author
J. F. (John Fletcher) Hurst
1834–1903
A leading Methodist bishop, educator, and prolific church historian, he helped shape American religious life in the late nineteenth century. He is also remembered as the founding chancellor behind what became American University in Washington, D.C.
1 Audiobook
History of Rationalism Embracing a Survey of the Present State of Protestant Theology
by J. F. (John Fletcher) Hurst
About the author
Born in Maryland in 1834, John Fletcher Hurst studied at Dickinson College and later continued his theological education in Germany at Halle and Heidelberg. He served as a Methodist minister, taught abroad, and built a reputation as a scholar as well as a preacher.
Hurst went on to lead Drew Theological Seminary and was elected a bishop in the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1880. Alongside his church work, he wrote extensively on Christianity, theology, and the history of Methodism, becoming known as one of the era's energetic religious writers and educators.
He played a central role in the founding of American University in Washington, D.C., serving as its first chancellor, though the university opened after his death in 1903. His legacy connects ministry, scholarship, and higher education in a way that still stands out today.