William Henry Houghton
Encyclopedia
William Henry Houghton was an evangelist
and the fourth president of Moody Bible Institute
. Biographer Wilbur Smith said of him: "Two primary passions possessed the soul of Will H. Houghton, from the beginning of his ministry to the end… evangelism, and the study of the word of God." Houghton was known for his fundamentalist Christianity
.
. He was converted to Christianity
at the age of 14 during at evangelistic meeting in Lynn, Massachusetts
. In June 1914, Houghton married Adelaide Franks and they had two children: Adelaide Maude and Everett Arthur. Mrs. Houghton died two years later, and Houghton remarried in December 1918 to Elizabeth Andrews. On 8 December 1919, they had a son: Firman Andrews. Houghton himself died of a heart attack in 1947 while still president of MBI.
Circuit, he became convinced in 1909 to give up drama and instead enrolled at the Pentecostal Collegiate Institute
in North Scituate, Rhode Island, but soon left without finishing. He was later awarded an honorary
doctor of divinity degree in 1931 by Wheaton College
and an honorary doctor of law degree by Bob Jones University
in 1942.
in 1915. After two years, Houghton left to pursue evangelistic work throughout New York and Pennsylvania. After a series of revivalistic meetings at a Baptist church in New Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
in the spring of 1918, he accepted their offer of the pastorate and stayed until he took a new pastorate at the First Baptist Church of Norristown, Pennsylvania
in the fall of 1920. Houghton then pastored at the First Baptist Tabernacle of Atlanta from 1925 to 1928 and the Calvary Baptist Church in New York City
, the headquarters of the New York Youth Christian Center, from 1930 to 1934. In 1932 he founded the New York Summer School of Theology.
, visited Calvary Baptist and, impressed with Houghton, offered him the presidency of the Institute. The Board of Trustees extended an official offer on 16 August 1934, and Houghton succeeded Gray on 1 November 1934. Houghton was president at MBI for twelve years. During his first eleven years, enrollment increased 70%. He also directed the D. L. Moody Centenary Celebration that was held on 5 February 1937 and oversaw construction of a twelve-story administrative building at 820 North LaSalle Street, dedicated on 4 February 1939 (re-named Crowell Hall in 1945). In addition to the start of WMBI
broadcasting regularly, Houghton established fundamentalist chain radio broadcasts and the Moody Institute of Science. In 1950, the Institute named a nine-story women's dormitory Houghton Hall after William Henry Houghton.
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
and the fourth president of 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,...
. Biographer Wilbur Smith said of him: "Two primary passions possessed the soul of Will H. Houghton, from the beginning of his ministry to the end… evangelism, and the study of the word of God." Houghton was known for his fundamentalist Christianity
Fundamentalist Christianity
Christian fundamentalism, also known as Fundamentalist Christianity, or Fundamentalism, arose out of British and American Protestantism in the late 19th century and early 20th century among evangelical Christians...
.
Biographical details
William was born in South Boston to John William Houghton and Carrie Maude Grant of Nova ScotiaNova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. He was converted to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
at the age of 14 during at evangelistic meeting in Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 89,050 at the 2000 census. An old industrial center, Lynn is home to Lynn Beach and Lynn Heritage State Park and is about north of downtown Boston.-17th century:...
. In June 1914, Houghton married Adelaide Franks and they had two children: Adelaide Maude and Everett Arthur. Mrs. Houghton died two years later, and Houghton remarried in December 1918 to Elizabeth Andrews. On 8 December 1919, they had a son: Firman Andrews. Houghton himself died of a heart attack in 1947 while still president of MBI.
Education
Initially interested in theatre and active in the VaudevilleVaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
Circuit, he became convinced in 1909 to give up drama and instead enrolled at the Pentecostal Collegiate Institute
Pentecostal Collegiate Institute (Rhode Island)
The Pentecostal Collegiate Institute was a co-educational interdenominational collegiate institute located at North Scituate, Rhode Island from September 1902 to 1918...
in North Scituate, Rhode Island, but soon left without finishing. He was later awarded an honorary
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
doctor of divinity degree in 1931 by Wheaton College
Wheaton College (Illinois)
Wheaton College is a private, evangelical Protestant liberal arts college in Wheaton, Illinois, a suburb west of Chicago in the United States...
and an honorary doctor of law degree by Bob Jones University
Bob Jones University
Bob Jones University is a private, for-profit, non-denominational Protestant university in Greenville, South Carolina.The university was founded in 1927 by Bob Jones, Sr. , an evangelist and contemporary of Billy Sunday...
in 1942.
Ministry
Houghton took his first pastorate at the First Baptist Church of Canton, PennsylvaniaCanton, Pennsylvania
Canton is a borough in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,807 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Canton is located at ....
in 1915. After two years, Houghton left to pursue evangelistic work throughout New York and Pennsylvania. After a series of revivalistic meetings at a Baptist church in New Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
New Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
New Bethlehem is a borough in Clarion County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,057 at the 2000 census.-Geography:New Bethlehem is located at ....
in the spring of 1918, he accepted their offer of the pastorate and stayed until he took a new pastorate at the First Baptist Church of Norristown, Pennsylvania
Norristown, Pennsylvania
Norristown is a municipality in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, northwest of the city limits of Philadelphia, on the Schuylkill River. The population was 34,324 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Montgomery County...
in the fall of 1920. Houghton then pastored at the First Baptist Tabernacle of Atlanta from 1925 to 1928 and the Calvary Baptist Church 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...
, the headquarters of the New York Youth Christian Center, from 1930 to 1934. In 1932 he founded the New York Summer School of Theology.
Presidency
In 1934, James Gray, then-president of Moody Bible InstituteMoody 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,...
, visited Calvary Baptist and, impressed with Houghton, offered him the presidency of the Institute. The Board of Trustees extended an official offer on 16 August 1934, and Houghton succeeded Gray on 1 November 1934. Houghton was president at MBI for twelve years. During his first eleven years, enrollment increased 70%. He also directed the D. L. Moody Centenary Celebration that was held on 5 February 1937 and oversaw construction of a twelve-story administrative building at 820 North LaSalle Street, dedicated on 4 February 1939 (re-named Crowell Hall in 1945). In addition to the start of WMBI
WMBI (AM)
WMBI is an AM Station broadcasting on 1110 kHz in Chicago, Illinois. It is owned and operated by Moody Radio, and it broadcasts from the campus of Moody Bible Institute Transmitter and tower located in Addison, Illinois....
broadcasting regularly, Houghton established fundamentalist chain radio broadcasts and the Moody Institute of Science. In 1950, the Institute named a nine-story women's dormitory Houghton Hall after William Henry Houghton.
Published works
- Houghton, William H. Back to the Bible: Let's Go Back to the Bible. New York: Fleming H. Revell Co., c1940.
- ____. The Living Christ and Other Gospel Messages. Chicago: The Bible Institute Colportage Association, c1936.
- ____. Problems of Youth: How Shall I Live, Think, Love? New York: Calvary Baptist Church, N.d.
- ____. Rhymes from a City Tower. Chicago: The Bible Institute Colportage Association, c1940.
- ____. Star and Sceptre. Chicago: Bible Institute Colportage Association, c1935.
- Houghton, William H. and Chas. T. Cook. Tell Me about Moody. Chicago: The Bible Institute Colportage Association, c1937.