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Jocelyn, George Bemis, D.D.

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Jocelyn (or Joceline) of Wells

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a Methodist Episcopal minister, was born at New Haven, Connecticut, January 3, 1824. Shortly afterwards, with his parents, he removed to Cincinnati, and from thence, in 1830, to New Albany, Indiana, where he was converted at the age of fourteen. In 1842 he graduated at Indiana Asbury University. He was licensed to preach in 1843, and in the same year was admitted to Indiana Conference, and appointed to Paoli Circuit. In 1844 he was sent to Rockport, where his health soon failed; at his own request he was discontinued, and, removing to Vincennes, Indiana, opened a select school. A few months later in the same year he was placed in charge of the preparatory department of Vincennes University, which position he held till September, 1849, when he returned to New Albany and opened the De Pauw Female College.

In 1853 he was elected professor of mathematics and natural science in Whitewater College, and in 1855 to the presidency of the same institution. Failure of health led him to spend 1856 as agent for a western railway company, and for the Northwestern University. In 1857 he was transferred to Iowa, and appointed to Fifth Street Church, Des Moines; in 1859 to Zion Church, Burlington; and in 1861 was elected president of Iowa Wesleyan University at Mount Pleasant, serving meantime as pastor of University and Asbury Chapel. In 1864 he was elected president of Albion College, Michigan, and transferred from the Iowa to the Detroit Conference. Resigning his presidency in 1869, he was transferred to the Michigan Conference, and stationed at Division Street, Grand Rapids. In 1871 he was re-elected president of Albion College, which office he sustained till his death, January 27, 1877. Dr. Jocelyn possessed large natural endowments, intellectual and spiritual, which he patiently and thoroughly cultured, placing him in the foremost rank of instructors of his age. As a preacher he had few superiors in power of thought, perspicuity of style, and impressiveness of manner. See Minutes of Annual Conferences, 1877, page 105; Simpson, Cyclop. of Methodism, s.v.