William Henry Withrow
William Henry Withrow was a prominent nineteenth-century Canadian minister, religious writer, and editor, born in Toronto, Ontario. Educated initially at the Toronto Academy and later at Victoria College, he became a Methodist minister in 1864. Withrow was particularly influential in promoting temperance, authoring several pamphlets on the subject, including "Intemperance: Its Evils and Their Remedies" and "The Physiological Effects of Alcohol and the Bible." His scholarly contributions extended to church history with his work "The Catacombs of Rome and Their Testimony Relative to Primitive Christianity," which solidified his reputation and led to his role as editor of the Canadian Methodist Magazine.
In addition to historical writings, Withrow explored religious themes in his fiction, with notable works such as "The King's Messenger" and "Neville Trueman, the Pioneer Preacher." His travel guide, "A Canadian in Europe," showcased detailed observations of various European landmarks. Later in life, he shifted focus to education, serving as a professor and holding significant positions in academic institutions. Withrow received recognition for his literary contributions, including an honorary doctorate from Victoria College. He passed away in 1908, leaving behind a legacy that significantly impacted Canadian and Methodist history.
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William Henry Withrow
Writer
- Born: August 6, 1839
- Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Died: November 12, 1908
- Place of death: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Biography
William Henry Withrow, a nineteenth century minister, religious writer, and editor, was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. His parents were James and Ellen Sanderson Withrow. William received his early education at the Toronto Academy. He then studied at the Methodist-affiliated Victoria College in Cobourg. In 1864, he received his master’s degree from Victoria College and became a Methodist minister.
While ministering to his congregation, Withrow wrote numerous pamphlets addressing the use of alcohol. These early written works defined the Christian virtue of temperance and included titles such as Intemperance: Its Evils and Their Remedies (1869) and The Physiological Effects of Alcohol and the Bible (1870).
In 1874, Withrow published his first full-length work titled The Catacombs of Rome and Their Testimony Relative to Primitive Christianity. This work consisted of over five hundred anthropological and theological facts and served as a major contribution to church history. This well-regarded work earned Withrow an appointment as editor of the Canadian Methodist Magazine. He held this position until 1906.
In addition to numerous historical works, Withrow published several fictional works. As in all of his writing, Withrow’s fiction centered on religious themes. His most recognized novels were The King’s Messenger: Or, Lawrence Temple’s Probation, a Story of Canadian Life (1879) and Neville Trueman, the Pioneer Preacher: A Tale of the War of 1812 (1880).
In 1881, Withrow further demonstrated his diversity as a writer when he published his popular travel guide titled A Canadian in Europe: Being Sketches of Travel in France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Holland and Belgium, Great Britain and Ireland. This book was noted for its detailed descriptions of tourist attractions such as Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper and the monuments of London. Many of Withrow’s works on travel were published simultaneously in Canada, England, and the United States.
In his later years, Withrow devoted much of his time to the field of education. He served for one year as a professor of ethics and metaphysics at Wesleyan Ladies’ College in Hamilton as well as a member of the senate of Toronto University and Wesleyan Theological College. Withrow also continued to write until his death. One of his last great literary achievements was A Harmony of the Gospels: Being the Life of Jesus in the Words of the Four Evangelists (1894), a biography of Christ’s life written in the form of Scriptural paraphrase.
In 1882, as a tribute to his lifetime of writing achievements, Withrow was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from Victoria College. In 1884 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. William Henry Withrow died in 1908. Much of his work became part of popular historical reference on Canadian and Methodist history.