Robert Kennon Hargrove
Encyclopedia
Robert Kennon Hargrove was an American
bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South
, elected in 1882.
Born in Pickens County, Alabama
, he was converted to Christianity at the age of eleven. He graduated from the University of Alabama
in 1852, and was a Professor
of Pure Mathematics
there, 1853-57. He entered the Traveling Ministry
of the Alabama
Annual Conference
in 1857.
Prior to his election to the episcopacy, Hargrove served as a pastor
and a presiding elder. He was President
of the Centenary Institute
in Alabama, 1865-67, and of Tennessee Female College, 1878-73. He was a member of the Cape May
Commission in 1876. He was the first to urge a bond-scheme, which saved the Publishing House of the M.E. Church, South
. He originated the Women's Department of Church Extension (for the purpose of securing parsonages in the M.E. Church, South). He was also a member of the Commission that in 1878 established fraternal relations between the M.E. Church
and the M.E. Church, South, an important step toward reunification in 1939. Interestingly, he was not a member of the General Conference (1882) where he was elected Bishop.
Bishop Hargrove died on 4 August 1905 in Nashville, Tennessee
, and was buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery
in Nashville.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South
Methodist Episcopal Church, South
The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, or Methodist Episcopal Church South, was the so-called "Southern Methodist Church" resulting from the split over the issue of slavery in the Methodist Episcopal Church which had been brewing over several years until it came out into the open at a conference...
, elected in 1882.
Born in Pickens County, Alabama
Pickens County, Alabama
Pickens County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of 2010, the population was 19,746. Its county seat is Carrollton, and it is a prohibition, or dry county.-History:...
, he was converted to Christianity at the age of eleven. He graduated from the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
in 1852, and was a Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Pure Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
there, 1853-57. He entered the Traveling Ministry
Christian ministry
In Christianity, ministry is an activity carried out by Christians to express or spread their faith. 2003's Encyclopedia of Christianity defines it as "carrying forth Christ's mission in the world", indicating that it is "conferred on each Christian in baptism." It is performed by all Christians...
of the Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
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...
in 1857.
Prior to his election to the episcopacy, Hargrove served as a 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 a presiding elder. He was President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the Centenary Institute
Centenary Institute
Centenary Institute was a school in Summerfield, Alabama operated by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South from 1829 until the 1880s. The Centenary Institute was founded in 1829 as Valley Creek Academy, a local school, but was turned over to the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1838. In celebration...
in Alabama, 1865-67, and of Tennessee Female College, 1878-73. He was a member of the Cape May
Cape May
Cape May is a peninsula and island ; the southern tip of the island is the southernmost point of the state of New Jersey, United States. It runs southwards from the New Jersey mainland, separating Delaware Bay from the Atlantic Ocean...
Commission in 1876. He was the first to urge a bond-scheme, which saved the Publishing House of the M.E. Church, South
Methodist Episcopal Church, South
The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, or Methodist Episcopal Church South, was the so-called "Southern Methodist Church" resulting from the split over the issue of slavery in the Methodist Episcopal Church which had been brewing over several years until it came out into the open at a conference...
. He originated the Women's Department of Church Extension (for the purpose of securing parsonages in the M.E. Church, South). He was also a member of the Commission that in 1878 established fraternal relations between the M.E. 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...
and the M.E. Church, South, an important step toward reunification in 1939. Interestingly, he was not a member of the General Conference (1882) where he was elected Bishop.
Bishop Hargrove died on 4 August 1905 in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, and was buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery
Mount Olivet Cemetery (Nashville)
Mount Olivet Cemetery is a 250-acre cemetery located in Nashville, Tennessee.Mount Olivet has been continuously operated since its establishment in 1856. It serves as the final resting place for many of Middle Tennessee's political and business leaders, including several former governors of...
in Nashville.