James Mudge | |
|---|---|
 Reverend, James Mudge | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | (1844-04-05)April 5, 1844. |
| Died | May 7, 1918(1918-05-07) (aged 74) |
| Parent(s) | Rev. James and Harriet Wilde (Goodridge) Mudge |
| Occupation | Missionary Reverend Author, Editor |
| Signature |  |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Methodist Episcopal Church |
James Mudge (1844–1918) was an AmericanMethodist Episcopalclergyman and writer, nephew ofZachariah Mudge, Methodist missionary in India during the latter half of the 19th and early 20th centuries. He authored many works centered around religion and spirituality during his missionary career.
Mudge was born atWest Springfield,Mass., and during his infancy was baptized. At the age of twelve, Mudge became a firm believer in Christianity. On his thirteenth birthday, April 5, 1857, he joined the old Common Street Church inLynn, Massachusetts where he prepared for college.[1]
Mudge enrolled in and subsequently graduated fromWesleyan University in 1865 and fromBoston University School of Theology in 1868.[2] He was the son of the Reverend. James and Harriet Wilde (Goodridge) Mudge, and a descendant of Thomas Mudge, who was a resident of Maiden, Mass, as early as 1657.Enoch Mudge was his great-uncle, andZachariah A. Mudge his cousin. He attended the public schools inSouth Harwich andLynn. At age seventeen Mudge enrolled inWesleyan University, inMiddletown, Connecticut., and graduated in 1865 with aBachelor of Arts. He spent the next two teaching Greek and Latin in the seminary atPennington, NJ., and then entered the newly openedBoston University School of Theology, where earned aBachelor of Sacred Theology in 1870.[2]
Immediately after graduating, Mudge entered the ministry, joining the New England conference. While amissionary inIndia from 1873 to 1883 he edited theLucknowWitness. After his return he was pastor of churches in Massachusetts until 1908, serving also as lecturer on missions at the Boston University School of Theology. In 1889 he became secretary of the New England conference. From 1908 to 1912 he was book editor ofZion's Herald.[3] Mudge aspired to missionary service in India after receiving a specific request fromJames Mills Thoburn, ofLucknow, India who exclaimed that they needed a "first class, scholarly young man of literary turn" to perform missionary work and act as editor of books and periodicals.[2]
Mudge, along with his father James, were members of the New England Conference, of the Methodist Episcopal Church.[1] Mudge was sent out by the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church to become the editor of a weekly newspaper,The Lucknow Witness, a non-denominational but Christian publication. He had assumed its editorship after Reverends J.H. Messmore andJames Mills Thoburn. The editorship was then passed back to Thoburn, who renamed itThe India Witness.[4]
In 1896, a book written by Mudge,Growth in Holiness Toward Perfection, published in 1895, received criticism from Daniel Steele, who alleged, " But many loyal Methodists are convinced that he [Mudge] is in great error, overturning our doctrinal foundations."[5][6]
Mudge died in Maden, Massachusetts on May 7, 1918, and was buried next to his father inPine Grove Cemetery in Lynn, Massachusetts.[2]
His papers are held at Boston University.[7]
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Media related toJames Mudge at Wikimedia Commons
