1840-1917
Adoniram Judson Rowland
Baptist Pastor/Publisher PA/PA
Adoniram Judson Rowland was born on February 9, 1840 in Valley Forge, PA, the son of Samuel Norton and Susanna (Suplee) Rowland. He was baptized at Lawrenceville, PA, by Rev. W. H. H. Marsh on January, 6, 1858. AJ earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Bucknell University in the 1860’s and later graduated from Rochester Theological Seminary. His ordination was at Lawrenceville, PA, October, 1862 which qualified him to serve as chaplain of the 175th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers through the remainder of the Civil War. He married Harriet East Frick, May 31, 1865, and after she died Rowland married Kate South on October 29, 1878. He had one son, Arthur John Rowland.
Adoniram Judson Rowland’s career in ministry was both deep and wide.
- Pastor Mount Auburn Church, Cincinnati, 1866-1868.
- President Mount Auburn Institute, Cincinnati, 1868-1870.
- Pastor First Church, Pittsburgh, 1870-1872.
- Pastor Tenth Church, Philadelphia, 1872-1884.
An evaluation of his career was written in 1881 for The Baptist Encyclopedia which reads:
Dr. Rowland is a man of superior mind, pleasing manners, studious habits, extensive learning, and exemplary piety. As pastor of a large and influential church, he magnifies his office, and is very highly esteemed in love for his work’s sake. His sermons are rich in original thought and Bible knowledge, clear in expression, and impressive in delivery. His writings show enlarged acquaintance with books and men. He has gathered a large library of choice and standard works, which he utilizes with rare ability. He is the first and the successful editor of Our Young People, a very able monthly journal for the older scholars in our Sunday-schools. This paper deserves the great circulation it has already secured, and under its gifted editor it will be a still greater power among the young.[1]
Adoniram Judson Rowland served as Pastor of Franklin Square Church in Baltimore, 1884-1895 while also serving as editor of Senior Quarterly. Rowland served the last 21 years of ministry as General Secretary of the American Baptist Publication Society (now Judson Press) 1895-1916. He was listed as a noteworthy clergyman by Marquis Who’s Who.[2]
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[1] The Baptist Encyclopedia, (Philadelphia: L. H. Everts, 1881) p. 1013.
[2] https://prabook.com/web/adoniram_judson.rowland/1098793