author
J. F. (John Fletcher) Hurst
1834–1903
A Methodist bishop, church historian, and educator, he helped shape American religious scholarship in the late 19th century. He is also remembered as the founding chancellor of 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 went on to become a bishop in the Methodist Episcopal Church and built a reputation as a serious scholar as well as a preacher.
Hurst taught theology, wrote extensively, and became especially known for his historical and reference works on Christianity and Methodism. His career joined church leadership with education, and that mix of scholarship and public service made him an influential figure in Protestant intellectual life in the United States.
He also played a central role in founding American University, serving as its first chancellor. Although he died in 1903 before the university opened to students, his leadership and fundraising were central to getting the institution established.