Galusha Anderson (March 7, 1832 – July 20, 1918) was an American

theologian Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the ...

and university president.

Biography

Anderson was born at Bergen, Genesee County, New York. His father was of Scotch descent and a strict

Presbyterian 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 ...

. At a young age he converted to the

Baptist Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only (believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compete ...

faith and was determined to become a minister. Anderson was educated at the

University of Rochester The University of Rochester (U of R, UR, or U of Rochester) is a private research university in Rochester, New York. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The University of Roc ...

, graduating with high honors in 1854, and the Rochester (Baptist) Theological Seminary, graduating in 1856. His ministry began as pastor of the Baptist Church in

Janesville, Wisconsin Janesville is a city in Rock County, Wisconsin, United States. It is the county seat and largest city in the county. It is a principal municipality of the Janesville, Wisconsin, Metropolitan Statistical Area and is included in the Madison–Jane ...

. After two years, he moved to

St. Louis St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which e ...

to be the pastor of Second Baptist Church. His account of the Civil War in St. Louis, ''The Story of a Border City during the Civil War'', is considered accurate, vivid, and balanced, even though Anderson was an ardent abolitionist and supporter of the Union. Published in 1908, the account covers the entire duration of the war. "He became distinguished as a preacher of the Baptist denomination, and was called in 1866 from his Church in St. Louis to the professorship of homiletics, Church polity, and pastoral duties, in Newton theological institute." He held several other

pastor A pastor (abbreviated as "Pr" or "Ptr" , or "Ps" ) is the leader of a Christian congregation who also gives advice and counsel to people from the community or congregation. In Lutheranism, Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy and ...

ates, became president successively of the

Old University of Chicago The Old University of Chicago was the legal name given in 1890 to the University of Chicago's first incorporation. The school, founded in 1856 by Baptist church leaders, was originally called the "University of Chicago" (or, interchangeably, "Ch ...

(1878–85) and

Denison University Denison University is a private liberal arts college in Granville, Ohio. One of the earliest colleges established in the former Northwest Territory, Denison University was founded in 1831. The college was first called the Granville Literary and ...

(1887–90),

professor Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an Academy, academic rank at university, universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin as a "person who pr ...

of practical theology at the new

University of Chicago The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, U of C, or UChi) is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois. Its main campus is located in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood. The University of Chicago is consistently ranked among the b ...

in 1892–1903, when he became

emeritus professor ''Emeritus'' (; female: ''emerita'') is an adjective used to designate a retired chair, professor, pastor, bishop, pope, director, president, prime minister, rabbi, emperor, or other person who has been "permitted to retain as an honorary title ...

. Dr. Anderson was given the degrees of

D.D. A Doctor of Divinity (D.D. or DDiv; la, Doctor Divinitatis) is the holder of an advanced academic degree in divinity. In the United Kingdom, it is considered an advanced doctoral degree. At the University of Oxford, doctors of divinity are ra ...

, 1866, and

LL.D. Legum Doctor (Latin: “teacher of the laws”) (LL.D.) or, in English, Doctor of Laws, is a doctorate-level academic degree in law or an honorary degree, depending on the jurisdiction. The double “L” in the abbreviation refers to the early ...

, 1884, by the University of Rochester. Following his retirement in 1904, Anderson devoted much of his time to writing. His writings include: * ''The Elements of Chrysostom's Power as a Preacher'' (1903) * ''Ancient Sermons for modern Times'', a translation from Asterius (1904) * ''The Story of a Border City during the Civil War ''(1908) * ''When Neighbors Were Neighbors, a Story of Love and Life in Olden Days'' (1911) He died at his son's home in

Wenham, Massachusetts Wenham () is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts. The population was 4,979 at the time of the 2020 census. The town of Wenham, originally settled in 1635 and incorporated in 1643, has retained much of its historic character and rural scenery ...

on July 20, 1918.

References

External links

Biography, from Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans
* 1832 births 1918 deaths American abolitionists American Christian theologians Baptist abolitionists Baptists from New York (state) Baptist ministers from the United States Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School alumni Old University of Chicago People from Bergen, New York Presidents of Denison University {{US-reli-bio-stub