Willard Francis Mallalieu
Encyclopedia
Willard Francis Mallalieu (December 11, 1828 - August 1, 1911) was an American
Bishop
of the Methodist Episcopal Church
, elected in 1884.
Willard was born in Sutton, Massachusetts
. He was of Puritan
and Huguenot
ancestry. He was converted
to Christ
at the age of twelve, having indicated his desire to seek Jesus Christ at the first Methodist class meeting he ever attended (held in the kitchen of a neighborhood widow
). After preparatory training at East Greenwich Academy
, Willard entered the Wesleyan University
at Middletown, Connecticut
, from which he graduated.
The Rev. Mallalieu entered the New England Annual Conference
of the M.E. Church in 1858. He spent twenty-four years in the Pastorate, serving just two years as a Presiding Elder. He declined educational positions which were offered to him. The Rev. Mallalieu became favorably known to his denomination
through able contributions to Methodist periodicals. He was also notable as a platform speaker at places like Chautauqua
and elsewhere. He was also a valued friend of Bishop Gilbert Haven
, appointed to prepare the Memorial
of him for the General Conference of 1880. Rev. Mallalieu was a delegate
to the General Conferences of 1872, and 1884 (when he was at the head of his delegation). He was thought of as "a practical wide-awake minister, [who] makes a good speech in a way that assures you he could preach a better sermon
..."
The Rev. Mr. Willard Francis Mallalieu was elected to the Episcopacy by the 1884 General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
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 1884.
Willard was born in Sutton, Massachusetts
Sutton, Massachusetts
-Library:The Sutton Free Library was established in 1876. In fiscal year 2008, the town of Sutton spent 0.7% of its budget on its public library—some $18 per person.-Education:...
. He was of Puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
and Huguenot
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
ancestry. 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...
to Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
at the age of twelve, having indicated his desire to seek Jesus Christ at the first Methodist class meeting he ever attended (held in the kitchen of a neighborhood widow
Widow
A widow is a woman whose spouse has died, while a widower is a man whose spouse has died. The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed widowhood or occasionally viduity. The adjective form is widowed...
). After preparatory training at East Greenwich Academy
East Greenwich Academy
The East Greenwich Academy was a private Methodist boarding school in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, USA that was in existence from 1802 until 1943.-History:...
, Willard entered the Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
at Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the central part of the state, 16 miles south of Hartford. In 1650, it was incorporated as a town under its original Indian name, Mattabeseck. It received its present name in 1653. In 1784, the central...
, from which he graduated.
The Rev. Mallalieu entered the New England Annual Conference
New England Annual Conference
The New England Annual Conference is an Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. This conference serves the congregations in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and eastern Connecticut, plus one congregation in Vermont...
of the M.E. Church in 1858. He spent twenty-four years in the Pastorate, serving just two years as a Presiding Elder. He declined educational positions which were offered to him. The Rev. Mallalieu became favorably known to 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...
through able contributions to Methodist periodicals. He was also notable as a platform speaker at places like Chautauqua
Chautauqua Institution
The Chautauqua Institution is a non-profit adult education center and summer resort located on 750 acres in Chautauqua, New York, 17 miles northwest of Jamestown in the western part of New York State...
and elsewhere. He was also a valued friend of Bishop Gilbert Haven
Gilbert Haven
Gilbert Haven was a Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, elected in 1872. He was consecrated a bishop on May 24, 1872 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York...
, appointed to prepare the Memorial
Memorial
A memorial is an object which serves as a focus for memory of something, usually a person or an event. Popular forms of memorials include landmark objects or art objects such as sculptures, statues or fountains, and even entire parks....
of him for the General Conference of 1880. Rev. Mallalieu was a delegate
Delegate
A delegate is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization at a meeting or conference between organizations of the same level A delegate is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization (e.g., a government, a charity, an NGO, or a trade union) at a meeting or conference...
to the General Conferences of 1872, and 1884 (when he was at the head of his delegation). He was thought of as "a practical wide-awake minister, [who] makes a good speech in a way that assures you he could preach a better sermon
Sermon
A sermon is an oration by a prophet or member of the clergy. Sermons address a Biblical, theological, religious, or moral topic, usually expounding on a type of belief, law or behavior within both past and present contexts...
..."
The Rev. Mr. Willard Francis Mallalieu was elected to the Episcopacy by the 1884 General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.