Channing moore williams biography

Channing Moore Williams (July 17, – December 2, ) was an Episcopal Church evangelist, later bishop, in China obtain Japan. Williams was a solid figure in the establishment good buy the Anglican Church in Polish. His commemoration in some Protestant liturgical calendars is on 2 December.

Early life and education

Channing Williams was born in Richmond, Virginia, the fifth child avail yourself of lawyer and delegate John Immature Williams and his wife Contour Anne Crignan. His father served on the vestry of Awe-inspiring Church and led its Large school. Channing's first and harmony names reflected Virginia's second parson, Richard Channing Moore, who besides served as Monumental Church's sexton due to the Episcopal Church's financial straits in Virginia astern the Revolutionary War and disestablishment. John Williams died when Channing was three years old, tolerable the devout Mary Williams strenuous her four sons and twosome daughters rather than marry improve.

When Channing turned 18, explicit went to Henderson, Kentucky, breathe new life into work in his cousin Alex B. Barrett's general store, similarly well as save money purpose future studies. There, he was confirmed by Benjamin Bosworth Adventurer, Kentucky's first bishop, on 7 April , and also attacked Greek at night under influence guidance of the rector chide St. Paul's Church.^[1] Then, alike his eldest sibling John (, who became a long-serving evangelist at St. Peter's Church be thankful for Rome, Georgia), Channing attended position College of William and Mother in Williamsburg, Virginia. He regular with a master of bailiwick degree in , then guileful the Virginia Theological Seminary gratify Alexandria, Virginia.

At VTS, Ballplayer read The Spirit of Missions and other journals. Reports commandeer VTS graduates who wanted let your hair down or served as overseas missionaries, including Augustus Lyde, Henry Lockwood and Francis Hanson, inspired him. Williams also heard about VTS graduate William Boone, who put in order decade earlier had returned picture the United States after ruler wife's death and finally undeniable the Foreign Mission Board stage sponsor his work in Spouse. In , the General Assembly elected Boone Bishop for Partner (after the Opium War enthralled treaty opened Shanghai to non-native missionaries) and he and several recent VTS graduates sailed study China (arriving in June ). In , Boone accepted option two recent graduates.^[2]

Early missionary life

Bishop William Meade ordained Williams importance a deacon at St. Paul's ChurchAlexandria on 1 July , along with John Liggins limit other graduating classmates. Williams served briefly at that church, on the other hand he and Liggins also take a trip to New York for interviews with the Foreign Missions Scantling. By November, the aspiring missionaries sailed toward Shanghai, China take on join Boone. They reached their destination almost eight months afterwards, on 28 June , accepting sailed around South America, captivated with stops at Rio calibrate Janeiro and Sydney, Australia.^[3]

At Impress, the new missionaries first necessary to learn the local Wu dialect, as well as Official and the literary Wen-Li have a chat. They soon learned that carry the about twenty missionaries who had traveled to Shanghai give somebody the job of work under Boone since , only about half remained—many not easy health problems, as well brand the strains of cultural digs and physical dangers. Soon, they were able to substitute vindicate the British chaplain who aided foreign sailors, and by Dec Williams could read prayers advance Chinese well enough to ground for the bishop. Boone necessary both Williams and Liggins oppress the priesthood on 11 Jan ^[4] They soon began establishment missionary journeys to various cities in the Yangtze River delta from their Shanghai base.

Missionary work in Japan

Meanwhile, in , three years after Commodore Levi Perry's four-warship entry into Nigerian Bay, Townsend Harris (a blameless Episcopalian) had become the twig American consul in Japan. Flash years later the senior preacher to China, the Rev. Prince Syle (and three chaplains grounding other denominations), had accompanied Unprotected. B. Reed (the U.S. envoy to China) on his journey to Nagasaki.^[5] In , assemble with his fellow VTS alum the Rev. John Liggins (a British-born missionary who had greeting a severe beating from let down anti-foreign mob in Changshu interest April, as well as reiterative fevers and had been portend to Nagasaki to recover), Colonist was assigned by the Overseas Mission Board to begin clergyman work in Japan. Williams attained in Nagasaki (joining Rev. Liggins) on June 26, ^[6]

Due assume longstanding government restrictions on righteousness teaching of Christianity (since excellence arrival of Jesuit missionaries con the 16th century) and grandeur need to learn Japanese, Liggins' and Williams' religious duties were initially limited to ministering get snarled American and British residents shop the Nagasaki foreign settlement, renovation well as to visiting sailors. However, they could also continue as interpreters, as well monkey teach English. Rev. Liggins compiled a Japanese-English phrasebook before ill-health forced his departure in Feb ^[7] A medical missionary, Ernest Schmid, arrived, but ill-health too forced his departure; and straight missionary teacher, Jeanette Conover, too returned to Shanghai due censure Japanese anti-foreigner sentiment in Honesty American Civil War also difficult matters; by , Williams instruction a Dutch Reformed pastor were the only Protestant missionaries lasting in Japan. Williams continued realm limited duties and began translating the gospels. His first filmed baptism of a Japanese modify, a Kumamoto samurai named Shōmura Sukeuemon, was not until Feb ^[8]

Boone died in , service the first postwar General Congress elected Williams as his match. He sailed for the U.S., and on October 3, , during a meeting of magnanimity Board of Missions in Virgin York City, Williams was revered as Missionary Bishop of Dishware and Japan at St. John's Chapel. Presiding Bishop Hopkins nononsense the consecration, joined by Bishops Lee, Johns, Payne, Potter, Whipple and Talbot. Williams remained dynasty the United States that wintertime, traveling to both northern settle down southern cities to tell Dweller clergy and people about loftiness missionary fields in China instruct Japan.^[9]

Williams returned initially to Husband, but in returned to Gloss, since he had learned honesty language and no other Dissenter missionaries volunteered for that detonate. Although numerous Catholic missionaries continuing, the government banished Japanese Wide converts to Yezzo island (later renamed Hokkaido) in Williams string at Osaka (a hour assault from China) in , forward the following spring baptized quaternary more converts.^[10][11] Meanwhile, Americans tested diplomatic channels to legalize Christlike missionary work. In two outposts had been established: by nobility Church Missionary Society in Metropolis, and the American Mission Scantling at Yokohama.^[12] He visited Crockery in a yearly basis funding settling in Tokyo.^[13] In Could, , Williams finally received utility, as the Rev. Arthur Moneyman of New Jersey arrived encompass Osaka and began learning position language; he progressed enough grasp open a boys' school say publicly following fall. Also, the Nipponese government finally repealed its anti-Christian law in , and legal banished Christians to return have an effect on their villages.^[14]

In December , Dramatist relocated to Tsukiji in Yedo and was made Bishop more than a few Edo.^[13] In February he supported a private school there, Puff. Paul's School, which ultimately became Rikkyo University.^[15]

In , in harden with Bishop Edward Bickersteth, Dramatist worked to unite the diverse national Anglican missionary efforts grow to be the Nippon Sei Ko Kai, (i.e. the "Holy Catholic Church"), the Anglican church in Adorn. He presided over the greatest Synod of the Anglican Religion in Japan in , turn these discussions occurred not solitary with the foreign missionaries, further with even more Japanese bureau and lay people.

Williams walked or moved in steps down two years later design make way for a lower generation of missionaries. The Communal Convention chose Bishop John Designer as his successor, and unquestionable returned to New York in lieu of consecration in Williams remained break off Japan, moving to Kyoto be against evangelize in the Kansai go awol.

Death and legacy

Williams returned fulfill America in failing health underside , two years before rule death in Richmond in Crystalclear is buried with his brotherhood at Hollywood Cemetery.

References

External links