Simpson, Matthew [editor]. Cyclopedia of Methodism: Embracing Sketches of its Rise, Progress, and Present Condition, with Biographical Notices and Numerous Illustrations. Philadelphia: Louis H. Everts, 1881. Fourth Revised Edition. [8927]
Quarter leather, brown cloth boards, title in gilt to spine & front, joints fine, 11 x 8 inches, marbled page edges & end papers. 1031 clean and unmarked pp., hundreds of fine illustrations. Tight. Very good. Hardcover.
An indispensable reference for studying 18th and 19th century Methodism, full of engravings of ministers and of church buildings. We have a copy on our reference shelf and refer to it frequently.
Matthew Simpson, D.D., LL.D. (1811 - 1884). A bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Licensed to preach circa 1833, elected vice-president, and Professor of Natural Science in Allegheny College 1837, elected president of Indiana Asbury University 1839-1848, elected editor of the Western Christian Advocate 1884, chosen to the office of bishop 1852, elected president of the Garrett Biblical Institute 1859. As Bishop he visited and held conferences in all the States and most Territories; was sent as a delegate to the Irish and British Conference 1857 and the Evangelical Alliance in Berlin 1857.
Simpson was well-regarded. “Mr. Lincoln had great admiration for Bishop Simpson. He listened attentively as the Bishop expressed his judgment on the impending crises in national affairs… The great President loved the great Bishop…”, quoted by Pilkington. He delivered a number of address in behalf of the Union during the American Civil war and following the war was invited by President Grant to go as a commissioner to San Domingo, which he respectfully declined. Throughout his life he traveled to Turkey, the Holy Land, Egypt, Greece, Switzerland, Mexico, and Germany.