William W. Orwig
Encyclopedia
William W. Orwig was a Bishop of the Evangelical Association
in the United States
, elected in 1859. He is considered one of the most famous historical figures of the Evangelical Association.
into a faithful Evangelical home. Orwigsburg was named in honor of his great-grandfather Gottfried Orwig, who emigrated from Germany
and settled there in 1741. The home of William's grandfather, George Orwig, Sr., was a preaching point where Jacob Albright
was often a welcome guest. William's father, Abraham, moved to Union County, northwest of New Berlin, Pennsylvania
, in 1811. William's uncle George settled in Sandusky County, Ohio
in 1826. William's brother Abraham was a pioneer of the Evangelical Association Church in Bonfield, Illinois
.
Orwig was married to Susanna Rishel, who was a brave and gracious helpmate to him. She was the daughter of George and Catharine Rishel, a prominent Evangelical family in Centre County, Pennsylvania
. William and Susan's eldest son was the well-known Rev. A.W. Orwig, who died at the advanced age (for the time) of ninety-one. He was a member of the Ohio Conference of the Evangelical Association, and was an editor and author. Among their daughters were Mary (the wife of the Rev. Josiah Bowersox, missionary to Oregon), Susan (the wife of the Rev. Elisha A. Hoffman, and a poet and hymn writer in her own right), Elizabeth (the wife of the Rev. S.L. Wiest), Addie (the wife of Isaac Y. Moyer, a noted Cleveland layman of the Church).
of the Evangelical Association, 2 June 1828. He served as an itinerant circuit rider
for several years. One of his circuits had thirty-two preaching points scattered through five counties. He was appointed Presiding Elder at the age of twenty-three.
. His headquarters became New Berlin, Pennsylvania
, opening in 1837. He bought his denomination
's first printing press
! The 1839 General Conference relieved him of the office of Publisher and made him Editor of Der Christliche Botschafter (The Christian [or Christ's] Ambassador), the official German language
periodical of the Evangelical Association. Charles Hammer, also from Orwigsburg, was elected Publisher.
Society of his Church, also serving as one of its early officers. He was a pioneer and a pathfinder. He boldly advocated for higher education and was instrumental in starting the first educational institution of his denomination.
, elected William W. Orwig to the episcopacy. He served in this position only four years, however, his health proving insufficient to the task. In 1863, therefore, we was made Editor again as well as Treasurer of the Missionary Society. Later he served as a Presiding Elder in the Erie Annual Conference of his denomination until he retired.
Another historian calls Orwig "the most aggressive pioneer builder in the Evangelical Church." He was the leading spirit in launching the Sunday School
movement in 1832. He promoted the cause of education
, the first institution of learning, and the Charitable Society. During his lifetime, the Evangelical Association grew from a membership of just 2,000 to over 145,000.
In an 1859 issue of The Evangelical Messenger, an article titled "Our New Bishop" states about Bishop Orwig:
as these men of God were."
and Presiding Elder of the Evangelical Association in Ohio
, and representative of the same to the great Councils of the Federated Churches of America, wrote a tribute to Bishop Orwig on the centennial of his birth (1910). He wrote:
Evangelical Association
The Evangelical Church or Evangelical Association, also known as the Albright Brethren, is a "body of American Christians chiefly of German descent", Arminian in doctrine and theology; in its form of church government, Methodist Episcopal....
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, elected in 1859. He is considered one of the most famous historical figures of the Evangelical Association.
Birth, ancestry and family
Orwig was born near Orwigsburg, PennsylvaniaOrwigsburg, Pennsylvania
Orwigsburg is a borough in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States. Named for its founder, Peter Orwig, from West Brunswick Township in 1823. The population was 3,106 at the 2000 census...
into a faithful Evangelical home. Orwigsburg was named in honor of his great-grandfather Gottfried Orwig, who emigrated from 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...
and settled there in 1741. The home of William's grandfather, George Orwig, Sr., was a preaching point where Jacob Albright
Jacob Albright
Jacob Albright was an American Christian leader, founder of Albright's People which was officially named the Evangelical Association in 1816...
was often a welcome guest. William's father, Abraham, moved to Union County, northwest of New Berlin, Pennsylvania
New Berlin, Pennsylvania
New Berlin is a borough in Union County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 838 at the 2000 census.-Geography:New Berlin is located at ....
, in 1811. William's uncle George settled in Sandusky County, Ohio
Sandusky County, Ohio
Sandusky County is a county in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2010 census, the population was 60,944. Its county seat is Fremont and it is named for a native word meaning "water" ....
in 1826. William's brother Abraham was a pioneer of the Evangelical Association Church in Bonfield, Illinois
Bonfield, Illinois
Bonfield is a village in Kankakee County, Illinois, United States. Bonfield's population was 364 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Kankakee-Bradley, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area....
.
Orwig was married to Susanna Rishel, who was a brave and gracious helpmate to him. She was the daughter of George and Catharine Rishel, a prominent Evangelical family in Centre County, Pennsylvania
Centre County, Pennsylvania
Centre County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 153,990....
. William and Susan's eldest son was the well-known Rev. A.W. Orwig, who died at the advanced age (for the time) of ninety-one. He was a member of the Ohio Conference of the Evangelical Association, and was an editor and author. Among their daughters were Mary (the wife of the Rev. Josiah Bowersox, missionary to Oregon), Susan (the wife of the Rev. Elisha A. Hoffman, and a poet and hymn writer in her own right), Elizabeth (the wife of the Rev. S.L. Wiest), Addie (the wife of Isaac Y. Moyer, a noted Cleveland layman of the Church).
Conversion and early ministry
Orwig was converted 4 June 1826 at the age of fifteen. He was received into the ministry in the Eastern 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 Evangelical Association, 2 June 1828. He served as an itinerant circuit rider
Circuit rider
Circuit rider is a term originating from the United States for any professional who travels a regular circuit of locations to provide services, and has several specific applications:...
for several years. One of his circuits had thirty-two preaching points scattered through five counties. He was appointed Presiding Elder at the age of twenty-three.
Editorial Ministry
The 1836 General Conference of the Evangelical Association elected Orwig Book Agent and EditorEditing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
. His headquarters became New Berlin, Pennsylvania
New Berlin, Pennsylvania
New Berlin is a borough in Union County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 838 at the 2000 census.-Geography:New Berlin is located at ....
, opening in 1837. He bought 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...
's first printing press
Printing press
A printing press is a device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium , thereby transferring the ink...
! The 1839 General Conference relieved him of the office of Publisher and made him Editor of Der Christliche Botschafter (The Christian [or Christ's] Ambassador), the official German language
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
periodical of the Evangelical Association. Charles Hammer, also from Orwigsburg, was elected Publisher.
Der Christliche Botschafter
The first religious paper in the German language in America, Der Christliche Botschafter was founded in 1836. It became a stimulus to the rapid growth of the Evangelical Association, and a valuable means of recording the progressive movements of the denomination. Always held in high esteem, the pioneer preachers made diligent efforts to place it in the homes of all their members and converts. It was a significant agency in building Christian and denominational bonds.Other notable accomplishments
Orwig wrote the first history of the Evangelical Association in 1854. He was one of the founders of the MissionaryMissionary
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...
Society of his Church, also serving as one of its early officers. He was a pioneer and a pathfinder. He boldly advocated for higher education and was instrumental in starting the first educational institution of his denomination.
Episcopal Ministry
The 1859 General Conference, meeting in Naperville, IllinoisNaperville, Illinois
Naperville is a city in DuPage and Will Counties in Illinois in the United States, voted the second best place to live in the United States by Money Magazine in 2006. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 141,853. It is the fifth largest city in the state, behind Chicago,...
, elected William W. Orwig to the episcopacy. He served in this position only four years, however, his health proving insufficient to the task. In 1863, therefore, we was made Editor again as well as Treasurer of the Missionary Society. Later he served as a Presiding Elder in the Erie Annual Conference of his denomination until he retired.
Orwig the Evangelical
According to one biographer, Rev. Orwig was an "up-to-date man," not afraid to advocate new movements and new ideas. He was conservative, yet aggressive, willing to fight for his convictions. He was a student, well versed in many lines of literature. Orwig also was a staunch defender of the doctrines of his Church, and an especially strong proponent of the doctrine of entire sanctification as taught in the Book of Discipline of the Evangelical Association.Another historian calls Orwig "the most aggressive pioneer builder in the Evangelical Church." He was the leading spirit in launching the Sunday School
Sunday school
Sunday school is the generic name for many different types of religious education pursued on Sundays by various denominations.-England:The first Sunday school may have been opened in 1751 in St. Mary's Church, Nottingham. Another early start was made by Hannah Ball, a native of High Wycombe in...
movement in 1832. He promoted the cause of education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, the first institution of learning, and the Charitable Society. During his lifetime, the Evangelical Association grew from a membership of just 2,000 to over 145,000.
In an 1859 issue of The Evangelical Messenger, an article titled "Our New Bishop" states about Bishop Orwig:
- He has a sound reliable judgment, and an unflinching firmness of character.... His predominant feature of character... is his indomitable energy, and untiring perseverance.
Death and burial
Bishop Orwig died 29 May 1889 at the age of seventy-eight. The memorial report of his death expressed deep gratitude for his founding role in the Evangelical Association. "We earnestly urge all our young ministers," the report read, "to study the lives of the Fathers of our Church, praying that they may all be consecrated by the Holy SpiritHoly Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
as these men of God were."
An appreciation
J.B. Kanaga, an important PastorPastor
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 Presiding Elder of the Evangelical Association in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, and representative of the same to the great Councils of the Federated Churches of America, wrote a tribute to Bishop Orwig on the centennial of his birth (1910). He wrote:
- In his preaching he was always exact, and adequate in his treatment of a subject. He was always concerned and often even anxious about his preparation. But when he came to the delivery he stood forth as a Master in IsraelIsraelThe State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. Not gifted with eloquence, and I think, actually indifferent to all but apostolicApostle (Christian)The term apostle is derived from Classical Greek ἀπόστολος , meaning one who is sent away, from στέλλω + από . The literal meaning in English is therefore an "emissary", from the Latin mitto + ex...
unction and GospelGospelA gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
truth... he wrought with heroic devotion in the day of small things and the hand of that master builder was in the foundation of the Church.
Selected writings
- the first history of the Evangelical Association (1854)
- Die Heils Fuelle, (translated, "Full Salvation")
- a catechism for the Evangelical Association
- a book on Pastoral TheologyPastoral theologyPastoral theology is the branch of practical theology concerned with the application of the study of religion in the context of regular church ministry. This approach to theology seeks to give practical expression to theology...