Calvin Kingsley
Encyclopedia
Calvin Kingsley was an American
bishop
of the Methodist Episcopal Church
elected in 1864.
, Oneida County, New York
, USA
, the first child and eldest son of Oren (Jr.) and Margaret (Buchanan) Kingsley . His family were of early Connecticut
history. Calvin's parents were not members of any church. He was converted
at the age of 18 in the Methodist Church of Ellington, New York
. His parents later were converted because of his witness, ultimately sending two sons into the ministry (including Calvin's brother Alanson Kingsley, who is a great-great-great grandfather of singer-songwriter, Taylor Swift
).
In 1841 Calvin married Delia Deborah Scudder, the daughter of Captain Marvin and Deborah (Boughton) Scudder. They had five children: Frank, Eliza, Mary, Ellen and Martha.
, Meadville, Pennsylvania
(1836–41), working as a janitor to pay his expenses, calling himself the "Professor of dust and ashes." He was Licensed to Preach in 1838 and admitted on Trial by the Erie
Annual Conference
of the M.E. Church in 1841.
(1841–42), and Meadville, Pennsylvania (1842–43). He was ordained a Deacon in the M.E. Church and admitted into Full Connection in 1843.
He was a Professor
of Mathematics
at Allegheny College (1843–44). He was then appointed Pastor at Erie, Pennsylvania
(1844–46). In 1844 Rev. Kingsley successfully debated someone of the Universalist faith. He was ordained an Elder in the M.E. Church in 1845. He returned to teaching mathematics at Allegheny (1846–55), becoming Vice President of the college in 1855.
Rev. Kingsley's final assignment before election to the Episcopacy was as Editor
of the Western Christian Advocate (1856–64), an important periodical of his denomination. During this time he resided at Columbus
, Franklin County, Ohio
.
of episcopal leadership.
Between 1869 and 1870, Kingsley embarked on a trip around the world in the cause of Missionary
work. While abroad, Bishop Kingsley wrote home, describing Japan
, Shaghi, Pekin
, Foo Chow, Calcutta, Singapore
, Madras, Benares, Lucknow
, and Bareilly
. After a detour to the Holy Land
, he planned to visit Methodist missions in Bulgaria
, Norway
, Sweden
, and Denmark
, and to attend conferences in Switzerland
, Ireland
and England
. The group with whom he visited the Holy Land included Frances Willard
.
while visiting the Holy Land, and died on 6 April 1870 in Beirut
, Syria
(now Lebanon
), at the age of fifty-seven. He was buried in Beirut in the Russian Protestant Cemetery, where the Methodist Church erected a monument in his memory.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
bishop
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 1864.
Birth and Family
Kingsley was born in AnnsvilleAnnsville, New York
Annsville is a town in Oneida County, New York, United States. At the 2000 census the town population was 2,956. The town is named after Ann Bloomfield, wife of a founder.The Town of Annsville is in the northwest part of the county.- History :...
, Oneida County, New York
Oneida County, New York
Oneida County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 234,878. The county seat is Utica. The name is in honor of the Oneida, an Iroquoian tribe that formerly occupied the region....
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the first child and eldest son of Oren (Jr.) and Margaret (Buchanan) Kingsley . His family were of early Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
history. Calvin's parents were not members of any church. He was converted
Conversion to Christianity
Conversion to Christianity is the religious conversion of a previously non-Christian person to some form of Christianity. It has been called the foundational experience of Christian life...
at the age of 18 in the Methodist Church of Ellington, New York
Ellington, New York
Ellington is a town in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The population was 1,639 at the 2000 census.- History :The first settler arrived around 1814.The Town of Ellington was formed in 1824 from the Town of Gerry.-Geography:...
. His parents later were converted because of his witness, ultimately sending two sons into the ministry (including Calvin's brother Alanson Kingsley, who is a great-great-great grandfather of singer-songwriter, Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift
Taylor Alison Swift is an American country pop singer-songwriter, musician and actress.In 2006, she released her debut single "Tim McGraw", then her self-titled debut album, which was subsequently certified multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America...
).
In 1841 Calvin married Delia Deborah Scudder, the daughter of Captain Marvin and Deborah (Boughton) Scudder. They had five children: Frank, Eliza, Mary, Ellen and Martha.
Education
Calvin attended Allegheny CollegeAllegheny 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...
(1836–41), working as a janitor to pay his expenses, calling himself the "Professor of dust and ashes." He was Licensed to Preach in 1838 and admitted on Trial by the Erie
Erie
Erie is a city in Pennsylvania, United States.Erie may also refer to:*Erie , a tribe of Native Americans-Places:*Lake Erie, one of the five Great Lakes of North America*Erie Canal, a canal running from the Hudson River to Lake Erie...
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 in 1841.
Ordained and Academic Ministry
Rev. Kingsley was appointed to Saegertown, Crawford County, PennsylvaniaCrawford County, Pennsylvania
Crawford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 88,765.Crawford County was created on March 12, 1800, from part of Allegheny County and named for Colonel William Crawford...
(1841–42), and Meadville, Pennsylvania (1842–43). He was ordained a Deacon in the M.E. Church and admitted into Full Connection in 1843.
He was a 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 Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
at Allegheny College (1843–44). He was then appointed Pastor at Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
(1844–46). In 1844 Rev. Kingsley successfully debated someone of the Universalist faith. He was ordained an Elder in the M.E. Church in 1845. He returned to teaching mathematics at Allegheny (1846–55), becoming Vice President of the college in 1855.
Rev. Kingsley's final assignment before election to the Episcopacy was as Editor
Editing
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...
of the Western Christian Advocate (1856–64), an important periodical of his denomination. During this time he resided at Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, Franklin County, Ohio
Franklin County, Ohio
Franklin County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. In 2010 the population was 1,163,414, making it the second largest county in Ohio and the 34th largest county in population in the United States. Franklin County is also the largest in the eight-county Columbus, Ohio...
.
Episcopal Ministry
Rev. Kingsley was elected a Bishop at the 1864 General Conference of the M.E. Church. He was elected the same year as Bishops Clark and Thomson, all three of whom died in their first quadrenniumQuadrennium
A quadrennium is a period of 4 years, most commonly used in reference to the 4 year period between each Olympic Games....
of episcopal leadership.
Between 1869 and 1870, Kingsley embarked on a trip around the world in the cause of 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...
work. While abroad, Bishop Kingsley wrote home, describing Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Shaghi, Pekin
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, Foo Chow, Calcutta, Singapore
Singapore
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...
, Madras, Benares, Lucknow
Lucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
, and Bareilly
Bareilly
Bareilly is a prominent city in Bareilly district in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Standing on the Ramganga river, it is the capital of the Bareilly division and the geographical region Rohilkhand...
. After a detour to the Holy Land
Holy Land
The Holy Land is a term which in Judaism refers to the Kingdom of Israel as defined in the Tanakh. For Jews, the Land's identifiction of being Holy is defined in Judaism by its differentiation from other lands by virtue of the practice of Judaism often possible only in the Land of Israel...
, he planned to visit Methodist missions in Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, and Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, and to attend conferences in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
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 group with whom he visited the Holy Land included Frances Willard
Frances Willard (suffragist)
Frances Elizabeth Caroline Willard was an American educator, temperance reformer, and women's suffragist. Her influence was instrumental in the passage of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution...
.
Death and Burial
Bishop Kingsley's trip, and his life, were cut short, however. He was stricken by a heart attackMyocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
while visiting the Holy Land, and died on 6 April 1870 in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
(now Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
), at the age of fifty-seven. He was buried in Beirut in the Russian Protestant Cemetery, where the Methodist Church erected a monument in his memory.
Selected Writings
- The Resurrection of the Dead, a vindication of the literal resurrection of the human body; in opposition to the work of Professor Bush, 1847.
- a Sermon in Original Sermons of Pittsburgh, Erie and W. Va. Conferences, William Hunter, Editor, 1850.
- Round the World, Letters and Observations on Europe and the East, published posthumously, 1870.
Biography
- Hunter, William, a sketch in Lives of Methodist Bishops, Flood and Hamilton, 1882.