James Butler (bible scholar)
Encyclopedia
James Butler was a pioneer of the Bible College
movement in Adelaide, South Australia, and was the joint founding Superintendent
of Adelaide Bible Institute (now Bible College of South Australia
) with his brother-in-law Sam Barrett.
couple who had emigrated from London
to Adelaide
in 1882. Richard Butler was an umbrella
maker, cutlery
sharpener of scissors
and knives, and china
restorer by trade, and established a shop in the Adelaide Arcade. James joined his father and the family traded as Richard Butler and Sons. James and his wife Hanna had five children; Rowland, Clifford, Colin, Verna and Ruth. Rowland (1905–1971) was a missionary to China with the China Inland Mission
in 1928.
Around the turn of the century Butler attended Angas College, an evangelical
college that had been modeled on Moody Bible Institute
and influenced by missionary Hudson Taylor
. In 1905 James’ sister Laura married Sam Barrett, also a graduate of Angas College. Butler and Barrett became close friends, thoroughly committed to the evangelical cause.
When Angas College closed in 1920, and prospects for the recently begun Chapman-Alexander Bible Institute looked dim, Butler and Barrett resolved to establish the Adelaide Bible Institute, classes for which began in 1924. The two continued as joint superintendents until the establishment of a residential college at Payneham in 1949.
Bible college
Bible colleges are institutions of higher education that specialize in biblical studies. Curriculum is Bible-based and differs from that of liberal arts colleges or research universities. Bible colleges generally exclude the study of philosophy, unlike seminaries and theological colleges...
movement in Adelaide, South Australia, and was the joint founding Superintendent
Superintendent (education)
In education in the United States, a superintendent is an individual who has executive oversight and administration rights, usually within an educational entity or organization....
of Adelaide Bible Institute (now Bible College of South Australia
Bible College of South Australia
The Bible College of South Australia, formerly known as the Adelaide Bible Institute, is an interdenominational and evangelical Bible College in Adelaide, South Australia.-History:...
) with his brother-in-law Sam Barrett.
Biography
James Butler was born to Richard Butler and Sybella Butler, a cockneyCockney
The term Cockney has both geographical and linguistic associations. Geographically and culturally, it often refers to working class Londoners, particularly those in the East End...
couple who had emigrated from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
in 1882. Richard Butler was an umbrella
Umbrella
An umbrella or parasol is a canopy designed to protect against rain or sunlight. The term parasol usually refers to an item designed to protect from the sun; umbrella refers to a device more suited to protect from rain...
maker, cutlery
Cutlery
Cutlery refers to any hand implement used in preparing, serving, and especially eating food in the Western world. It is more usually known as silverware or flatware in the United States, where cutlery can have the more specific meaning of knives and other cutting instruments. This is probably the...
sharpener of scissors
Scissors
Scissors are hand-operated cutting instruments. They consist of a pair of metal blades pivoted so that the sharpened edges slide against each other when the handles opposite to the pivot are closed. Scissors are used for cutting various thin materials, such as paper, cardboard, metal foil, thin...
and knives, and china
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
restorer by trade, and established a shop in the Adelaide Arcade. James joined his father and the family traded as Richard Butler and Sons. James and his wife Hanna had five children; Rowland, Clifford, Colin, Verna and Ruth. Rowland (1905–1971) was a missionary to China with the China Inland Mission
China Inland Mission
OMF International is an interdenominational Protestant Christian missionary society, founded in Britain by Hudson Taylor on 25 June 1865.-Overview:...
in 1928.
Around the turn of the century Butler attended Angas College, an evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
college that had been modeled on Moody Bible Institute
Moody Bible Institute
Moody Bible Institute is a Christian institution of higher education and related ministries that was founded by evangelist and businessman Dwight Lyman Moody in 1886. Since its founding, MBI's main campus has been located in the Near North Side of Chicago. MBI's primary ministries are education,...
and influenced by missionary Hudson Taylor
Hudson Taylor
James Hudson Taylor , was a British Protestant Christian missionary to China, and founder of the China Inland Mission . Taylor spent 51 years in China...
. In 1905 James’ sister Laura married Sam Barrett, also a graduate of Angas College. Butler and Barrett became close friends, thoroughly committed to the evangelical cause.
When Angas College closed in 1920, and prospects for the recently begun Chapman-Alexander Bible Institute looked dim, Butler and Barrett resolved to establish the Adelaide Bible Institute, classes for which began in 1924. The two continued as joint superintendents until the establishment of a residential college at Payneham in 1949.