Austin Phelps
Encyclopedia
Austin Phelps was an American
Congregational
minister and educator. He was for 10 years President of the Andover Theological Seminary and his writings became standard textbooks for Christian theological education and remain in print today.
. His father, Eliakim Phelps was a clergyman who was the principal of a girls school in Pittsfield, Massachusetts
. Eliakim Phelps was later pastor of a Presbyterian church in Geneva, New York
. Austin studied at Hobart College
from 1833 to 1835, then at Amherst
for a year, and later obtained a degree in 1837 from the University of Pennsylvania
.
Austin studied theology
at Union Theological Seminary
, at the Yale Divinity School
, and later at Andover. In 1830, he was installed as pastor at the Presbyterian Church in Geneva, New York
, and in 1835 he was elected Secretary of the American Educational Society of Philadelphia.
In 1840, he was licensed to preach by the Third Presbytery of Philadelphia. In 1842, he was pastor of the Pine Street (Congregational) Church in Boston when he met and married in the autumn of that year Elizabeth Stuart (August 13, 1815 - November 30, 1852). She was the eldest daughter of Moses Stuart, president of Andover Theological Seminary. His wife Elizabeth Stuart, aside from Jacob Abbott
, was one of the earliest writers of books for girls, publishing the four volume Kitty Brown series of books for girls under the pen name H. Trusta and other books. They had three children, Mary Gray
(b. 1844), Moses Stuart (b. 1849) and Amos Lawrence (b. 1852).
In the spring of 1848 he moved his family to Andover, Massachusetts
where he became professor of sacred rhetoric
and homiletics
at Andover Theological Seminary. In 1869 he was selected as president of Andover, a role he served in until 1879 when failing health forced him to resign.
After his wife Elizabeth died of brain fever
on November 20, 1852, their 8 year old daughter Mary Gray asked to be renamed in honor of her mother.
he married Elizabeth's sister, Mary Stuart (b. 1822), in 1854. Mary Stuart died only eighteen months later. He married for a third time Mary Ann Johnson (1829 - 1918) of Boston, with whom he two more children, Lawrence and Francis. Austin died on October 13, 1890 at Bar Harbor, Maine
.
and D. L. Furber he edited Hymns and Choirs (1860), and with Professor Park and Lowell Mason
The Sabbath Hymn Book (1859). His book The Still Hour (1859), a summary of a series of sermons on prayer, is a devotional classic and remains in publication.
His other works are:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Congregational
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
minister and educator. He was for 10 years President of the Andover Theological Seminary and his writings became standard textbooks for Christian theological education and remain in print today.
Biography
Austin Phelps was born in was born at West Brookfield, MassachusettsWest Brookfield, Massachusetts
West Brookfield is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,701 at the 2010 census. Lucy Stone was born in West Brookfield, and Noah Webster published his dictionary there....
. His father, Eliakim Phelps was a clergyman who was the principal of a girls school in Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Pittsfield is the largest city and the county seat of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the principal city of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Berkshire County. Its area code is 413. Its ZIP code is 01201...
. Eliakim Phelps was later pastor of a Presbyterian church in Geneva, New York
Geneva, New York
Geneva is a city in Ontario and Seneca counties in the U.S. state of New York. The population was 13,617 at the 2000 census. Some claim it is named after the city and canton of Geneva in Switzerland. Others believe the name came from confusion over the letters in the word "Seneca" written in cursive...
. Austin studied at Hobart College
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Hobart and William Smith Colleges, located in Geneva, New York, are together a liberal arts college offering Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in Teaching degrees. In athletics, however, the two schools compete with separate teams, known as the Hobart Statesmen and the...
from 1833 to 1835, then at Amherst
Amherst, Massachusetts
Amherst is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States in the Connecticut River valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,819, making it the largest community in Hampshire County . The town is home to Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts...
for a year, and later obtained a degree in 1837 from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
.
Austin studied theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at Union Theological Seminary
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York is a preeminent independent graduate school of theology, located in Manhattan between Claremont Avenue and Broadway, 120th to 122nd Streets. The seminary was founded in 1836 under the Presbyterian Church, and is affiliated with nearby Columbia...
, at the Yale Divinity School
Yale Divinity School
Yale Divinity School is a professional school at Yale University, in New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. preparing students for ordained or lay ministry, or for the academy...
, and later at Andover. In 1830, he was installed as pastor at the Presbyterian Church in Geneva, New York
Geneva, New York
Geneva is a city in Ontario and Seneca counties in the U.S. state of New York. The population was 13,617 at the 2000 census. Some claim it is named after the city and canton of Geneva in Switzerland. Others believe the name came from confusion over the letters in the word "Seneca" written in cursive...
, and in 1835 he was elected Secretary of the American Educational Society of Philadelphia.
In 1840, he was licensed to preach by the Third Presbytery of Philadelphia. In 1842, he was pastor of the Pine Street (Congregational) Church in Boston when he met and married in the autumn of that year Elizabeth Stuart (August 13, 1815 - November 30, 1852). She was the eldest daughter of Moses Stuart, president of Andover Theological Seminary. His wife Elizabeth Stuart, aside from Jacob Abbott
Jacob Abbott
Jacob Abbott was an American writer of children's books.-Biography:Abbott was born at Hallowell, Maine to Jacob and Betsey Abbott...
, was one of the earliest writers of books for girls, publishing the four volume Kitty Brown series of books for girls under the pen name H. Trusta and other books. They had three children, Mary Gray
Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward
Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward, born Mary Gray Phelps, was an American author and an early advocate of clothing reform for women, urging them to burn their corsets.- Biography :...
(b. 1844), Moses Stuart (b. 1849) and Amos Lawrence (b. 1852).
In the spring of 1848 he moved his family to Andover, Massachusetts
Andover, Massachusetts
Andover is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. It was incorporated in 1646 and as of the 2010 census, the population was 33,201...
where he became professor of sacred rhetoric
Rhetoric
Rhetoric is the art of discourse, an art that aims to improve the facility of speakers or writers who attempt to inform, persuade, or motivate particular audiences in specific situations. As a subject of formal study and a productive civic practice, rhetoric has played a central role in the Western...
and homiletics
Homiletics
Homiletics , in theology the application of the general principles of rhetoric to the specific department of public preaching. The one who practices or studies homiletics is called a homilist....
at Andover Theological Seminary. In 1869 he was selected as president of Andover, a role he served in until 1879 when failing health forced him to resign.
After his wife Elizabeth died of brain fever
Brain fever
Brain fever describes a medical condition where a part of the brain becomes inflamed and causes symptoms that present as fever. The terminology is dated, and is encountered most often in Victorian literature...
on November 20, 1852, their 8 year old daughter Mary Gray asked to be renamed in honor of her mother.
he married Elizabeth's sister, Mary Stuart (b. 1822), in 1854. Mary Stuart died only eighteen months later. He married for a third time Mary Ann Johnson (1829 - 1918) of Boston, with whom he two more children, Lawrence and Francis. Austin died on October 13, 1890 at Bar Harbor, Maine
Bar Harbor, Maine
Bar Harbor is a town on Mount Desert Island in Hancock County, Maine, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population is 5,235. Bar Harbor is a famous summer colony in the Down East region of Maine. It is home to the College of the Atlantic, Jackson Laboratory and Mount Desert Island...
.
Works
His Theory of Preaching (1881) and English Style in Public Discourse (1883) became standard textbooks. With Professors E. A. ParkEdwards Amasa Park
Edwards Amasa Park was an American Congregational theologian.He was the son of Calvin Park...
and D. L. Furber he edited Hymns and Choirs (1860), and with Professor Park and Lowell Mason
Lowell Mason
Lowell Mason was a leading figure in American church music, the composer of over 1600 hymn tunes, many of which are often sung today. His most well-known tunes include Mary Had A Little Lamb and the arrangement of Joy to the World...
The Sabbath Hymn Book (1859). His book The Still Hour (1859), a summary of a series of sermons on prayer, is a devotional classic and remains in publication.
His other works are:
- The New Birth (1867), portraying conversion (in some instances) as a gradual change
- Sabbath Hours (1874)
- Studies of the Old Testament (1878)
- Men and Books (1882)
- My Portfolio (1882)
- My Study (1885)
- The Still Hour: or, Communion with God (1885)
- The Certainty of Success in Preaching (1889)
- My Note Book (1890)
Additional reading
- Phelps, Austin & H. Trusta. (1853) The Last Leaf from Sunny Side, Phillips, Sampson, and company. 342 pp.
- Phelps-Ward, Elizabeth Stuart. (1891) Austin Phelps: A Memoir, New York.
- Austin Phelps quotes