William Fraser McDowell

Rev. William Fraser McDowell, A.B., S.T.B., (February 4, 1858 – April 26, 1937) was an American bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Early life and education McDowell was born in Millersburg, Ohio on February 4, 1858. He earned the A.B. degree in 1879 from Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio. He earned an S.T.B. degree at Boston University in 1882. While at Ohio Wesleyan, McDowell was the founding editor of The Phi Gamma Delta magazine.

Ordained ministry In 1892, McDowell was ordained by the North Ohio Annual Conference of the M.E. Church. McDowell served as a minister in Lodi, Ohio from 1882 to 1883. He then served in Oberlin, Ohio from 1883 to 1885, and served in Tiffin, Ohio from 1885 to 1890.

He then became the chancellor of the University of Denver, serving 1890–99. During this time he was also a member of the Colorado State Board of Charities and Corrections (1894–1899).

In 1899, he became the secretary of the Board of Education of the M.E. Church, serving until his election to the episcopacy. He also became a member of the International Committee of the YMCA. thumb

Episcopal ministry

As a bishop, McDowell also served as president of the Religious Education Society (1905–06). He was a Yale lecturer on preaching, and was noted as a preacher to preachers.

Bishop McDowell died 26 April 1937 in Washington, D.C., and was buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in Delaware, Ohio.

Works

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