George Foster Pierce
Encyclopedia
George Foster Pierce was an American
bishop
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South
elected in 1854.
. George Foster was the son of the Rev. Lovick Pierce, a Pastor
and a Chaplain
in the War of 1812
. Rev. Lovick Pierce was the brother of Rev. Reddick Pierce. Both brothers were well known within the southern Methodist circuit; though, Lovick and his son George were perhaps the more famous. Interestingly, the elder brother Reddick had a daughter, Sarah, who in turn (after marrying an Alexander McKinnon) had a son, which she name Robert George Pierce McKinnon. Robert George Pierce McKinnon, named after his mother's cousin, in turn was a Methodist minister (and subsequently, baptist, as employment demands dictated); though, his fame was localized within the area of Eastman, Georgia.
at Franklin College
in Athens, Georgia
(the founding college of the University of Georgia
), from which he later graduated. While at Franklin College, he was a member of the Phi Kappa Literary Society
. He joined the Traveling Ministry of the Georgia Annual Regional Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
in 1831, the only college graduate at the time. He was ordained by Bishop James Osgood Andrew
.
of the Georgia Female College in Macon
(now Wesleyan College
), the first four-year college in the world chartered to offer undergraduate education exclusively to women. In 1848 he became the President of Emory College
(later, University), its first President to have been educated in Georgia. Pierce served in this capacity until his election as a Bishop in 1854.
He was a delegate to the historic General Conference of 1844 which met in New York City
. He tried in vain to be a moderating influence in the debate that erupted over slavery
. In the end, the next year in Louisville
he reluctantly helped to organize the M.E. Church, South
which resulted from the schism of 1844. He was likewise resistant to Georgia's secession
prior to the Civil War
. Indeed, he was courageous enough (or more aptly, realistic) to advocate the repeal of Georgia's slave laws in 1863. It has long been maintained among members of the Oxford, GA community that Pierce, like many Southern slaveholders, fathered mixed-race children.
However, scholarly works such as "The Southern Methodist Church and the Proslavery Argument," published in The Journal of Southern History, Vol. 32, No. 3. (Aug., 1966), pp. 325–341. note that Pierce's reforms were mild. In 1863 Pierce delivered a speech before the Georgia Legislature in which he argued for slavery and supported the succession of states and the Confederate cause stating "The triumph of our arms is the triumph of right and truth and justice. The defeat of our enemies us the defeat of wrong and malice and outrage. Our Confederacy has committed herself to no iniquitous policy, no unholy alliances, no unwarrantable plans..." (qtd. in Purifoy 340).
Pierce was widely popular throughout the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, owing no doubt in a large degree to his irenic spirit, his skill with people, and his achievements in education. After resigning Emory's Presidency to become Bishop, he nevertheless maintained a close affiliation with the College, serving in later years as a trustee
and helping to raise capital funds for the school.
Pierce died on 3 September 1884 near Sparta, Georgia
, where he was also buried.
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, South
Methodist Episcopal Church, South
The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, or Methodist Episcopal Church South, was the so-called "Southern Methodist Church" resulting from the split over the issue of slavery in the Methodist Episcopal Church which had been brewing over several years until it came out into the open at a conference...
elected in 1854.
Birth and family
He was born on 3 February 1811 in Greene County, GeorgiaGreene County, Georgia
Greene County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on February 3, 1786. As of 2000, the population is 14,406. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 15,662. The county seat is Greensboro...
. George Foster was the son of the Rev. Lovick Pierce, a 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"....
and a Chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. Rev. Lovick Pierce was the brother of Rev. Reddick Pierce. Both brothers were well known within the southern Methodist circuit; though, Lovick and his son George were perhaps the more famous. Interestingly, the elder brother Reddick had a daughter, Sarah, who in turn (after marrying an Alexander McKinnon) had a son, which she name Robert George Pierce McKinnon. Robert George Pierce McKinnon, named after his mother's cousin, in turn was a Methodist minister (and subsequently, baptist, as employment demands dictated); though, his fame was localized within the area of Eastman, Georgia.
Education
He first studied law, but was converted to the Christian faith at the age of sixteen in a revivalRevival meeting
A revival meeting is a series of Christian religious services held in order to inspire active members of a church body, to raise funds and to gain new converts...
at Franklin College
Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
The Franklin College of Arts and Sciences is the founding college of the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, United States. The college was named in honor of Benjamin Franklin.-History:...
in Athens, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
(the founding college of the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
), from which he later graduated. While at Franklin College, he was a member of the Phi Kappa Literary Society
Phi Kappa Literary Society
The Phi Kappa Literary Society is a college literary society, located at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia.The Society was founded in 1820 by Joseph Henry Lumpkin, later to become the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia and eponym for the , and by William Crabbe, Edwin...
. He joined the Traveling Ministry of the Georgia Annual Regional Conference 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...
in 1831, the only college graduate at the time. He was ordained by Bishop James Osgood Andrew
James Osgood Andrew
James Osgood Andrew was an American Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, elected in 1832. He was born in the township of Washington in Wilkes County, Georgia, a son of the Rev. John and Mary Cosby Andrew. Rev...
.
Ordained ministry
Prior to his election to the episcopacy, Pierce served as a pastor and a presiding elder. After eight years he was elected PresidentPresident
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 Georgia Female College in Macon
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
(now Wesleyan College
Wesleyan College
Wesleyan College is a private, liberal arts women's college located in Macon, Georgia, United States.-History:The school was chartered on December 23, 1836 as the Georgia Female College, and opened its doors to students on January 7, 1839. The school was renamed Wesleyan Female College in 1843...
), the first four-year college in the world chartered to offer undergraduate education exclusively to women. In 1848 he became the President of Emory College
Emory College
Emory College may refer to:* , an academic division of Emory University, located in DeKalb County, Georgia, USA, in the Atlanta area* Oxford College of Emory University, a two-year residential college of Emory University located in Oxford, Georgia, USA....
(later, University), its first President to have been educated in Georgia. Pierce served in this capacity until his election as a Bishop in 1854.
He was a delegate to the historic General Conference of 1844 which met in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He tried in vain to be a moderating influence in the debate that erupted over slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
. In the end, the next year in Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
he reluctantly helped to organize the M.E. Church, South
Methodist Episcopal Church, South
The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, or Methodist Episcopal Church South, was the so-called "Southern Methodist Church" resulting from the split over the issue of slavery in the Methodist Episcopal Church which had been brewing over several years until it came out into the open at a conference...
which resulted from the schism of 1844. He was likewise resistant to Georgia's secession
Secession
Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:...
prior to the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Indeed, he was courageous enough (or more aptly, realistic) to advocate the repeal of Georgia's slave laws in 1863. It has long been maintained among members of the Oxford, GA community that Pierce, like many Southern slaveholders, fathered mixed-race children.
However, scholarly works such as "The Southern Methodist Church and the Proslavery Argument," published in The Journal of Southern History, Vol. 32, No. 3. (Aug., 1966), pp. 325–341. note that Pierce's reforms were mild. In 1863 Pierce delivered a speech before the Georgia Legislature in which he argued for slavery and supported the succession of states and the Confederate cause stating "The triumph of our arms is the triumph of right and truth and justice. The defeat of our enemies us the defeat of wrong and malice and outrage. Our Confederacy has committed herself to no iniquitous policy, no unholy alliances, no unwarrantable plans..." (qtd. in Purifoy 340).
Pierce was widely popular throughout the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, owing no doubt in a large degree to his irenic spirit, his skill with people, and his achievements in education. After resigning Emory's Presidency to become Bishop, he nevertheless maintained a close affiliation with the College, serving in later years as a trustee
Trustee
Trustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...
and helping to raise capital funds for the school.
Pierce died on 3 September 1884 near Sparta, Georgia
Sparta, Georgia
Sparta is a country town in Hancock County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,265 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Hancock County...
, where he was also buried.
Selected writings
- Oration on Anniversary of the American Bible Society, 1844. This General Conference address exists today in part only in Sermons and Addresses.
- Sermon in The Southern Methodist Pulpit, C.F. Deems, Editor, 1849–1852.
- Incidents of Western Travel, 1854.
- Sermon: "Devotedness to Christ," preached in memory of Bishop Capers, 1857; also in Smithson, W.T., Methodist Pulpit, South, 1859.
- Wesley As An Itinerant, Wesley Memorial Volume, J.O.A. Clark, Editor, 1880.
- Sermon: "The World in the Church," Sermons by Southern Methodist Preachers, T.O. Summers, Editor, 1881.
- Sermons and Addresses A.G. Haygood, Editor, 1886.
- Sketch of Lovick Pierce, in Life and Times of George F. Pierce, G.G. Smith, 1888.
Biographies
- Smith, G.G., Life and Times of George F. Pierce, 1888.
- Fitzgerald, O.P., Eminent Methodists, 1897.
- Family Reminiscences, Julia Pierce, granddaughter (hand-written), 1947, in the Methodist Bishops' Collection, Library of Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University.
Sources
- Leete, Frederick DeLand, Methodist Bishops. Nashville, The Methodist Publishing House, 1948.
- Purifoy, Lewis. The Southern Methodist Church and the Proslavery Argument", published in The Journal of Southern History, Vol. 32, No. 3. (Aug., 1966), pp. 325–341.