The Doctrines and Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church (Classic Reprint)
(Excerpt from The Doctrines and Discipline of the Methodis...)
Excerpt from The Doctrines and Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church
We wish to see this little publication in the house of every Methodist; and the more so, as it contains the articles of religion maintained more or less, in part or in whole, by every reformed Church in the world.
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Edward Gayer Andrews was a Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, elected in 1872, teacher and Principal of the Cazenovia Seminary, and delegate to the British and Irish Methodist Conference in 1894.
Background
Edward Gayer Andrews was born on August 7, 1825 in New Hartford, New York, United States, the son of George and Polly Andrews, and the fifth in a family of eleven children.
His father was a mill superintendent until 1839, when he went to live on a farm he had purchased in Onondaga County.
Edward was brought up in a Methodist home, under rigorous discipline. From early childhood he showed more than usual susceptibility to religious influences and joined the church when but ten years old.
Education
Encouraged by his parents to get what education he could, he prepared for college at Cazenovia Seminary, and graduated from Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, in the class of 1847.
Career
Almost immediately he was appointed to supply the Morrisville Circuit in the Oneida Methodist Conference, and in July 1848 was admitted to the Conference, ordained by Bishop Janes, and appointed to Hamilton and Leesville.
After several pastorates his voice failed, and in 1854 he took a position as teacher in Cazenovia Seminary. A few months later he became president of Mansfield Female College, Ohio, but in a year's time returned to Cazenovia to succeed Dr. Henry Bannister as principal. For nine years he managed the institution with great success, and became prominent among the educators of central New York.
In 1864 his voice having recovered sufficiently to warrant his return to the pulpit, he became pastor of the Methodist church in Stamford, Connecticut From Stamford he went to Brooklyn, New York, where he first served at Sands Street Church, then at St. John's, finally at Grace Church, of which he was pastor when, May 24, 1872, he was elected bishop. His first episcopal residence was in Des Moines, Iowa.
Early in 1876 the Board of Bishops and the Board of Foreign Missions realized that a more perfect form of organization was necessary in the Methodist churches in Europe and India. They also appreciated that to gather into annual conferences independent, scattered congregations and churches, to place over them responsible ministers, and to bring about a recognition of episcopal control without disturbance or friction, was a task requiring the utmost tact and delicacy. They therefore chose Bishop Andrews for this mission and in the performance of it he visited Sweden, Norway, and India.
In 1880 he was transferred from Des Moines to Washington, where his advice on public questions was sought by many of the national leaders.
From 1888 to 1904, the time of his retirement, his residence was in New York. In 1907, although eighty-two years old, he crossed the continent to attend a meeting of the bishops at Spokane, Washington, but overtaxed his strength and died, in Brooklyn, shortly after his return.
Achievements
As a preacher he had a high reputation. During a long and important period in the history of the denomination, he was one of its wisest and most influential leaders, served several pastorates, worked as a teacher and Principal. As Bishop he visited M. E. Missions in Europe and India, in Mexico and in Japan, Korea and China. He also was a delegate to the British and Irish Methodist Conference.
Wesleyan University conferred upon him the degree LL. D. in 1900.
(Excerpt from The Doctrines and Discipline of the Methodis...)
Religion
Andrews was a Methodist from an early age.
His theology was described as holding to the faith of his denomination for essentials of doctrine, but with deference to the results of Biblical scholarship.
Views
Andrews was open-minded and liberal in his attitude toward the troublesome question of amusements.
He was also tolerant toward modern theological tendencies than many in his church.
Personality
Andrews was of substantial frame, with a well-chiseled face, high forehead, genial, intelligent eyes, and benign countenance; he was cautious, conservative, and at the same time open-minded and tolerant.
Connections
In 1851 he married Susan Matthews Hotchkiss, daughter of Sherlock Hotchkiss of Cheshire, Connecticut. They had three children.
