Clergyman; born in
Medina, Mich., July 11, 1847; was graduated at Olivet College, Mich., in 1867, and studied at Yale, Union, and
Andover theological seminaries, and at
Gottingen, Germany.
After two short pastorates in
Lawrence and
Boston, Mass., he became pastor of the First Presbyterian Church,
Chicago, and remained there more than fourteen years. In 1893 he organized and was the president of the
World's Parliament of Religions.
In 1896 he resigned his
Chicago pastorate and went to
India, where he lectured in an institution endowed by
Mrs. Caroline E. Haskell.
Returning to the
United States, he lectured in the Union Theological Seminary in 1898, and in November of that year became president of Oberlin College.
He is author of
History of the Parliament of religions;
Life of Henry Ward Beecher;
Christianity the world religion;
The world pilgrimage, etc.