadville. Founded in 1815, the college has about 2,100 undergraduate students.-Early history:...
, Meadville, Pennsylvania
Meadville, Pennsylvania
Meadville is a city in and the county seat of Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city is generally considered part of the Pittsburgh Tri-State and is within 40 miles of Erie, Pennsylvania. It was the first permanent settlement in northwest Pennsylvania...
, at that time a school of higher grade. Charles entered the senior class and graduated June 1879 with the A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree. While at Allegheny he was editor-in-chief of the "Crescent," the official organ of the Delta Tau Delta
Delta Tau Delta
Delta Tau Delta is a U.S.-based international secret letter college fraternity. Delta Tau Delta was founded in 1858 at Bethany College, Bethany, Virginia, . It currently has around 125 student chapters nationwide, as well as more than 25 regional alumni groups. Its national community service...
fraternity
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
. Charles graduated with the honors of his class, being designated "Master Orator."
Charles went on to earn the A.M. degree at Allegheny June 1882. He also earned the Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
degree from Allegheny in 1892.
Honorary Degrees
The Rev. Dr. Mitchell was awarded the honorary degree of D.D. by Allegheny College in 1893. He also received the LL.D. degree from Baker UniversityBaker University
Baker University is a private, residential university located in Baldwin City, Kansas, United States. Founded in 1858, it is the oldest university in Kansas and is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Baker University is made up of four schools...
in 1911.
Ordained Ministry
Immediately following college graduation, the Rev. Mitchell began preaching as a Supply Pastor under the Presiding Eldership of his father. The younger Mitchell had been Licensed to Preach while still in collegeCollege
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
. In March 1880 he entered the South Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
Annual Conference
Annual Conference
An Annual Conference in the United Methodist Church is a regional body that governs much of the life of the "Connectional Church." Annual conferences are composed primarily of the clergy members and a lay member or members from each charge . Each conference is a geographical division...
of the M.E. Church as a Probationer
Probation (workplace)
In a workplace setting, probation is a status given to new employees of a company or business.It is widely termed as Probation Period of an employee...
, being a charter member of the conference. He was ordained Elder in this Conference before transferring to the S.W. Kansas Conference in 1881. He transferred again, to the Kansas Conference, in 1884, where he was appointed Pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
in Leavenworth
Leavenworth, Kansas
Leavenworth is the largest city and county seat of Leavenworth County, in the U.S. state of Kansas and within the Kansas City, Missouri Metropolitan Area. Located in the northeast portion of the state, it is on the west bank of the Missouri River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
. Among his other appointments were Coyville, Burton and Marion.
He went on to serve large churches scattered from New Jersey to Minnesota. By the time he was elected to the Episcopacy, he had been a member of eight different Annual Conferences.
Episcopal Ministry
Bishop Mitchell was assigned to the St. Paul Episcopal Area from 1916 to 1924. He was then sent to the PhilippinesPhilippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, serving until his retirement in 1928.