Edward Raymond Ames
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Edward Raymond Ames (1806-1879) was an American Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, elected in 1852.
Contents |
[edit] Birth and Family
Ames was born 20 May 1806 in Amesville, Athens County, Ohio, one of three Methodist Episcopal Bishops to be born in Athens County.
[edit] Education and Ministry
At age 20 Edward became a student at Ohio University at Athens. During his student years he united with the M.E. Church (August, 1827). In 1828 Edward opened a High School at Lebanon, Illinois which later became McKendree College. He remained teaching there until 1830, when he became a Pastor in the Illinois Annual Conference. He was Licensed to Preach by the great Circuit Rider (and Presiding Elder), Peter Cartwright.
Upon the organization of the Indiana Conference in 1832, the Rev. Ames joined that body, serving the majority of his active pastoral life in the State of Indiana (with the exception of two years spent in St. Louis), until becoming a Bishop.
The Rev. Ames was elected a Delegate to the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church held in Baltimore in 1840, and was there elected Corresponding Secretary of the M.E. Missionary Society, with responsibilities for the South and West. When the Church South broke with the Church North over slavery, he remained with the M.E. Church. The Rev. Ames was subsequently elected Delegate to General Conferences in 1844 and 1852.
[edit] Native American Work
The Rev. Ames traveled exensively, especially visiting the Indian Missions of his denomination along the northern lakes and on the western frontier. He aided in establishing missions schools among the various tribes west of Arkansas. In 1848 he officiated as chaplain to a Council of Choctaws, being the first chaplain chosen by an Indian Assembly.
The Rev. Ames was elected President of Indiana Asbury University in 1848, as well. But he declined the positon, preferring to remain in more active ministerial work.
[edit] Episcopal Ministry
The Rev. Edward Raymond Ames was elected to the Episcopacy of the Methodist Episcopal Church by the 1852 General Conference. He thereafter traveled extensively through all the U.S. States and Territories. His first visit to the Pacific coast was 1852-53.
Bishop Ames was a firm and ardent supporter of the Union during the American Civil War. Though offered positions of influence, he declined them that he might be free for ecclesiastical duties. For example, when the United States government seized the property of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South (in southern U.S. States), Bishop Ames was put in charge of the confiscated property by President Lincoln and Secretary Stanton. Not surprisingly, such confiscation resulted in complaints of unconstitutional governmental involvement in religion.
Nevertheless, Bishop Ames was a man of broad views, an eloquent preacher, an able and skillful presiding officer, and a strong advocate of all church interests.
[edit] Death and Burial
Bishop Ames' health was impaired for several years, but he continued his work until a few weeks before his death. He died 25 April 1879 in Baltimore, Maryland. Bishop Ames is buried in Greenmount Cemetery in that city.
[edit] References
- Cyclopaedia of Methodism, Matthew Simpson, D.D., LL.D., Ed., (Revised Edition.) Philadelphia, Louis H. Everts, 1880.[1]
- Methodism: Ohio Area (1812-1962), edited by John M. Versteeg, Litt.D., D.D. (Ohio Area Sesquicentennial Committee, 1962).
- Obituary in Harper’s Weekly, May 17 1879
[edit] See also
This article about an individual bishop, archbishop, or patriarch, or about a bishopric, is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.| Preceded by Matthew Simpson |
Ohio United Methodist Bishops 1852 |
Succeeded by Randolph Sinks Foster |
