RELIGIOUS ENCYCLOPEDIA
William of Occam Wiliams
until they entirely disappeared during the eighteenth century. (G. GRUTZMACHER. )
BrsuiocrapHy: On 1 consult: G. Jordano, Chroniche di Monte Vergine, Naples, 1581; T. Costo, [storia dell’ origine del s. luogit di Montevergine, Venice, 1691; Hélyot, Ordres monastiques, vi. 122 sqq.; KL, xii. 1626 sqq. On 2 consult: ASB, Feb., ii. 433-472, cf. Analecta Bollandiana, i (1882), 525-527; ASB, ut sup., contains selections from the Vita by Albert, which was published at Siena, 1770; Hélyot, Ordres monastiques, vi. 142 sqq.; Heimbucher, Orden und Kongregationen, ii. 180-181.
WILLIAMS, ARTHUR LLEWELLYN: Protestant Episcopal bishop of Nebraska; b. at Owen Sound, Ont., Jan. 30, 1856. He received a highschool education, and in 1888 was graduated from the Western Theological Seminary, Chicago. He was ordered deacon in the same year and priested in 1889. After being a missionary in White River Valley, Col., in 1888-89, he became rector of St. Paul’s, Denver, Col., in 1891, and was rector of Christ Church, Woodlawn Park, Chicago, 1892- 1899. In 1899 he was consecrated bishop coadjutor of Nebraska, becoming bishop in 1908.
WILLIAMS, CHANNING MOORE: Protestant Episcopal missionary bishop of Yeddo, Japan (retired); b. at Richmond, Va., July 18, 1829; d. at Richmond, Va., Dec. 2, 1910. He was educated at William and Mary College (A.B., 1853) and at the Theological Seminary of Virginia (graduated 1855). He was ordered deacon in 1853 and priested in 1857, in which year he was appointed missionary in China, where he served until 1866. In the latter year he was consecrated missionary bishop of Yeddo, which bishopric he held until 1889, when he retired. He continued, however, his missionary labors under his successor.
BrsyiocRapHy: W. S. Perry, The Episcopate in America, p. 171, New York, 1895.
WILLIAMS, CHARLES DAVID: Protestant Episcopal bishop of Michigan; b. at Bellevue, O., July 30, 1860. He was educated at Kenyon College, Gambier, O. (A.B., 1880), and Bexly Hall, the theological seminary of the same institution (graduated 1883). He was a tutor in Kenyon College (1881- 1884), and also curate of Trinity, Columbus, O. (1883-84); rector of the Church of the Resurrection, Fernbank, O., and of the Church of the Atonement, Riverside, Cincinnati (1884-89), and of St. Paul’s, Steubenville, O. (1889-93); dean of Trinity Cathedral, Cleveland, O. (1893-1906); and in 1906 was consecrated bishop of Michigan. He was president of the Gleveland Public Library Board in 1902-06, and of Hiram House (a social settlement), Cleveland, in 1894. In theology he is a Broad-churchman. He has written A Valid Christianity for To-Day (New Orleans, 1905, new ed., 1909).
WILLIAMS, DANIEL: English Presbyterian; b. in Wales, at (or near) Wrexham (25 m. s. of Liverpool), about 1643; d. at Hoxton Jan. 26,1716. He began to preach 1663; became chaplain to the Countess of Meath, 1664; preached to an independent congregation at Drogheda, 1664-67; was pastor of Wood Street congregation, Dublin, 1667-87; of Hand Alley, Bishopsgate, London, 1688 till his death. He held the Pinners’ Hall lectureship, 1691- 1694. He acquired a large estate, a great part of
Williams
THE NEW SCHAFF-HERZOG
which he devoted to charitable uses. By will he
founded the Red Cross Street Library, originally
embracing his own library and that of William Bates.
He was the author of Gospel Truth Stated and Vindi-
cated (2d ed., London, 1692); Man Made Righteous
by Christ’s Obedience . . . Sermons (1694); The
Ministerial Office. 3 parts (1708); The Vanity of
Childhood and Youth . . . Sermons (8rd ed., 1729);
Select Sermons and Tracts (2 vols., 1832); and there
appeared, with an account of his life, his Practical
Discourses (5 vols., 1738-50).
BipuiocRAPpHy: The funeral sermon by John Evans was printed London, 1716. Besides the Life prefixed to the Practical Discourses, ut sup., consult: True Copy of the Last Will and Testament of Daniel Williams, London, 1717; reprint with additions, 1804; D. Defoe, Memoirs of the Life of . . . Daniel Williams, ib. 1718; Papers Relating to Daniel Williams, ib. 1816; DNB, Ixi. 385-388.
WILLIAMS, DAVID: English deist; b. at Watford, Glamorganshire, Wales, 1738; d. in London June 29, 1816. He was educated at Carmarthen Academy (1753-57), and in 1758 was ordained to a dissenting congregation at Frome, Somerset, though three years later his lax theological views compelled him to leave Frome for the Mint meeting-house in Exeter, where he was reordained, while from about 1769 to 1773 he was in charge of a dwindling congregation in Highgate, Middlesex. In 1773 he removed to Chelsea, and there opened a school which was conducted successfully for two or three years, when his wife’s death so unnerved him that he abruptly abandoned his teaching. In Apr., 1776, he opened a chapel, where he conducted services on the basis of his Liturgy on the Universal Principles of Religion and Morality (London, 1776), in the compilation of which he had been assisted by Benjamin Franklin. He continued these services, with at least one change of location, until about 1780, the year in which he first formed the idea of founding a “ Literary Fund ”’ for the aid of unrecognized men of genius, this project not being incorporated until after Williams’ death (1818), though it ultimately became the Royal Literary Fund (1842). After the failure of his services, Williams supported himself chiefly by private teaching, until, in 1792, he was invited to write a history of Monmouthshire, the result, his History of Monmouthshire (London, 1796), being still the standard on its subject. In 1792 and in 1802 he paid brief visits to France, being made a French citizen on his first trip. In his closing years his finances ran very low, and after 1811 he resided in the house of the Literary Fund, which had been able to commence its benefactions in 1790.
The principal writings of Williams were The Philosopher, in Three Conversations (London, 1771); Essays on Public Worship, Patriotism, and Projects of Reformation (1773); Sermons, Chiefly upon Religtous Hypocrisy (1774); Treatise on Education (1774); Letter to the Body of Protestant Dissenters (1777); Lectures on the Universal Principles and Duties of Religion and Morality (2 vols., 1779); Nature and Extent of Intellectual Liberty (1779); Letters on Political Liberty (1782); Letters Concerning Education (1785); Lectures on Political Principles (1789); Lectures on Education (3 vols., 1789); Claims of Literature (1802); and Egeria; or, Elementary Studies on
the Progress of Nations in Political Economy, Legislation, and Government (1803). Brsuiograpuy: DNB, Ixi. 390-393.
WILLIAMS, SIR GEORGE: Founder of the Young Men’s Christian Association; b. at Dulverton (45 m. s.w. of Bath), Somersetshire, Oct. 11, 1821; d. at Torquay Nov. 6, 1905. As youthful apprentice in a business house at Bridgewater he was the subject of the religious impressions which molded his subsequent career. In 1841 he removed to London, entering the drapery house of Hitchcock and Rogers; married Helen Hitchcock, and upon the death of her father in 1863 became head of the establishment. Immediately upon his arrival in London his keen interest in the well-being of his fellow employees began. Through his personal efforts and leadership there was formed within the establishment a society to help forward foreign mission work. But the work of his life commenced in June, 1844, when he led in forming the Young Men’s Christian Association (q.v.). Originally planned to benefit young men engaged in the drapery and other trades, this institution developed rapidly. Branch associations were formed in different parts of London, Britain, and Ireland, and later in Australia, India, and South Africa, and by his personal initiative also in Paris, Switzerland, and other parts of Europe, and the work took root also in the United States and Canada. In 1855 he had a leading part in the first world’s conference which met in Paris. In the extension of the organization he was actively interested, wisely distributing his gifts where the associations had most need of help from abroad. In 1880 he was the first to give a contribution of £5,000 toward the purchase of Exeter Hall as the headquarters of the English work. In 1882 he led in forming the National Union of English Associations, over which he presided to the end of his life. In 1885, upon the death of the Earl of Shaftesbury, who for thirty years had filled the office, he was unanimously elected president.
In 1894 the London Association jubilee was celebrated by a world’s conference of 2,000 delegates from all the continents, accompanied by a series of religious demonstrations without parallel in the history of London Christian organizations. The corporation of the city of London then conferred upon Willams the honorary freedom of the city because “‘ coming to the city as a young man he had for fifty years made it his principal business unselfishly and efficiently to promote the best welfare of the young men of the city,” and following this Queen Victoria bestowed upon him the honor of knighthood.
Sir George also maintained a relation of strong and generous leadership to the work of the British and Foreign Bible Society, the London City Mission, the Church Missionary Society, the Band of Hope Union, and many kindred organizations—in a large number of which he filled the office of president, evincing in a remarkable degree the possession of great public spirit, of broad Christian sympathy, and of the highest and truest philanthropy.
Ricwarp C. Morss. Brstiocrapuy: J. E. H. Williams, Life of Sir George Will-
tams, London and New York, 1906; and literature under Youne Men’s Curistian ASSOCIATION.