James Edward Freeman (July 24, 1866 – June 6, 1943) was the third bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, serving from 1923 to 1943.[1]
James Edward Freeman | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Washington | |
 Bishop Freeman in 1937 | |
| Church | Episcopal Church |
| Diocese | Washington |
| Elected | June 1923 |
| In office | 1923–1943 |
| Predecessor | Alfred Harding |
| Successor | Angus Dun |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | April 28, 1895 by Henry C. Potter |
| Consecration | September 29, 1923 by Thomas F. Gailor |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 24, 1866 |
| Died | June 6, 1943 (aged 76) Washington, D.C., United States |
| Buried | St Joseph's Chapel, Washington National Cathedral |
| Nationality | American |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Parents | Henry Freeman & Mary Morgan |
| Spouse | Ella Vigelius (m. April 16, 1890) |
| Children | 3 |
| Signature |  |
Biography
editFreeman was born on July 24, 1866, in New York City. He was educated in public school in New York after which he commenced employment in the accounting department of the Long Island Railroad. He also worked with the Hudson River and New York Central Railroad.[2] After fifteen years he started to train for the priesthood after he was encouraged by the Bishop of New York Horatio Potter.
He was ordained deacon on May 20, 1894, and priest a year later. After ordination he served in St John's Church and of St Andrew's Chapel, both in Yonkers, New York. In 1909 he became rector of St Mark's Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the present day cathedral. In 1921 he moved to Washington, D.C., to become rector of the Church of the Epiphany.
He was elected Coadjutor Bishop of West Texas in 1911 however he declined the offer. He also lost the election for the Bishop of Colorado by one vote and refused the position of Dean of New York's Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Freeman was also elected as Bishop of Washington in 1923, a position which he accepted. He was consecrated on September 29, 1923, by Thomas F. Gailor, Bishop of Tennessee. During his episcopacy, he led a national campaign to raise funds for the construction of the Washington National Cathedral.[3] In 1934, his pastoral letter from the 51st General Convention warned against the destructive effects of divorce.[4] He also officiated at memorial services for Warren G. Harding, Woodrow Wilson, and William Howard Taft.[5]
References
edit- ^ Van Rensselaer Gibson, Killiaen (1944). Grand Man of God, James Edward Freeman: Being the Inspiring Life-story of a Great Bishop and Strong Soul. Yonkers, New York: Llewellyn Publications.
- ^ "Religion: For National Purposes -- Printout -- TIME". Time. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ "Episcopate: Bishop Freeman Dies". The Living Church. 106 (24): 5. June 13, 1943.
The Rt. Rev. James E. Freeman, D.D., L.L.D., D.C.L., third Bishop of Washington, died at his home on the grounds of the Washington Cathedral on June 6.
- ^ TIME (November 5, 1934). "Religion: In Atlantic City (Concl.)". TIME. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
- ^ "Presidential Funerals". Washington National Cathedral. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
External links
edit
Media related to James E. Freeman at Wikimedia Commons
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