Titus Lowe
Encyclopedia
Titus Lowe was an English-American Bishop
of the Methodist Episcopal Church
and The Methodist Church, elected in 1924.
, England
, the son of William Henry and Anna (Scribbins) Lowe. Titus married Anna Bessie Creed 18 October 1901. They had two daughters, Madelyn Bessie and Evelyn Oldham. Anna died 4 April 1911. Titus then married Edith Eglantine Egloff. Edith was born 21 December 1876 in Charles City
, Floyd County, Iowa
. They also had a daughter, Anna Jane. He married Ellen Louise Stoy 8 January 1957. Louise was born 30 January 1890 and died May 1979.
, earning the B.A.
degree in 1900 and the M.A.
in 1908. He attended the Western Theological Seminary
(now Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
), 1900-02. He was a member of the Sigma Chi
Fraternity. He also received several honorary doctorates.
of the M.E. Church in 1900. He was appointed Pastor
of the Fourth Street Methodist Church, Braddock, Pennsylvania
, serving 1900-03. He then went as a Missionary
to India
, pastoring the Thoburn
Methodist Church in Calcutta, 1903-08.
Lowe returned to the U.S.A. in 1908 and was appointed Pastor in South Fork, Pennsylvania
(1908-09). Then he was appointed, in succession, to the First Methodist Churches of Cedar Falls, Iowa
(1909-13) and Omaha, Nebraska
(1913-21). In 1921 the Rev. Dr. Lowe was elected Corresponding Secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions of the M.E. Church, serving in this position until elected to the Episcopacy.
The Lowe also served as a Lecturer
under the auspices of the International Committee of the YMCA
in France
during World War I
(1917-18). He was elected a delegate to M.E. General Conferences (1916-24).
Episcopal Area
(1924-28). He was then assigned to the Portland
Episcopal Area (1928-39), and to the Indianapolis
Episcopal Area of The Methodist Church
in 1939. His offices were located at 305 Underwriters Bldg. in Indianapolis.
Bishop Lowe's accomplishments were many while Episcopal Leader in Indiana
. Among these include being a charter member of the World Service Commission of the Methodist Church; serving as President
of the Methodist Commission on Interdenominational Relations; as President of the Methodist Hospital of Indianapolis, and as President of the Methodist Council of Bishops.
degree (1916) and the LL.D. degree (1926) by the Nebraska Wesleyan University
. Ohio Wesleyan gave him the D.D. in 1920. The College of Puget Sound honored him with the L.H.D. in 1931.
Bishop Lowe was a 33rd degree Mason
. He was also named a Significant Sig by the national Sigma Chi Fraternity.
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...
and The Methodist Church, elected in 1924.
Birth and family
He was born in BilstonBilston
Bilston is a town in the English county of West Midlands, situated in the southeastern corner of the City of Wolverhampton. Three wards of Wolverhampton City Council cover the town: Bilston East and Bilston North, which almost entirely comprise parts of the historic Borough of Bilston, and...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, the son of William Henry and Anna (Scribbins) Lowe. Titus married Anna Bessie Creed 18 October 1901. They had two daughters, Madelyn Bessie and Evelyn Oldham. Anna died 4 April 1911. Titus then married Edith Eglantine Egloff. Edith was born 21 December 1876 in Charles City
Charles City, Iowa
Charles City is a city in Floyd County, Iowa, United States. The population was 7,652 at the 2010 census a decrease of 160, or 2%, from 7,812 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Floyd County. Charles City is a significant commercial and transportation center for the area, located on U.S...
, Floyd County, Iowa
Floyd County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 16,303 in the county, with a population density of . There were 7,526 housing units, of which 6,886 were occupied.-2000 census:...
. They also had a daughter, Anna Jane. He married Ellen Louise Stoy 8 January 1957. Louise was born 30 January 1890 and died May 1979.
Education
Lowe graduated from Ohio Wesleyan UniversityOhio Wesleyan University
Ohio Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college in Delaware, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1842 by Methodist leaders and Central Ohio residents as a nonsectarian institution, and is a member of the Ohio Five — a consortium of Ohio liberal arts colleges...
, earning the B.A.
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 in 1900 and the M.A.
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in 1908. He attended the Western Theological Seminary
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, founded in 1794, is a graduate theological institution associated with the Presbyterian Church USA. It is located in the East Liberty neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA and houses one of the largest theological libraries in the nation...
(now Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, founded in 1794, is a graduate theological institution associated with the Presbyterian Church USA. It is located in the East Liberty neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA and houses one of the largest theological libraries in the nation...
), 1900-02. He was a member of the Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi is the largest and one of the oldest college Greek-letter secret and social fraternities in North America with 244 active chapters and more than . Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon...
Fraternity. He also received several honorary doctorates.
Ordained Ministry and Missionary Service
The Rev. Titus Lowe entered the Pittsburgh Annual ConferenceAnnual 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 in 1900. 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"....
of the Fourth Street Methodist Church, Braddock, Pennsylvania
Braddock, Pennsylvania
Braddock is a borough located in the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, 10 miles upstream from the mouth of the Monongahela River. The population was 2,159 at the 2010 census...
, serving 1900-03. He then went as a Missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, pastoring the Thoburn
James Mills Thoburn
James Mills Thoburn was an American bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church best known for his missionary work in India.Thoburn was born on March 7, 1836 in St. Clairsville, Ohio and graduated from Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania in 1857, beginning his Methodist preaching ministry...
Methodist Church in Calcutta, 1903-08.
Lowe returned to the U.S.A. in 1908 and was appointed Pastor in South Fork, Pennsylvania
South Fork, Pennsylvania
South Fork is a borough in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area...
(1908-09). Then he was appointed, in succession, to the First Methodist Churches of Cedar Falls, Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa
Cedar Falls is a city in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States, and it is home to one of Iowa's three public universities, the University of Northern Iowa. The population was 39,260 in the 2010 census, an increase from the 36,145 population in the 2000 census...
(1909-13) and Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
(1913-21). In 1921 the Rev. Dr. Lowe was elected Corresponding Secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions of the M.E. Church, serving in this position until elected to the Episcopacy.
The Lowe also served as a Lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
under the auspices of the International Committee of the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
(1917-18). He was elected a delegate to M.E. General Conferences (1916-24).
Episcopal ministry
Lowe was elected to the episcopacy of the Methodist Episcopal Church by the 1924 General Conference. He was assigned to the SingaporeSingapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
Episcopal Area
Episcopal Area
An Episcopal Area in the United Methodist Church is a basic unit of this denomination. It is a region presided over by a resident bishop that is similar to a diocese in other Christian denominations. Each annual conference in the UMC is within a single episcopal area; some episcopal areas...
(1924-28). He was then assigned to the Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
Episcopal Area (1928-39), and to the Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
Episcopal Area of The Methodist Church
The Methodist Church
The Methodist Church was the name adopted by the Methodist denomination formed in the United States by the reunion on May 10, 1939 of the northern and southern factions of the Methodist Episcopal Church with the Methodist Protestant Church....
in 1939. His offices were located at 305 Underwriters Bldg. in Indianapolis.
Bishop Lowe's accomplishments were many while Episcopal Leader in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. Among these include being a charter member of the World Service Commission of the Methodist Church; serving as 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...
of the Methodist Commission on Interdenominational Relations; as President of the Methodist Hospital of Indianapolis, and as President of the Methodist Council of Bishops.
Honors
Rev. Lowe was honored with the D.D.Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
degree (1916) and the LL.D. degree (1926) by the Nebraska Wesleyan University
Nebraska Wesleyan University
Nebraska Wesleyan University is a private, coeducational university located in Lincoln, Nebraska. It was founded in 1887 by Nebraska Methodists. As of 2007, it has 1,600 full-time students and 300 faculty and staff. The school teaches in the tradition of a liberal arts college education....
. Ohio Wesleyan gave him the D.D. in 1920. The College of Puget Sound honored him with the L.H.D. in 1931.
Bishop Lowe was a 33rd degree Mason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
. He was also named a Significant Sig by the national Sigma Chi Fraternity.