Edgar Dewitt Jones
Encyclopedia
Edgar Dewitt Jones was an American
clergyman, ecumenist, and author, born December 5, 1876 at Hearne
, Tex.
, and educated at Transylvania University
where he was a member of the Alpha-Omicron Chapter of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, University of Missouri
and Illinois Wesleyan University
. He first studied law but later turned to theology, studying at the College of the Bible, now Lexington Theological Seminary
. After completing his seminary education, he was ordained at Independence Boulevard Christian Church in Kansas City, MO, which was served as pastor by Dr. George Hamilton Combs. He was married in 1901 to Frances Rumble. The couple had six children, five of whom lived to maturity -- Edgar Dewitt Jones, Jr.; Mrs. Thomas Sherrard; Mrs. John R. Walker; Willis R. Jones, and W. Westbrook Jones.
denomination in 1901 and held pastor
ates in Kentucky
, Ohio
, Illinois
, and Michigan
. Following graduation from the College of the Bible 1901, he took charge of four rural congregations in Boone County, Kentucky, one of which was the church in Bullitsville, which served as the basis of his novel published in 1917 Fairhope, the Annals of a Country Church. He took up residence at Erlanger, KY, living in a boarding house until his marriage to Frances Rumble. He would organize a congregation in Erlanger in 1902, while giving up three of his other charges -- the exception being Bullitsville. From there he was called to Cleveland's historic Franklin Circle Christian Church, which he served for three years beginning in 1903. In 1906 he was called to serve as pastor of First Christian Church of Bloomington, IL. While the pastor of First Christian Church, he served as president of the Illinois Convention of the Disciples (1915-1916). Following this, he served as the President of the International Convention of the Disciples (1917-1919).
Having risen to prominence in the Disciples, Jones looked to move to a congregation in a large urban setting. Thus, in 1920 he became the pastor of Central Christian Church in Detroit, MI. He came to the church having been promised that the congregation was intent upon building a new, larger, facility. By 1922, after the untimely death of the congregation's leading benefactor, Philip Gray, it became clear that the plans would have to be abandoned. Feeling that Central could not fulfill the dreams he had for an influential urban congregation, Jones offered to resign, an offer that was rejected. It was at this time, that a group from within Central began conversations with leadership at Woodward Avenue Christian Church, which sat on Woodward Avenue, about merging. At first these discussions were scuttled, when the pastor of the Woodward Avenue Church voiced opposition.
In 1926, after a new pastor had come to Woodward Avenue, the two congregations were able to complete the merger, with the Woodward Avenue pastor gave way to the more prominent Jones.
The merged congregations then began the project of building a new building on the site of the Woodward Avenue Christian Church, with the new congregation taking the name Central Woodward Christian Church
. In a speech given in 1975 on the fiftieth anniversary of the announced merger, Jones's son, Willis R. Jones, noted that the two congregations brought different strengths. Central Christian Church, which lay on Second Avenue, had among its members a number of civic and industrial leaders, along with the financial support of the Philip Gray family, while the Woodward Avenue congregation, besides having a prime location, had a large contingent of younger members, including youth.
Jones remained pastor of this congregation until he retired in 1946. In 1922 he joined the staff
of the Detroit News
. As a religious leader, he served as President of the Federal Council of Churches (1936–1938) and the Association for the Promotion of Christian Unity (later the Council on Christian Unity), a Disciples of Christ entity.
Beyond his leadership in the religious community, he was a student of Abraham Lincoln, collecting memorabilia and papers, and hosting an annual Lincoln dinner that featured as speakers eminent students of Lincoln. His Lincoln Collection can now be found at the Detroit Public Library.
His writings include:
His living descendants are his grand children Paul Dewitt Jones, Jack Franklin Jones, Thomas Johnson Sherrard and John Edgar Sherrard, each having children of their own.
References:
"Jones, Edgar Dewitt," by Clinton Holloway, in The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement, (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2004).
"Biographical Sketch of Edgar Dewitt Jones," in Moore, W. T. (editor), The New Living Pulpit of the Christian Church (St. Louis: Christian Board of Publication, 1918). Online edition at http://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/texts/wmoore/tnlpb/JONESED.HTM
Willis R. Jones, "Two into One," (speech given at Central Woodward Christian Church (1975) http://detroitchurches.history.msu.edu/Object/A-42-32/two-into-one-/
Notes:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
clergyman, ecumenist, and author, born December 5, 1876 at Hearne
Hearne, Texas
Hearne is a city in Robertson County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,690 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bryan-College Station metropolitan area...
, Tex.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and educated at Transylvania University
Transylvania University
Transylvania University is a private, undergraduate liberal arts college in Lexington, Kentucky, United States, affiliated with the Christian Church . The school was founded in 1780. It offers 38 majors, and pre-professional degrees in engineering and accounting...
where he was a member of the Alpha-Omicron Chapter of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
and Illinois Wesleyan University
Illinois Wesleyan University
Illinois Wesleyan University is an independent undergraduate university located in Bloomington, Illinois. Founded in 1850, the central portion of the present campus was acquired in 1854 with the first building erected in 1856...
. He first studied law but later turned to theology, studying at the College of the Bible, now Lexington Theological Seminary
Lexington Theological Seminary
Lexington Theological Seminary is an accredited graduate theological institution located in Lexington, Kentucky. Although the seminary is related to the Christian Church , it is intentionally ecumenical with almost 50 percent of its enrollment coming from other denominations...
. After completing his seminary education, he was ordained at Independence Boulevard Christian Church in Kansas City, MO, which was served as pastor by Dr. George Hamilton Combs. He was married in 1901 to Frances Rumble. The couple had six children, five of whom lived to maturity -- Edgar Dewitt Jones, Jr.; Mrs. Thomas Sherrard; Mrs. John R. Walker; Willis R. Jones, and W. Westbrook Jones.
Ministries
He became a minister of the Disciples of ChristChristian Church (Disciples of Christ)
The Christian Church is a Mainline Protestant denomination in North America. It is often referred to as The Christian Church, The Disciples of Christ, or more simply as The Disciples...
denomination in 1901 and held 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"....
ates in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, 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...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, and Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. Following graduation from the College of the Bible 1901, he took charge of four rural congregations in Boone County, Kentucky, one of which was the church in Bullitsville, which served as the basis of his novel published in 1917 Fairhope, the Annals of a Country Church. He took up residence at Erlanger, KY, living in a boarding house until his marriage to Frances Rumble. He would organize a congregation in Erlanger in 1902, while giving up three of his other charges -- the exception being Bullitsville. From there he was called to Cleveland's historic Franklin Circle Christian Church, which he served for three years beginning in 1903. In 1906 he was called to serve as pastor of First Christian Church of Bloomington, IL. While the pastor of First Christian Church, he served as president of the Illinois Convention of the Disciples (1915-1916). Following this, he served as the President of the International Convention of the Disciples (1917-1919).
Having risen to prominence in the Disciples, Jones looked to move to a congregation in a large urban setting. Thus, in 1920 he became the pastor of Central Christian Church in Detroit, MI. He came to the church having been promised that the congregation was intent upon building a new, larger, facility. By 1922, after the untimely death of the congregation's leading benefactor, Philip Gray, it became clear that the plans would have to be abandoned. Feeling that Central could not fulfill the dreams he had for an influential urban congregation, Jones offered to resign, an offer that was rejected. It was at this time, that a group from within Central began conversations with leadership at Woodward Avenue Christian Church, which sat on Woodward Avenue, about merging. At first these discussions were scuttled, when the pastor of the Woodward Avenue Church voiced opposition.
This meeting was held without the presence of either of the ministers, and when the able young pastor at the Woodward Avenue Church heard of it he was much disturbed, since he had his own plans for a new building and some funds set aside for that purpose. For a time this minister, with whom I had been on friendly terms, suspected that I was the moving spirit in this merger proposition, which I was not at that time. It is always a mistake to go over the head of the pastor, who is the head of the local church and should be consulted in every project. This action, made with the best of intentions, fell through for the time in its purpose, and it was not until years later that that minister understood all the facts and we became friends again.
In 1926, after a new pastor had come to Woodward Avenue, the two congregations were able to complete the merger, with the Woodward Avenue pastor gave way to the more prominent Jones.
The merged congregations then began the project of building a new building on the site of the Woodward Avenue Christian Church, with the new congregation taking the name Central Woodward Christian Church
Central Woodward Christian Church
Central Woodward Christian Church is a Metro-Detroit congregation affiliated with the Christian Church . Located in Troy, Michigan, this historic congregation was originally located in Detroit on Woodward Avenue...
. In a speech given in 1975 on the fiftieth anniversary of the announced merger, Jones's son, Willis R. Jones, noted that the two congregations brought different strengths. Central Christian Church, which lay on Second Avenue, had among its members a number of civic and industrial leaders, along with the financial support of the Philip Gray family, while the Woodward Avenue congregation, besides having a prime location, had a large contingent of younger members, including youth.
Jones remained pastor of this congregation until he retired in 1946. In 1922 he joined the staff
Workforce
The workforce is the labour pool in employment. It is generally used to describe those working for a single company or industry, but can also apply to a geographic region like a city, country, state, etc. The term generally excludes the employers or management, and implies those involved in...
of the Detroit News
The Detroit News
The Detroit News is one of the two major newspapers in the U.S. city of Detroit, Michigan. The paper began in 1873, when it rented space in the rival Free Press's building. The News absorbed the Detroit Tribune on February 1, 1919, the Detroit Journal on July 21, 1922, and on November 7, 1960,...
. As a religious leader, he served as President of the Federal Council of Churches (1936–1938) and the Association for the Promotion of Christian Unity (later the Council on Christian Unity), a Disciples of Christ entity.
Writings
A prolific writer, perhaps his most important book was The Royalty of the Pulpit (Harper, 1951). This book is a study of Yale University's "Lyman Beecher Lectures on Preaching" from 1872 until 1950. He served as a correspondent for a time with the Detroit News, and wrote a regular column for the paper entitled "Successful Living."Beyond his leadership in the religious community, he was a student of Abraham Lincoln, collecting memorabilia and papers, and hosting an annual Lincoln dinner that featured as speakers eminent students of Lincoln. His Lincoln Collection can now be found at the Detroit Public Library.
His writings include:
- The Inner Circle (1914)
- The Wisdom of God's Fools (1916)
- Fairhope, The AnnalsAnnalsAnnals are a concise form of historical representation which record events chronologically, year by year. The Oxford English Dictionary defines annals as "a narrative of events written year by year"...
of a Country Church (1917) - The Tender Pilgrims (1917)
- Ornamented Orthodoxy (1918)
- When JesusJesusJesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
Wrote on the Ground (1924) - The Wisdom of WashingtonGeorge WashingtonGeorge Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
and the Learning of LincolnAbraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
(1924) - Blundering into Paradise (1932)
- American Preachers of Today: Intimate Appraisals of Thirty-two Leaders (1933)
- The Great Business of Being Christian (1938)
- Lincoln and the Preachers (1948)
- The Royalty of the Pulpit (1951).
- Sermons I Love to Preach (1953).
His living descendants are his grand children Paul Dewitt Jones, Jack Franklin Jones, Thomas Johnson Sherrard and John Edgar Sherrard, each having children of their own.
References:
"Jones, Edgar Dewitt," by Clinton Holloway, in The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement, (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2004).
"Biographical Sketch of Edgar Dewitt Jones," in Moore, W. T. (editor), The New Living Pulpit of the Christian Church (St. Louis: Christian Board of Publication, 1918). Online edition at http://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/texts/wmoore/tnlpb/JONESED.HTM
Willis R. Jones, "Two into One," (speech given at Central Woodward Christian Church (1975) http://detroitchurches.history.msu.edu/Object/A-42-32/two-into-one-/
Notes: