Harry Emerson Fosdick

The Manhood of the Master Harry Emerson Fosdick

This book is not a life of the Master nor a study of his teaching. It is an endeavor to understand and appreciate the quality of his character. The significant events of his life are considered, but only for the sake of looking through them into the spirit of the personality who was active there. The principle emphases of his teaching are noted, but only for the sake of understanding the quality of the one from whom the teaching came. Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878-1969) attended Colgate University, Union Theological Seminary, and Columbia University. Ordained in 1903, he was pastor of the First Baptist Church in Montclair, New Jersey from 1904 to 1915. At Union Theological Seminary, he was a lecturer on Baptist principles and homiletics (1908-1915) and professor of practical theology (1915-1946). He also found time to serve as associate minister at the First Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, New York (1919-1925), and pastor of Park Avenue Baptist Church (later renamed to Riverside Church) (1929-1946). He was an important figure in 20th century church history, and his eloquent efforts to defend and promote theological modernism, or liberalism, have impacted the Church in ways that are still apparent today.