Charles Cardwell McCabe was an American bishop, popularly known as Chaplain McCabe because of his Civil War services.
Background
Charles Cardwell McCabe was born on October 11, 1836 in Athens, Ohio. He was the son of Robert McCabe, whose grandfather, Owen, came to Pennsylvania from County Tyrone, Ireland, and whose father, Robert, in 1813 migrated to Ohio. Charles's mother, Sarah, daughter of Cuthbert Cardwell Robinson, was brought by her parents to the United States in 1822 from Kildwick, Yorkshire, England. She was a woman of literary tastes and an occasional contributor to the Ladies' Repository. From her Charles got his good looks and poetical imagination; from his father's family he derived his singing ability and persuasive eloquence. Both parents were devout Methodists. When he was about fifteen the family moved to Chillicothe, Ohio and then to Burlington, Iowa. For a short time he took charge of a farm in Mount Pleasant, belonging to his father, and then became clerk in a store at Cedar Rapids.
Education
McCabe early displayed the characteristics which later gave him popularity and power, personal magnetism, bold initiative, glowing optimism, unfailing good humor, capacity for leadership, ability as a speaker, and a rich barytone voice which he could use in song with great effect. Since he was also evangelically religious, people were sure he was called to the ministry, and with a view to fitting himself for this work, in 1854 he entered the preparatory department of Ohio Wesleyan University. He never graduated, however, though later the college made him an alumnus of the class of 1860. He had an acquisitive mind and read widely, but he was not a student; he was a person of feeling and action rather than of thought; his natural gifts determined his career. For days he would be away from college assisting at revival meetings. His health soon broke down and his schooling ceased. For two years he was principal of the high school in Ironton, Ohio.
Career
In 1860 Charles joined the Ohio Conference of the Methodist Church. While at his first appointment, Putnam, now a part of Zanesville, Ohio, he became chaplain of the 122nd Regiment of Ohio Volunteers, and that he might perform all the functions of a clergyman, he was ordained elder, September 7, 1862. His work in connection with the war made him nationally known. On June 16, 1863, while remaining behind at Winchester to care for the wounded on the field, he was taken prisoner. For four months his optimism and song made him the life of Libby Prison. His experiences there he afterward told over and over again throughout the country in his famous lecture, "The Bright Side of Life in Libby Prison. " He was broken by fever when freed by exchange of prisoners, but upon his recovery entered the service of the Christian Commission for which by his eloquence and song he raised large sums of money.
After the war he was pastor at Portsmouth, Ohio, and agent for Ohio Wesleyan University, for which he secured $87, 000. For sixteen years (1868 - 84) he was assistant corresponding secretary of the Board of Church Extension, and was largely responsible for its remarkable success. In 1884 the General Conference elected him corresponding secretary of the Missionary Society. The goal was reached, and a new one set. Perhaps the most popular of American Methodists, in 1896 he was elected bishop. In December 1902, he became chancellor of the American University, Washington, D. C. Strenuously active almost to the close of his career, he died in New York of cerebral hemorrhage soon after completing his seventieth year, and was buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, near Chicago.
Achievements
Views
Quotations:
"We are building more than one Methodist church for every day in the year and propose to make it two a day!"
"A Million for Missions. "
Personality
McCabe's singing did much to popularize the "Battle Hymn of the Republic. " So great was his ability to persuade people to give that it destined him to be a money-raiser and promoter for much of the remainder of his life.