William Pierson Merrill (1867–1954) was an American Presbyterian clergyman, pacifist, author, and hymn writer. He was acknowledged during his time as one of the most influential ministers in America.[1] He is probably best remembered as the author of several well-known hymns, including "Rise Up, O Men of God".
Upon his ordination in 1890, Merrill became pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania, where he served until 1895.[3] From 1895 until 1911, he served as pastor of the Sixth Presbyterian Church of Chicago. There he met his wife Clara (née Helmer).[2] In 1911, Merrill was called to the Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City, where he served as pastor until 1938,[4] when the merger with the Park Avenue Church took place and he resigned to become pastor emeritus.[5]
Merrill was named the first president on the Church Peace Union, an organization of religious, academic, and political leaders aimed at promoting pacifism.[6] His 1914 sermon titled "The Making of Peace" was hailed by Andrew Carnegie as "...one of the greatest sermons on peace that he had ever heard."[7] Merrill was offered the presidency of Union Theological Seminary in 1917, but declined.[8] He was elected Moderator of the Presbytery of New York in 1940,[9] a position he held until 1942.[10]
^Jones, Edgar (1970). The royalty of the pulpit: a survey and appreciation of the Lyman Beecher lectures on preaching founded at Yale Divinity School 1871 and given annually (with four exceptions) since 1872. Ayer Publishing. p. 424. ISBN0-8369-1979-3.
^"Brick Church -> History and Facilities -> History".
^Driscoll, Charles (October 14, 1939). "New York Day By Day". Herald-Journal.
^. Archived from the original on 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2011-09-28.
^"SERMON ON PEACE DELIGHTS CARNEGIE; Takes the Rev. Dr. Merrill's Manuscript to Have Some Copies Printed". New York Times. May 18, 1914.
^"WILL STAY AT BRICK CHURCH; Dr. Merrill Decides to Decline Presidency of Union Seminary". New York Times. January 29, 1917.
^"DR. MERRILL NAMED PRESBYTERY HEAD; Brick Church Pastor Emeritus Chosen at Meeting Here of New York Body OPPOSES ANY THIRD TERM Several Officers Re-elected-- Tribute Is Paid to Faith and Kindliness of Dr. Finley". New York Times. April 16, 1940.
^"DR. W. P. MERRILL, MINISTER, 87, DIES; Pastor Emeritus of Brick Presbyterian Was Author and Composer of Hymns". New York Times. June 21, 1954.
Erickson, John Irving (1985). Sing it again!: a handbook on the Covenant Hymnal. Covenant Press. pp. 348–349. ISBN0-910452-58-X.
Hughes, Charles William (1980). American Hymns Old and New: Notes on the Hymns and Biographies of the Authors and Composers. Columbia University Press. pp. 488. ISBN0-231-03458-X.
Hustad, Donald Paul (1978). Dictionary-Handbook to Hymns for the Living Church. Hope Publishing Company. pp. 287. ISBN0-916642-09-7.
October 22, 2023
william, merrill, william, pierson, merrill, 1867, 1954, american, presbyterian, clergyman, pacifist, author, hymn, writer, acknowledged, during, time, most, influential, ministers, america, probably, best, remembered, author, several, well, known, hymns, incl. William Pierson Merrill 1867 1954 was an American Presbyterian clergyman pacifist author and hymn writer He was acknowledged during his time as one of the most influential ministers in America 1 He is probably best remembered as the author of several well known hymns including Rise Up O Men of God Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 3 Selected publications 4 ReferencesEarly life and education EditWilliam Merrill was born on January 10 1867 in Orange New Jersey to George and Emily Merrill both of English descent 2 During his youth the family moved to Newburyport Massachusetts and then back to New Brunswick New Jersey Merrill earned his B A 1887 A M 1890 and D D 1904 from Rutgers He also earned a B D 1890 from the Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York Career EditUpon his ordination in 1890 Merrill became pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Chestnut Hill Pennsylvania where he served until 1895 3 From 1895 until 1911 he served as pastor of the Sixth Presbyterian Church of Chicago There he met his wife Clara nee Helmer 2 In 1911 Merrill was called to the Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City where he served as pastor until 1938 4 when the merger with the Park Avenue Church took place and he resigned to become pastor emeritus 5 Merrill was named the first president on the Church Peace Union an organization of religious academic and political leaders aimed at promoting pacifism 6 His 1914 sermon titled The Making of Peace was hailed by Andrew Carnegie as one of the greatest sermons on peace that he had ever heard 7 Merrill was offered the presidency of Union Theological Seminary in 1917 but declined 8 He was elected Moderator of the Presbytery of New York in 1940 9 a position he held until 1942 10 Merrill died June 19 1954 in New York City and is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx Selected publications EditFaith building Quiet hour series Fleming H Revell 1896 p 77 Faith and sight essays on the relation of agnosticism to theology C Scribner s sons 1900 pp 175 Footings for faith Scribners 1915 p 141 Christian internationalism Macmillan 1918 pp 193 The common creed of Christians studies of the Apostles creed Fleming H Revell 1920 pp 160 The freedom of the preacher Lyman Beecher lectures The Macmillan company 1922 pp 147 Liberal Christianity The Macmillan company 1925 pp 170 Prophets of the dawn Amos Hosea Isaiah Micah the beginnings of the religion of the spirit Fleming H Revell 1927 pp 173 The way meditations on the way of life according to Jesus The Macmillan company 1933 p 334 We see Jesus Harper amp brothers 1934 p 127 References Edit At Peace Conference St Petersburg Times February 5 1925 a b The Caledonian Volume 11 Caledonian Pub Co 1911 pp 305 Jones Edgar 1970 The royalty of the pulpit a survey and appreciation of the Lyman Beecher lectures on preaching founded at Yale Divinity School 1871 and given annually with four exceptions since 1872 Ayer Publishing p 424 ISBN 0 8369 1979 3 Brick Church gt History and Facilities gt History Driscoll Charles October 14 1939 New York Day By Day Herald Journal Carnegie Council History 1914 Present Archived from the original on 2011 09 28 Retrieved 2011 09 28 SERMON ON PEACE DELIGHTS CARNEGIE Takes the Rev Dr Merrill s Manuscript to Have Some Copies Printed New York Times May 18 1914 WILL STAY AT BRICK CHURCH Dr Merrill Decides to Decline Presidency of Union Seminary New York Times January 29 1917 DR MERRILL NAMED PRESBYTERY HEAD Brick Church Pastor Emeritus Chosen at Meeting Here of New York Body OPPOSES ANY THIRD TERM Several Officers Re elected Tribute Is Paid to Faith and Kindliness of Dr Finley New York Times April 16 1940 DR W P MERRILL MINISTER 87 DIES Pastor Emeritus of Brick Presbyterian Was Author and Composer of Hymns New York Times June 21 1954 Erickson John Irving 1985 Sing it again a handbook on the Covenant Hymnal Covenant Press pp 348 349 ISBN 0 910452 58 X Hughes Charles William 1980 American Hymns Old and New Notes on the Hymns and Biographies of the Authors and Composers Columbia University Press pp 488 ISBN 0 231 03458 X Hustad Donald Paul 1978 Dictionary Handbook to Hymns for the Living Church Hope Publishing Company pp 287 ISBN 0 916642 09 7 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William P Merrill amp oldid 1018094266, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
