William Lawrence (bishop) – Wikipedia

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American Episcopal bishop

The Right Reverend

William Lawrence

D.D., LL.D.
Bishop 2949636532 a6a80123e0 o.jpg

William Lawrence (between 1910 and 1915)
Church Episcopal Church
Diocese Massachusetts
Elected May 4, 1893
In office 1893–1927
Predecessor Phillips Brooks
Successor Charles Lewis Slattery
Ordination June 11, 1876
by Benjamin Henry Paddock
Consecration October 5, 1893
by John Williams
Born (1850-05-30)May 30, 1850

Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Died November 6, 1941(1941-11-06) (aged 91)
Milton, Massachusetts, United States
Buried Mount Auburn Cemetery
Nationality American
Denomination Anglican
Parents Amos Adams Lawrence &
Sarah Elizabeth Appleton
Spouse Julia Cunningham (d. 1900)
Children 5
Alma mater Harvard University
Harvard Divinity School
Signature William Lawrence's signature

William Lawrence (May 30, 1850 – November 6, 1941) was elected as the 7th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts (1893–1927). Lawrence was the son of the notable textile industrialist Amos Adams Lawrence and a member of the influential Boston family, founded by his great-grandfather and American revolutionary, Samuel Lawrence. His grandfather was the famed philanthropist Amos Lawrence.

Early life[edit]

Lawrence was born on May 30, 1850 in Boston, Massachusetts.[1] He was the son of Sarah Elizabeth Appleton (1822–1891) and Amos Adams Lawrence (1814–1886), a notable textile industrialist, and a member of the influential Boston family, founded by his great-grandfather and American revolutionary, Samuel Lawrence. His grandfather was the famed philanthropist Amos Lawrence.[2]

He graduated from Harvard College, as was the tradition in his family. He earned his Doctor of Divinity (D.D.) degree from Harvard Divinity School in 1897. In 1910, he was honored with a Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) degree from Harvard presented by his cousin and then president of Harvard, A. Lawrence Lowell.[2]

Time cover, January 14, 1924

Lawrence is best known for founding the church pension system. He was also known as “the banker bishop” because of his wealth and successful fund-raising drives.[3] The financier J. P. Morgan, Jr. served as treasurer of the Church Pension Fund from its founding in 1918.

While bishop emeritus, Lawrence was involved in an effort to proposition a new Book of Common Prayer to the Church of England. Also, while in retirement, he realized the need for a chapel at Massachusetts General Hospital and in the late 1930s, as the White Building was under construction, convinced of the importance of faith and spirit in healing, he sent letters to friends of the hospital asking for their support “in this bit of pioneer hospital work.”[4] Over eight hundred people of all faiths responded.

He was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1899.[5] In 1926, Lawrence published his autobiography, Memories of a Happy Life. Several of his sons, following in his footsteps, also became bishops of the Episcopal Church.

Famous quote[edit]

The “banker bishop” is quoted as having said, “In the long run it is only to the man of morality that wealth comes… We, like the Psalmists, occasionally see the wicked prosper, but only occasionally. Godliness is in league with riches.”[6]

Lawrence was married to Julia Cunningham (1853–1927),[7] the daughter of Frederic Cunningham and Sarah Maria (née Parker) Cunningham.[7] Together, they were the parents of:[2]

Lawrence died on November 6, 1941 at the age of 91 in Milton, Massachusetts.[2][11][12]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Johnson, Rossiter; Brown, John Howard, eds. (1904). The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans. Vol. VI. Boston: The Biographical Society. Retrieved May 4, 2022 – via Internet Archive.
  2. ^ a b c d “Dr. Lawrence Dies; Bishop Emeritus; Successor to Phillips Brooks as Head of Massachusetts Episcopal Diocese Was 91 Founded Church Pension; Known for His Liberalism and Tolerance Urged Inquiry Into Sacco-Vanzetti Case”. The New York Times. November 7, 1941. p. 23. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  3. ^ “National Affairs”. Time. Vol. VI, no. 3. July 20, 1925. p. 5. Retrieved May 4, 2022 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ “The Chapel Massachusetts General Hospital”. The Quarterly Record. Massachusetts General Hospital Nurses Alumnae Association, Inc. XXXII (2): 4–6. June 1941. Retrieved May 4, 2022 – via Internet Archive.
  5. ^ American Antiquarian Society Members Directory
  6. ^ “The Relation of Wealth to Morals”, in The World’s Work (Doubleday, 1901), Vol 1 p. 287
  7. ^ a b “Mrs. Julia Lawrence.; Wife of Former Episcopal Bishop of Massachusetts Dies at 74”. The New York Times. September 7, 1927. p. 29. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  8. ^ “History & Structure”. Junior League of Boston. Archived from the original on March 26, 2011. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  9. ^ Bishop Slattery of Mass. Victim of Heart Attack | Successor to Bishop Lawrence Held Office Less Than Three Years–Former Teacher at Groton School. The Telegraph. March 13, 1930. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  10. ^ “William Lawrence, Retired Bishop, 79”. The New York Times. January 6, 1969. p. 47. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  11. ^ “Bequests by Bishop Lawrence”. The New York Times. November 19, 1941. p. 25. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  12. ^ “3,000 Attend Service for Bishop Lawrence; His Two Sons Conduct Rites at Cemetery in Cambridge, Mass”. The New York Times. November 9, 1941. p. 52. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  13. ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). “Lawrence, Amos Adams § William Lawrence” . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 16 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 305.

External links[edit]