William Rice (Methodist minister)

William Rice (1821–1897) was a Methodist minister and later, the longtime city librarian in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Early life and education

He was born May 10, 1821 in Springfield, MA to William Rice Sr. and Jerusha Warriner. The house where they lived was on land that once belonged to an ancestor of Jerusha Warriner. He was a seventh generation descendent of Edmund Rice, an early settler in Massachusetts. His father, William Rice Sr. was a respected businessman and public servant who began a long tradition of Methodism in the Rice family. The younger William studied in Springfield public schools and at Wilbraham Wesleyan Academy, graduating in 1840. He received a Master of Arts from Wesleyan University in 1853, and a Doctor of Divinity in 1876.^[1]

Ministry

He was ordained in the New England Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1841, and served churches for the next 16 years. He served as pastor at North Meldon (Melrose, Massachusetts), Saugus, Massachusetts, Marblehead, Massachusetts, North Russell Street (Grace Church (Boston)), South Street in Lynn, Massachusetts, Park Street (Walnut street) in Chelsea, Massachusetts, Chicopee, Massachusetts, Bromfield Street in Boston, and Park Street in Chelsea again. He also served as chaplain in the Hamden County House of Correction.

He was a vocal advocate against slavery beginning early in his life. He organized an Anstislavery Society at Wesleyan Academy, and was disciplined. In 1856, he was a delegate to the General Conference of the church, representing the antislavery sentiment of the New England Conference.

He also played an integral role in creating a new hymnal for the church.

He published two books, mainly for ministers: "Moral and Religious Quotations from the Poets" (Methodist Book Concern, 1860) and "Pastor's Manuel" (Roderick Burt, Springfield, 1863).^[2] The Reverend Rice began to suffer from chronic laryngitis, which made preaching every week very difficult.^[3]

City Librarian

In 1861, he became librarian of the Springfield City Library.^[4] The library was very small at first, but grew tremendously under Rice's care. In 1871, the library moved to a new building named the William Rice Building. It became a free public library in 1885, and Rice died two years later.^[5] Today, the Springfield Museums on the Quadrangle have a "Society of William Rice," which honors major gifts.^[6] When he died, the library had more than 99,000 volumes.

Educational Interests

He was very passionate about education. In 1863, he was appointed a member of the Massachusetts Board of Education, which he remained for 18 years. He worked especially hard on the normal school in Westfield. He also served on the Springfield School Committee from 1865-1882. He was a member of the board of Wilbraham Wesleyan Academy starting in 1858, served as secretary from 1860–82, and president of the board from 1882 to his death. He was a trustee at Wesleyan University from 1875 through his death.

Family life

He married Caroline Laura North (1819-1899) on September 13, 1843. She authored hymns including "I builded Rock, on the Rock of God", and "Wilt thou hear the voice of praise."^[7]

William and Caroline Rice's children were William North Rice and Charles Francis Rice, who wrote William Rice, A Memorial, Caroline Laura, who married Wesleyan professor Morris B. Crawford, and Edward Hyde Rice, who died in 1895. Their grandchildren included Edward Loranus Rice and Paul North Rice, who later became a librarian.

William Rice died August 17, 1897. His funeral and memorial services were held at Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church in Springfield, where the family had a long association.^[8]

References