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Wisner, Benjamin Blydenburg, D.D.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

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Wisner, William Carpenter, D.D.

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a Congregational minister, was born at Goshen, N. Y., Sept. 29,1794. Under Rev. Dr. Axtell, of Geneva, N. Y., he acquired his preparatory training. In 1810 he joined the sophomore class in Union College, from which he graduated in 1813. For one year he was principal of an academy at Johnstown, when he returned home and began to study law. From 1815 to 1818 he was tutor in Union College, and during this time he studied theology under professor Andrew Yates, D.D. Resigning his tutorship, he entered the theological seminary at Princeton in 1818. In June, 1820, he was licensed to preach, and received a call to the pastorate of the Presbyterian Church at New Brunswick, N. J., which he declined; was ordained pastor of the Old South Church, Boston, Mass., Feb. 21,1821, where he continued to serve during twelve years. From October, 1832, he labored as the secretary for the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, traveling extensively throughout the Union to establish new missionary organizations, etc. He died in Boston, Feb. 9, 1835. He was a member of the board of directors of the American Education Society, and was a trustee of the Andover Theological Seminary. His executive talent was undoubted, and he did not lack ability as an extemporaneous debater. His style as a writer was not imaginative nor particularly felicitous, but he was a man of commanding influence. Dr. Wisner published, Three Discourses on the History of the Old South Church: — A Sermon on the Benefits of Sunday-.schools: — and a Memoir of Mrs. Huntington. He also contributed to the Spirit of the Pilgrims, and to the Comprehensive Commentary. See Sprague, Annals of the Amer. Pulpit, 2, 682.