John Fletcher Hurst
Encyclopedia
John Fletcher Hurst was a bishop
in the Methodist Episcopal Church
in the United States
and first Chancellor of the American University
in Washington, D.C.
, he died on May 4, 1903, in Bethesda, Maryland
.
Hurst graduated from Dickinson College
in 1854, and in 1856 went to Germany
to Study at the University of Halle and the University of Heidelberg.
From 1858 to 1866 he was engaged in pastoral work in America, and from 1866 to 1870 he filled a five-year appointment as Professor
of Systematic Theology
at the Martin Mission Institute in Bremen, Germany
. In 1870, Hurst was chosen to teach Historical Theology
at Drew Theological Seminary
in Madison, New Jersey
, where he was elected President
in 1873, serving until elected to the Episcopacy in 1880.
Through his devotion, Hurst, recovered the endowment of Drew Theological Seminary
, lost by the failure in 1876 of Daniel Drew
, its founder; and with John McClintock and George Richard Crooks
he improved the quality of Methodist scholarship.
As Bishop he was assigned to Des Moines, Iowa
. He subsequently served as the first chancellor of the American University
(Methodist Episcopal) in Washington, D.C.
, where through his work finances were secured and the university first opened. He served as chancellor from 1891 until his death.
On the campus of American University, there is an academic building named after Bishop Hurst.
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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...
in 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...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and first Chancellor of the American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Biography
Born on August 17, 1834, in Salem, Dorchester County, MarylandDorchester County, Maryland
Dorchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland on its Eastern Shore. It is bordered by the Choptank River to the north, Talbot County to the northwest, Caroline County to the northeast, Wicomico County to the southeast, Sussex County, Delaware, to the east, and the Chesapeake...
, he died on May 4, 1903, in Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
.
Hurst graduated from Dickinson College
Dickinson College
Dickinson College is a private, residential liberal arts college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Originally established as a Grammar School in 1773, Dickinson was chartered September 9, 1783, five days after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, making it the first college to be founded in the newly...
in 1854, and in 1856 went to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
to Study at the University of Halle and the University of Heidelberg.
From 1858 to 1866 he was engaged in pastoral work in America, and from 1866 to 1870 he filled a five-year appointment as Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Systematic Theology
Systematic theology
In the context of Christianity, systematic theology is a discipline of Christian theology that attempts to formulate an orderly, rational, and coherent account of the Christian faith and beliefs...
at the Martin Mission Institute in Bremen, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. In 1870, Hurst was chosen to teach Historical Theology
Historical theology
Historical theology is a branch of theological studies that investigates the socio-historical and cultural mechanisms that give rise to theological ideas, systems, and statements. Research and method in this field focus on the relationship between theology and context as well as the major...
at Drew Theological Seminary
Drew University
Drew University is a private university located in Madison, New Jersey.Originally established as the Drew Theological Seminary in 1867, the university later expanded to include an undergraduate liberal arts college in 1928 and commenced a program of graduate studies in 1955...
in Madison, New Jersey
Madison, New Jersey
Madison is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the population was 16,530. It also is known as "The Rose City".-Geography:Madison is located at ....
, where he was elected President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
in 1873, serving until elected to the Episcopacy in 1880.
Through his devotion, Hurst, recovered the endowment of Drew Theological Seminary
Drew University
Drew University is a private university located in Madison, New Jersey.Originally established as the Drew Theological Seminary in 1867, the university later expanded to include an undergraduate liberal arts college in 1928 and commenced a program of graduate studies in 1955...
, lost by the failure in 1876 of Daniel Drew
Daniel Drew
-Biography:He was born in Carmel, New York.Drew was poorly educated. His father died when Daniel was fifteen years old. Drew enlisted and drilled, but because he enlisted too late, never fought in the War of 1812. After the war, he started a successful cattle-driving business. In 1823, he married...
, its founder; and with John McClintock and George Richard Crooks
George Richard Crooks
George Richard Crooks was a United States writer, educator, and Methodist minister.-Biography:...
he improved the quality of Methodist scholarship.
As Bishop he was assigned to Des Moines, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. He subsequently served as the first chancellor of the American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
(Methodist Episcopal) in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, where through his work finances were secured and the university first opened. He served as chancellor from 1891 until his death.
On the campus of American University, there is an academic building named after Bishop Hurst.
Works
He published:- A History of Rationalism (1866)
- HagenbachKarl Rudolf HagenbachKarl Rudolf Hagenbach was a Swiss church historian.-Life:He was born at Basel, where his father was a practising physician. His preliminary education was at a Pestalozzian school, and afterwards at the gymnasium, whence in due course he passed to the newly reorganized local university...
's Church History of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries (2 vols, 1869) - van OosterzeeJan Jakob van OosterzeeJan Jacob van Oosterzee , Dutch divine, was born at Rotterdam. He was educated at the University of Utrecht 1835 – 1839...
's John's Gospel: Apologetical Lectures (1869) - LangeJohann Peter LangeJohann Peter Lange , was a German Calvinist theologian of peasant origin.-Biography:...
's Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans (1869) - Martyrs to the Tract Cause: A Contribution to the History of the Reformation (1872)
- a translation and revision of Thelemann's Martyrer der Traktatsache (1864)
- Outlines of Bible History (1873)
- Outlines of Church History (1874)
- Life and Literature in the Fatherland (1875), brilliant sketches of Germany
- a brief pamphlet, Our Theological Century (1877)
- Bibliotheca Theologica (1883), a compilation by his students, revised by GW Gillmore in 1895 under the title Literature of Theology
- Indika: the Country and People of India and Ceylon (1891), the outgrowth of his travels in 1884-1885 when he held the conferences of India
- several church histories (Chautauqua text-books) published together as A Short History of the Christian Church (1893).
External links
- Biographical Notes: Presidents and Key Figures in the History of Drew University (Drew Univ. Library) http://depts.drew.edu/lib/archives/bios.php
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