Elwood Morris Wherry

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Rev. Elwood Morris Wherry (1843–1927) was an American Presbyterian missionary to

ecumenist
.

Biography

Wherry was born in

Punjab for the remainder of that year; the following year would see him transferred to Ludhiana
.

For 5 years (1883-1888) Wherry taught Old Testament literature and church history as professor at the theological seminary in Saharanpur. His contributions there included translating textbooks into the vernacular, engaging in debates, and giving lectures. In 1888 Wherry resigned from the Mission Press of which he was in charge, and the family returned to the United States for his family's education, as his six children ranged from five to sixteen years of age at this time. He spent from 1889-1896 as the district secretary of the American Tract Society in Chicago. He wouldn't return to India until 1898, where he would remain until 1923, teaching and debating during his village tours. Wherry suffered from diabetes and rheumatic gout, and so retired, returning from his active missionary service to spend the last 4 years of his life in Cincinnati, Ohio. He died of heart failure on October 5, 1927.

Contributions to Christian-Muslim relations

The theology that Wherry developed at Princeton Theological Seminary was one that stressed Biblical authority.[4]

Wherry's textual focus led him to produce a Roman

Lodiana from December 3–7, 1884, J.J. Lucas observed "In 1876 Mr. Wherry issued an edition of the Quran in Roman Urdu, which contains ... a very full and complete index in Urdu by Mr. Wherry. ... To the preacher among Muhammadans, this elaborate index is simply invaluable."[5]

Another major contribution that Wherry offered was his production of a commentary of the Qur'an, a four-volume series completed in 1886. Wherry's leadership at the theological seminary in Saharanpur produced pastoral leadership to north Indian churches, whom he exhorted to take part in evangelistic activities. His affinity for "controversy" with Muslims was evident in his tutelage, as his students would often engage in interreligious dialogue in bazaars and village itinerations.

Works

References

  1. .
  2. ^ Matthew Ebenezer, "American Presbyterians and Islam in India 1855-1923: A Critical Evaluation of the Contributions of Isidor Loewenthal (1826-1864) & Elwood Morris Wherry (1843-1927)" (Ph.D Dissertation, Westminster Theological Seminary, 1998), 218-224.
  3. ^ Our Missions in India, 1834-1924, E.M.Wherry
  4. ^ Alan M. Guenther, "The Image of the Prophet as Found in Missionary Writings of the Late Nineteenth Century," The Muslim World 90 (Spring 2000): 57.
  5. ^ J.J. Lucas, "Literary Work of the American Presbyterian Mission, North India, Including Bible Translation and Revision, and Circulation of Religious Books and Tracts", Indian Evangelical Review 13 (July 1886): 43-63.