George Washington Doane
Encyclopedia
George Washington Doane (May 27, 1799 – April 27, 1859) was a United States
churchman, educator, and bishop
in the Episcopal Church for the Diocese of New Jersey
.
. He graduated from Union College
, Schenectady, New York
, in 1818, studied theology
and, in 1821, was ordained deacon and in 1823 priest by Bishop Hobart, whom he assisted in Trinity church, New York. With George Upfold
(1796–1872), Bishop of Indiana from 1849 to 1872, Doane founded St Luke's in New York City
. From 1824–1828 he was professor of belles-lettres in Washington (now Trinity) College, Hartford, Connecticut
, and at this time he was one of the editors of the Episcopal Watchman. He was assistant in 1828-1830 and rector in 1830-1832 of Christ church, Boston
, and was bishop of New Jersey from October 1832 to his death at Burlington, New Jersey
. He was buried in the burial grounds that surround St. Mary's Episcopal Church on Broad Street in Burlington.
The diocese of New Jersey was an unpromising field, but he took up his work there with characteristic vigour, especially in the foundation of St. Mary's Hall-Doane Academy
(1837, for girls) and Burlington College (1846) as demonstrations of his theory of education under church control. His business management of these schools got him heavily into debt, and in the autumn of 1852 a charge of lax administration came before a court of bishops, who dismissed it.
The schools showed him an able and wise disciplinarian, and his patriotic orations and sermons prove him a speaker of great power. He belonged to the High Church
party and was a brilliant controversialist. He published 'Songs by the Way' (1824), a volume of poems; and his hymns beginning "Softly now the light of day" and "Thou art the Way" are well known.
Among those that Doane ordained was Joseph Wolff
, the Jewish Christian missionary.
See Life and Writings of George Washington Doane (4 vols, New York, 1860–1861), edited by his son, William Doane (b. 1832), first bishop of Albany.
He was buried in Saint Mary's Episcopal Churchyard
in Burlington, New Jersey
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
churchman, educator, and 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...
in the Episcopal Church for the Diocese of New Jersey
Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey
The Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey forms part of Province II of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. It is made up of the southern and central New Jersey counties of Union, Middlesex, Somerset, Hunterdon, Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean, Burlington, Camden, Atlantic, Gloucester, Salem,...
.
Biography
Doane was born in Trenton, New JerseyTrenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
. He graduated from Union College
Union College
Union College is a private, non-denominational liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. In the 19th century, it became the "Mother of Fraternities", as...
, Schenectady, New York
Schenectady, New York
Schenectady is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 66,135...
, in 1818, 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...
and, in 1821, was ordained deacon and in 1823 priest by Bishop Hobart, whom he assisted in Trinity church, New York. With George Upfold
George Upfold
George Upfold was the first Episcopal Bishop of Indiana after the diocese's division from the Missionary Diocese of the Northwest...
(1796–1872), Bishop of Indiana from 1849 to 1872, Doane founded St Luke's in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. From 1824–1828 he was professor of belles-lettres in Washington (now Trinity) College, Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
, and at this time he was one of the editors of the Episcopal Watchman. He was assistant in 1828-1830 and rector in 1830-1832 of Christ church, Boston
Old North Church
Old North Church , at 193 Salem Street, in the North End of Boston, is the location from which the famous "One if by land, and two if by sea" signal is said to have been sent...
, and was bishop of New Jersey from October 1832 to his death at Burlington, New Jersey
Burlington, New Jersey
Burlington is a city in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States and a suburb of Philadelphia. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 9,920....
. He was buried in the burial grounds that surround St. Mary's Episcopal Church on Broad Street in Burlington.
The diocese of New Jersey was an unpromising field, but he took up his work there with characteristic vigour, especially in the foundation of St. Mary's Hall-Doane Academy
St. Mary's Hall-Doane Academy
Doane Academy is a coeducational private day school located in Burlington, New Jersey. Founded in May 1837 by Bishop George Washington Doane. Doane Academy was originally an all-girls boarding school, predating Mount Holyoke College by several months...
(1837, for girls) and Burlington College (1846) as demonstrations of his theory of education under church control. His business management of these schools got him heavily into debt, and in the autumn of 1852 a charge of lax administration came before a court of bishops, who dismissed it.
The schools showed him an able and wise disciplinarian, and his patriotic orations and sermons prove him a speaker of great power. He belonged to the High Church
High church
The term "High Church" refers to beliefs and practices of ecclesiology, liturgy and theology, generally with an emphasis on formality, and resistance to "modernization." Although used in connection with various Christian traditions, the term has traditionally been principally associated with the...
party and was a brilliant controversialist. He published 'Songs by the Way' (1824), a volume of poems; and his hymns beginning "Softly now the light of day" and "Thou art the Way" are well known.
Among those that Doane ordained was Joseph Wolff
Joseph Wolff
Joseph Wolff , Jewish Christian missionary, was born at Weilersbach, near Bamberg, Germany. He travelled widely, and was known as the Eccentric Missionary, according to Fitzroy Maclean's Eastern Approaches...
, the Jewish Christian missionary.
See Life and Writings of George Washington Doane (4 vols, New York, 1860–1861), edited by his son, William Doane (b. 1832), first bishop of Albany.
He was buried in Saint Mary's Episcopal Churchyard
Saint Mary's Episcopal Churchyard, Burlington
St. Mary's Episcopal Church is an historic Episcopal parish in Burlington, New Jersey, in the United States. In 1695 settlers acquired land for a cemetery at West Broad and Wood streets. They built St. Mary's Church there in 1703. It is the oldest Episcopal church in New Jersey.With a growing...
in Burlington, New Jersey
Burlington, New Jersey
Burlington is a city in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States and a suburb of Philadelphia. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 9,920....
.
Sources
- The Episcopal Church Annual. Morehouse Publishing: New York, NY (2005).
- Bishops of the Diocese of New Jersey
- Doane, George Washington, Bishop of New Jersey, The apostolical commission the missionary charter of the church. The Sermon [on Matt. xxviii. 18-20] at the ordination of Joseph Wolff in ... Newark, Sept. 26, 1837.