Anna Weed Prosser (October 15, 1846 – December 20, 1902) was an American evangelist. An invalid for many years, she believed her recovery due to prayer, and immediately entered upon her evangelical work in gratitude for her restored health. She worked for some time under the

Woman's Christian Temperance Union The Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) is an international temperance organization, originating among women in the United States Prohibition movement. It was among the first organizations of women devoted to social reform with a program th ...

(W.C.T.U.), ultimately establishing a mission of her own, known as the Old Canal Street Mission, in

Buffalo, New York Buffalo is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New York (behind only New York City) and the seat of Erie County. It is at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of the Niagara River, and is across the Canadian border from South ...

of which she took charge and was assisted in this work by reformed men whom she had saved from lives of destitution. After ten years spent in ministry among the poor and unfortunate, she entered the general evangelical work and became president of the Buffalo Branch of the National Christian Alliance.

Early life and education

Anna Weed Prosser was born in

Albany, New York Albany ( ) is the capital of the U.S. state of New York, also the seat and largest city of Albany County. Albany is on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River, and about north of New York City ...

, October 15, 1846. Her parents were

Erastus S. Prosser Erastus Sabinus Prosser (September 2, 1809 – May 11, 1888) was an American politician from New York. Early life Prosser was born on September 2, 1809, in the area which was separated as the Town of Westerlo, Albany County, New York in 1815. His ...

and Lucy (née, Wilbur) Prosser. Anna had one brother, Henry Wilbur Prosser, and two sisters, including Harriet. At the age of seven years, she removed to

, where she was reared in a luxurious home. As early as four years of age, she recalled deep stirrings of conscience at times and heart-longings after God. At the age of fifteen, she entered the

Sunday school A Sunday school is an educational institution, usually (but not always) Christian in character. Other religions including Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism have also organised Sunday schools in their temples and mosques, particularly in the West. Su ...

of the

Presbyterian Church Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their nam ...

in the neighborhood.

Career

Leaving school very young, she began the usual career expected of a woman in her circumstance, that of a "society" girl. Gradually, her health failed under the incessant strain, until she was taken with a congestive chill, which was followed by a serious illness. She was carried to her room, and ten years of invalidism followed. Two of those years she spent in bed, and for five years, she was carried up and down stairs. One disease followed another, until finally, all physicians failing, she was removed from home on a mattress. After dedicating her life to the Christian religion, she returned to her home. She took up city mission work under the W.C.T.U., where she worked for several years. From 1883, Prosser carried on rescue work in Canal Street, Buffalo. She took charge of the Canal Street Mission in Buffalo, of which she undertook the charge, assisted by her Bible class of reformed men. Her musical talent became the most prominent feature of her work. About ten years after beginning this ministry, she received many calls from churches throughout the country and several invitations to assume the pastorate of a church. she entered general evangelistic work, and assumed the presidency of the Buffalo Branch of the National Christian Alliance. It was composed of members of various evangelical churches. About 1896, she established the Mionnary Training School to which work she brought an inheritance of . For five years, she was president of the Christian Alliance, and for some time, conducted a Jewish mission.

Personal life

Prosser made her home in Kenmore, a suburb bordering Buffalo. She adopted two daughters, Olive and Georgia Plumstell, and one adopted son, John Reece. On December 20, 1902, Anna Weed Prosser died at the Missionary Training School in Buffalo, which she founded, and of which she was superintendent. Burial was at

Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo Forest Lawn Cemetery is a historic rural cemetery in Buffalo, New York, founded in 1849 by Charles E. Clarke. It covers over and over 152,000 are buried there, including U.S. President Millard Fillmore, First Lady Abigail Fillmore, singer Rick J ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Prosser, Anna Weed 1846 births Wikipedia articles incorporating text from A Woman of the Century People from Albany, New York American evangelists People from Buffalo, New York Woman's Christian Temperance Union people 1902 deaths