McKeen, Joseph, D.D., a Congregational minis- ter, noted as an educator, was born Oct. 15, 1757, in Londonderry, N. H. ; graduated at Dartmoutli in 1774; served under general Sullivan in the Revolution; was licensed to preach, and ordained pastor in Beverly in May, 1785. In 1802 he was chosen first president of Bowdoiu College, and was inaugurated Sept. 2. He died July 15, 1807. '"Dr. McKeen possessed a strong and discriminating mind; his manners were concilia- ting though dignified, and his spirit mild though firm and decided. He was indefatigable in his exertions to promote the interests of science and religion. He was respectable for his learning and exemplary for his Chris- tian virtues, being pious without ostentation, and ad- hering to evangelical truth without bigotry or supersti- tion." He published his Inaugural Address and a few occasional Sermons. — Sprague, Annals, ii, 216.
McKendree,WiLLiAJi, a bishop of the Jlethodist Episcopal Church, was born in King AA'illiam County, Va., July G, 1757. He was the subject of frequent re- ligious impressions in youth, but he failed to find peace. He was an adjutant and commissary in Washington's army for several years, and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown in 1781 ; in 1787 he was con- verted, during the great revival that occurred under the labors of the Rev. John Easter; and entered the itineran- cy June 17, 1788. In 1796 he was made presiding elder; in 1801 was sent by the bishops to preside over Kentucky District, and to have general superintendence of the AVestern Conference, then embracing Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Western Virginia, and jiart of Illinois; and in 1806 was presiding elder on Cumberland District, with the same supervision of the Conference. At the (ieneral Conference in Baltimore, May, 1808, McKcndree was (inally promoted to the highest office in the gift of the Churcli — the episcopacy. He died March 5, 1835, at his brother's, near Nashville, Tenn., having preached faith- fully almost fifty j'ears, been twelve years a presiding elder, and nearly twenty-seven 3'ears a bishop in the Church. Bishop IMcKendree was one of the most emi- nent of all the preachers and pastors of his age. From the time of his first efforts he was marked as a man of the most vigorous genius, the most genuine modesty, and the most devoted piety. Although not classically educated, his broad and grasping mind went on acquir- ing and growing until it had digested and could wield at will a vast and varied knowledge. His imagination was grand and fervid, but always healthy; and could give to liis knowledge the freshness of romance, or to his judgment the spell of prophecy. His utterance was
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copious and forcible, and his voice ricb, deep, and flexi- ble. These elements of mind and means, employed by a strong and pathetic heart baptized with the Holy Ghost, made him not only the most truly eloquent bishop that his Church has ever possessed, but one of the best preachers of any Church or age. As a pastor, his administrative abilities were unrivalled. He found the economical methods of the Church crude and indef- inite, and imparted to them a systematic vigor ; and he was a distinguished promoter of her benevolent institu- tions. As a man and a Christian he was honored by every class of society. His labors were mighty in lay- ing the deep foundations of evangelical rehgion in the Mississippi Valley, and his genius and devotion are still a power in the churches, and his memory is blessed. See Minutes of Conferences, ii, 402 ; Life, by B. St. J. Fry, in the IM. E. S. S. Library ; and that by Bp. Paine, of the M. E. Church South (Nasliville, 18G9, 2 vols. 12mo) ; Summers, Biog. Sketches, p. 43 ; Wakely, Heroes of Methodism, p. 93; Bennett (AV. B.), Memorials of Methodism in Virginia (Richm. 1871, r2mo), p. 2G0 sq. ; BIcFerrin, Hist. Meth. in Tennessee, i, 30G ; Itedford, Hist. Meth. in Kentucl-y, ii, 28. (G. L. T.)
McKemian, Jajies Wilsox, D.D., a Presbyterian minister, was born in Washington, Pa., Sept. 2, 1804; graduated at Washington College, Pa., in 1822, and then studied and practiced law at jMillersburg, Ohio ; subse- quently commenced the study of theology with Dr. John Anderson, of Upper Buffalo Church, Pa. ; was licensed by Washington Presbytery in 1828, and in 1829 was ordained and installed pastor of the United churches of Lower Buffalo and West Liberty, Pa. In 1835 he accepted a call to Indianapolis, but owing to infirm health he had to resign. lie was afterwards engaged in teaching in Wheeling, and at Moundsville, Ya., and also as rector in the preparatory department, and ad- junct professor of languages in Washington CoUege. He died July 19, 1861. Dr. McKennan's character was truly remarkable in candor, benevolence, and meekness ; in simplicity and directness of purpose ; in strength of faith and zeal. His sermons were characterized by plainness and directness of stvle. See Wilson. Presb. Hist. A Imanac, 18G2, p. 109, (J. L. S.)
McKinley, John, a minister of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., July 18, 1815. He was educated at the University of Pennsylvania, wliicli institution he entered when not quite fourteen years old, and there he graduated with the first honor of his class in 1833. From his very child- hood the ministry had been looked to as the profession nf his life, and he therefore, immediately upon the com- pletion of his college course, entered npon the study of theology at the theological seminary of his Chiu-ch, then under the care of Dr. Samuel B. Wylie. In 1835 Mr. IMcKinley was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Philadelphia. After tilling various minor appointments, lie was in 1838 called to the pastorate of the Reformed Presbyterian Church at JNIilton, Pa. Here he labored acceptably and successfully until 1841, when failing health compelled him to withdraw from active work. His precautions had been taken too late, for he failed rapidly, and died Oct. 5 of the same year. "All who knew him recognised in his death the extinction of one of the bright lights of the Church." His only publica- tion is a series of articles on the Slave Trade, which ap- peared in a weekly periodical at Milton, Pa. " He was a man of cultivated intellect, of sound and discrimina- ting judgment, of generous sj'mpathies and noble im- pulses, and fervent piety." See Sprague, A nnuls of the Amer. Pulpit, ix, 87 sq.