Taylor University - Ilium / Gem Yearbook (Upland, IN)

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Bishop lUillidm Tdi lor It was a high day in his Hfe, and an epochal day in the history of this in- stitution, when th e school took William Taylor ' s name. This occurred while the institution was yet in Fort Wayne, but under the presidency of Dr. Thaddeus C. Reade. Under Dr. Reade, with IJishop Taylor ' s co-operation, the school was moved to its present campus. The devout Bishop carried this institution upon his heart to the last hour of his life. It is therefore fitting that we should make some note of his life, a complete volume of which is now being written by the President of Taylor University. The high days in I ' ishop Taylor ' s biography are as follows: l!orn, Alay 2, 1821 ; Received into the family of God and licensed to exhort, 1841 ; licensed to preach, 1842 ; admitted to full connection in the Baltimore Conference, 184 . ; entered California, 1849; entered his great evangelistic campaign in the east and the middle west and Canada, 1837 ; entered his Australian campaign, 1862 ; entered his first African campaign. South Afri ca, 1866; entered mission to India, 1870; entered South America, 1877; elected Bishop of Africa, 1884; passed to his heavenly reward. May 19, 1902. Bishop Taylor was of Scotch Irish stock, originating in the hills of ir- ginia. l!oth he and his father, of Presbyterian training, had a wonderful con- version in the Methodist camp meetings and his ministry took on the revivalistic type from the beginning. Though only twenty-eight years old when he entered California, his seven years of experience there made him a settled man known as Father Taylor. ' lien a peculiar providence brought him back to the old States for five years of evangelism, he had had a training and an adventure that made him one of the most interesting and spectacular characters in the American nation. The historian, Ridpath, then only a college boy at Asbury College, now DePauw University, gives in later life the impression of William Taylor which he received in his boyhood days, and finds in his personality the type wdiich has influenced our better class of evangelism and reform for the last sixty years. An interesting feature of his life which we should not overlook was his connection with the founders of the National Association for the Promotion of Holiness, and the modest, intelligent and manly way in which he promoted the full message and testimony of the Gosjjel in all his writings and ministrations. William Taylor was apostolic in his missionary policies. His idea of self supporting missions was a bit revolutionary and not quite practical in the es- timation of some of his brethren ; but it illustrated the spirit of heroism in his ministry which bore fruit everywdiere. Indeed there was something contagious m the devotion and zeal and insurgent faith of William Taylor which abides in the spiritual centers that felt his ministry and which we trust will always be found on the campus of Taylor University. Page Nineteen

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BISHOP lUlLLlAM TAIJLOR Page Eighteen

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