Earl Cranston
Encyclopedia
Earl Cranston was an American
Bishop
of the Methodist Episcopal Church
, elected in 1896. He also distinguished himself as a Methodist Pastor
and Presiding Elder, and as an editor
and publisher of the M.E. Church.
, the third Bishop of the Methodist Church to have been born in Athens. Earl was said to have a vigorous body squarely built and above the average height for that day (mid-19th century). Among his ancestors were Roger Williams
and John and Samuel Cranston
, both colonial
governors of Rhode Island
. Earl was the son of Earl and Jane E. (née
Montgomery) Cranston. Earl Jr married Martha A. Behan in 1861. She died April 7, 1872. He then married Laura A. Martin, who died February 3, 1903. He then married Lucie M. Parker. Earl was the father
of Earl M., Grace, James B., Dora, Ethel, Laura Alden, and Ruth.
in Jackson, Ohio
. He earned the A.B.
degree (with honor) in 1861 and the A.M. degree in 1865, both from Ohio University
. The Rev. Solomon Howard, D.D., LL.D., was the President of O.U. at the time. Earl was a member of Beta Theta Pi
fraternity
.
The Rev. William Taylor
, (later Missionary Bishop of Africa) visited Athens during Earl's college years. Taylor held revival services, in which many students, including Earl, were converted to Christ.
during the American Civil War
as a Private
. He progressed through the ranks, first as a First Sergeant
, then as a commissioned officer, as a First Lieutenant, Adjutant
and finally as a Captain. He left the U.S. Army in 1864.
Following his military service, Earl studied for business, and was engaged in commercial affairs until 1867, when he entered the ministry.
Annual Conference
of the M.E. Church in 1867. He served the following appointments as Pastor: Portsmouth
, 1867–69; and Columbus
, 1869-70. He then was transferred to the Minnesota
Conference, where he served Winona
, 1870-71. He transferred again, to the Illinois
Conference, where he served Jacksonville
, 1871-74. He transferred again, to the Indiana
Conference, where he was appointed to Evansville
, 1874-75. He then transferred to the Cincinnati Conference, where he was appointed Pastor in Cincinnati, Ohio
, 1875-78.
In 1878, the Rev. Cranston was appointed Pastor in Denver, Colorado
, a change necessitated by the health of his family. While in Denver, Dr. Cranston took a prominent part in the movement to create and establish the Denver University. He served both as Secretary of the Board of Trustees, and as Chairman of the Finance Committee. He also spent time as a member of the faculty.
In 1880, the Rev. Dr. Cranston was appointed Presiding Elder of the Southern District of the Colorado Conference, serving until 1884. During this time he covered a territory of 70000 square miles (181,299.2 km²), requiring as much as 11000 miles (17,702.7 km) of travel each year.
The Rev. Cranston was a member of M.E. General Conferences from 1884 until 1896.
in 1884 by Allegheny College
. He was similarly honored by Cornell College
in Iowa
(D.D., 1884). His alma mater
, Ohio University, awarded the LL.D. in 1896.
Bishop Cranston also served as a trustee of various institutions of higher education, including Ohio University (1896), The University of Puget Sound (1897-04), Willamette University
(1897–1904), Goucher College
(1905–16) and Morgan College (1912–16). He was also a member of the Fourth Ecumenical Methodist Conference, Toronto
, 1911.
Bishop Cranston was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic
and of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States
. He also was a Mason
.
. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
in Virginia
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Methodist Episcopal Church
The Methodist Episcopal Church, sometimes referred to as the M.E. Church, was a development of the first expression of Methodism in the United States. It officially began at the Baltimore Christmas Conference in 1784, with Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke as the first bishops. Through a series of...
, elected in 1896. He also distinguished himself as a Methodist Pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
and Presiding Elder, and as an editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
and publisher of the M.E. Church.
Birth and family
Earl was born in Athens, OhioAthens, Ohio
Athens is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Athens County, Ohio, United States. It is located along the Hocking River in the southeastern part of Ohio. A historic college town, Athens is home to Ohio University and is the principal city of the Athens, Ohio Micropolitan Statistical Area. ...
, the third Bishop of the Methodist Church to have been born in Athens. Earl was said to have a vigorous body squarely built and above the average height for that day (mid-19th century). Among his ancestors were Roger Williams
Roger Williams (theologian)
Roger Williams was an English Protestant theologian who was an early proponent of religious freedom and the separation of church and state. In 1636, he began the colony of Providence Plantation, which provided a refuge for religious minorities. Williams started the first Baptist church in America,...
and John and Samuel Cranston
Samuel Cranston
Samuel Cranston was a governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations during the first quarter of the 18th century. He held office from 1698 to 1727, being elected to office 30 times , and served as governor longer than any other individual in the history of both the colony and...
, both colonial
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
governors of Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
. Earl was the son of Earl and Jane E. (née
NEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
Montgomery) Cranston. Earl Jr married Martha A. Behan in 1861. She died April 7, 1872. He then married Laura A. Martin, who died February 3, 1903. He then married Lucie M. Parker. Earl was the father
Father
A father, Pop, Dad, or Papa, is defined as a male parent of any type of offspring. The adjective "paternal" refers to father, parallel to "maternal" for mother...
of Earl M., Grace, James B., Dora, Ethel, Laura Alden, and Ruth.
Education and Christian conversion
Earl graduated High SchoolHigh school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in Jackson, Ohio
Jackson, Ohio
Jackson is a city in and the county seat of Jackson County, Ohio, United States. The population was 6,184 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Jackson is located at ....
. He earned the A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree (with honor) in 1861 and the A.M. degree in 1865, both from Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
. The Rev. Solomon Howard, D.D., LL.D., was the President of O.U. at the time. Earl was a member of Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi , often just called Beta, is a social collegiate fraternity that was founded in 1839 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, USA, where it is part of the Miami Triad which includes Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Chi. It has over 138 active chapters and colonies in the United States and Canada...
fraternity
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
.
The Rev. William Taylor
William Taylor (bishop)
William Taylor was an American Missionary Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, elected in 1884. Taylor University, a Christian college in Indiana, carries his name.-Ancestry and birth:...
, (later Missionary Bishop of Africa) visited Athens during Earl's college years. Taylor held revival services, in which many students, including Earl, were converted to Christ.
Military service and business career
Earl entered the Union ArmyUnion Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
as a Private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
. He progressed through the ranks, first as a First Sergeant
First Sergeant
First sergeant is the name of a military rank used in many countries, typically a senior non-commissioned officer.-Singapore:First Sergeant is a Specialist in the Singapore Armed Forces. First Sergeants are the most senior of the junior Specialists, ranking above Second Sergeants, and below Staff...
, then as a commissioned officer, as a First Lieutenant, Adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
and finally as a Captain. He left the U.S. Army in 1864.
Following his military service, Earl studied for business, and was engaged in commercial affairs until 1867, when he entered the ministry.
Ordained Ministry and the Founding of Denver University
Earl was admitted as a Minister to the OhioOhio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
Annual Conference
Annual Conference
An Annual Conference in the United Methodist Church is a regional body that governs much of the life of the "Connectional Church." Annual conferences are composed primarily of the clergy members and a lay member or members from each charge . Each conference is a geographical division...
of the M.E. Church in 1867. He served the following appointments as Pastor: Portsmouth
Portsmouth, Ohio
Portsmouth is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Scioto County. The municipality is located on the northern banks of the Ohio River and east of the Scioto River in Southern Ohio. The population was 20,226 at the 2010 census.-Foundation:...
, 1867–69; and Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, 1869-70. He then was transferred to the Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
Conference, where he served Winona
Winona, Minnesota
Winona is a city in and the county seat of Winona County, in the U.S. State of Minnesota. Located in picturesque bluff country on the Mississippi River, its most noticeable physical landmark is Sugar Loaf....
, 1870-71. He transferred again, to the Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
Conference, where he served Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Illinois
Jacksonville is a city in Morgan County, Illinois, United States. The population was 18,940 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Morgan County....
, 1871-74. He transferred again, to the Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
Conference, where he was appointed to Evansville
Evansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
, 1874-75. He then transferred to the Cincinnati Conference, where he was appointed Pastor in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, 1875-78.
In 1878, the Rev. Cranston was appointed Pastor in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, a change necessitated by the health of his family. While in Denver, Dr. Cranston took a prominent part in the movement to create and establish the Denver University. He served both as Secretary of the Board of Trustees, and as Chairman of the Finance Committee. He also spent time as a member of the faculty.
In 1880, the Rev. Dr. Cranston was appointed Presiding Elder of the Southern District of the Colorado Conference, serving until 1884. During this time he covered a territory of 70000 square miles (181,299.2 km²), requiring as much as 11000 miles (17,702.7 km) of travel each year.
Publishing agent
The 1884 General Conference of the M.E. Church elected the Rev. Cranston Publishing Agent for the Western Book Concern, headquartered in Cincinnati. The Western Book Concern included offices in Chicago, St. Louis and on the Pacific coast. During this time he resided at Avondale, Cincinnati. He held this position until 1896.The Rev. Cranston was a member of M.E. General Conferences from 1884 until 1896.
Honorary degrees
Cranston was made an honorary Doctor of DivinityDoctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
in 1884 by Allegheny College
Allegheny College
Allegheny College is a private liberal arts college located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the town of Meadville. Founded in 1815, the college has about 2,100 undergraduate students.-Early history:...
. He was similarly honored by Cornell College
Cornell College
Cornell College is a private liberal arts college in Mount Vernon, Iowa. Originally called the Iowa Conference Seminary, the school was founded in 1853 by Reverend Samuel M. Fellows...
in Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
(D.D., 1884). His alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
, Ohio University, awarded the LL.D. in 1896.
Episcopal Ministry
The Rev. Earl Cranston was elected Bishop by the 1896 M.E. General Conference. As Bishop he traveled widely throughout his denomination. His residence was Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Bishop Cranston also served as a trustee of various institutions of higher education, including Ohio University (1896), The University of Puget Sound (1897-04), Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
(1897–1904), Goucher College
Goucher College
Goucher College is a private, co-educational, liberal arts college located in the northern Baltimore suburb of Towson in unincorporated Baltimore County, Maryland, on a 287 acre campus. The school has approximately 1,475 undergraduate students studying in 31 majors and six interdisciplinary...
(1905–16) and Morgan College (1912–16). He was also a member of the Fourth Ecumenical Methodist Conference, Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, 1911.
Bishop Cranston was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic
Grand Army of the Republic
The Grand Army of the Republic was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army, US Navy, US Marines and US Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War. Founded in 1866 in Decatur, Illinois, it was dissolved in 1956 when its last member died...
and of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States
Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States
The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, also known by its acronym MOLLUS or simply as the Loyal Legion, is a United States patriotic order, organized April 15, 1865, by officers of the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps of the United States who "had aided in maintaining the honor,...
. He also was a Mason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
.
Death and burial
Bishop Cranston died at New Richmond, OhioNew Richmond, Ohio
New Richmond is a village in Clermont County, Ohio, United States, founded 1814, along the Ohio River. The population was 2,219 at the 2000 census.-Geography:New Richmond is located at ....
. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.