As the centennial celebration of the founding of the Free Methodist Church of North America draws near, the conviction grows that the history of that church for almost one hundred years reflects, to a great extent, the life and works of one man, Benjamin Titus Roberts, its founder. Emerson's assertion that "An institution is the lengthened shadow of one man" is clearly depicted. Generally as the shadow lengthens it becomes vague, but with some men its outlines remain distinct while the area of influence widens. With the subject of this study, the shadow has not only lengthened in the enlarged church, but Mr. Roberts is being more fully recognized in renaming, in his honor, the school which he founded, and in the republication of one of his books, entitled Fishers of Men, in 1948. The torch that was held in his hand is the church that he suffered to found; the flame of that torch, his burning love for God and all mankind, especially the poor and oppressed. He tried to promote earnest Christianity in this land. For thirty-three years he edited a magazine significantly named The Earnest Christian. He himself was an EARNEST CHRISTIAN, filled with zeal, a flaming example of his Master's holy anointing.

Time softens the characters which it touches. The ecclesiastical conflict, which centered in the person of Mr. Roberts and which resulted in the formation of the Free Methodist Church, has grown dim through the mist of the years. The wounds and bitterness that arose in connection with those disturbances have been allayed, and even though certain issues are necessarily reviewed here, they will probably be judged more charitably, in the light of subsequent events, than would have been possible for those so closely involved in the ecclesiastical ferment of the times. Abel Stevens, prolific writer of Methodism, said, "Great events, involving as they naturally do, extensive controversies and agitations, require time for their right estimation; the characteristic portraiture of their leaders (the best dramatis personnae of history) cannot be impartially made while the chief actors or their families still survive." During the writing of this work, the last member of the family of Mr. Roberts, Benjamin Titus Roberts, M. D., passed away. The dictum of Longfellow, that if a life is worth writing at all, it is worth writing "minutely and truthfully," has been heeded.

This biographical work of Mr. Roberts is significant for Methodist history because of his relation to the ideas and development of the parent body. To the larger church, he is mainly important as a center of the religlo-social developments that resulted in the formation of a new church. His attitudes on national affairs are particularly interesting with reference to the problems peculiar to the Civil War period, and organizational activities on behalf of the farmer. His strong opposition to monopolies and trusts, and his comments on labor organizations, and on social and economic questions, supplement the highly devotional character of his writings with their strong emphasis upon piety. His call to return to what he considered the elemental gospel pulsates throughout. Considerable interest is found in the fact that his advanced ideas economically and socially are combined with an extreme conservatism in the field of religion. There is no better comment of loving devotion than the relations of Mr. and Mrs. Roberts. They shared together the founding and development of the educational institution now known as Roberts Wesleyan College, significant mainly because of its emphasis upon a work-study program.

Herein is attempted a reorientation and interpretation of the life and works of Mr. Roberts with the avowed purpose of presenting him in his more human and intimate relations. Inasmuch as the published works of Mr. Roberts grew mainly out of his life task, an effort has been made to project his ideas into all the major activities in which he was engaged. An emphasis is laid upon organizational form and consecutive development, particularly significant with reference to the church he founded. The social-economic implications are given a larger place than formerly.

As to its scope, the entire life of Mr. Roberts has been reviewed. The initial purpose had been more or less to waive the controversial issues involved in the church, but as the study was made, the life of the man was seen to be so largely involved in the organization that its inclusion became essential to a complete picture. His educational interests were also such an integral part of the life he lived that it became necessary to treat this field more fully. The travel aspects of his ministry were largest since he moved as General Superintendent throughout this country and Canada, so that more space proportionately has been given to them. His life has been treated as consecutively as possible from the historic viewpoint. However, in the interests of a comprehensive whole, particular aspects of his life have been grouped and reviewed, and a few necessary touches have been added incidentally from a following period, or are reviewed briefly from a preceding one. Since all of his travels could not be included, certain portions were chosen that indicated more life and movement.

The original source materials for this study have been unusually large, most significant of which is a large collection of letters and papers of the Roberts family which have been preserved, and which had never, until this time, been made available for study. Much of this has been background material and unquoted. More than eight hundred of those letters which were read, were filed; besides, certain excerpts were taken from a large number of others which were not retained on file.

This work as originally done was submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Pittsburgh in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, which was conferred in 1951. Acknowledgment is gratefully made to Dr. John A. Nietz, thesis advisor and Professor at the University of Pittsburgh for his assistance and his close and valued supervision, and to Dr. Lawrence C. Little, Professor of Religious Education, for his advice and constant encouragement. Dr. S. P. Franklin, in whose classes the first incentive to complete this work was augmented, and Dr. Charles Reed Zahniser, now deceased, who greatly encouraged the author, deserve appreciation. The most important contribution came through the generosity and kindness, as well as confidence, of Dr. and Mrs. George W. Garlock who lent invaluable aid by making available original materials never before studied or published. Also the kindness and assistance of Miss Hazel Sager, and the use of materials from Miss Celia Lawton and Mr. Wallace Worbois are noteworthy. Various librarians were most courteous and helpful, especially Miss Ora Sprague of Roberts Wesleyan College, Mr. Beach of Garrett Biblical institute, and Miss Wilson and Mrs. Day of the Buffalo Public Library.

Appreciation is hereby expressed to Mr. B. H. Gaddis for making available materials at the General Headquarters of the Free Methodist Church, to Mr. Howard Updyke, Dean of Roberts Wesleyan College, for making available some primary materials, and to the preachers and members of the Pittsburgh District of the Free Methodist Church over which the author was District Superintendent during the period in which most of the writing was done. Miss Clara Hogue has also graciously consented to the use of materials from her father's two volume history.

Cordial acknowledgment is extended to the following publishers and authors who have consented to the reprinting of excerpts from their works: Beacon Press, Inc., Boston; The Macmillan Company, New York; The Epworth Press, London; The Americana Corporation, New York; Harper Brothers, New York; The Gannett Company, Rochester, New York; The Free Methodist Publishing House, Winona Lake, Indiana; Mr. Mead Killion, North Chili, N. Y.; Dr. Elton True-blood, Richmond, Indiana; Dr. David Saville Muzzey, New York; and Dr. William Warren Sweet, Dallas.

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