Mathews, Shailer, 1863-1941

Shailer Mathews was born in Portland, Maine on May 26, 1863. He received an A.B. from Colby College in 1884, and an M.A. in 1887 In the latter year, he also graduated from Newton Theological Seminary, after which he spent a number of years as a professor at Colby. He was on leave during the year 1890-1891, studying at the University of Berlin, and returned with an enthusiasm for research and the historical-scientific approach to all knowledge that became a life-long characteristic.

In 1894, at the invitation of William Rainey Harper, he came to the newly reorganized University of Chicago, where he was to play an influential role until his retirement in 1933. He held a number of positions in the Divinity School of the University; Assistant Professor of New Testament Interpretation, 1894-97; Professor in the same field, 1897-1905; Professor of Systematic Theology, 1905-1906; Professor of Historical and Comparative Theology, 1906-1933; junior Dean, 1899-1908; Dean, 1908-1933. At the same time he played a very active part as a member of the administrative council of the University as a whole and as a participant in countless faculty and administrative activities He found time to write or to edit more than a score of books, many of which were extremely influential and widely read, particularly those dealing with the new approach to religious knowledge then widely disparaged as "Modernism" and with the social application of the Christian Gospel. He edited a journal of general observation and comment on world affairs, "The World Today", from 1903 to 1911; he also was editor of "The Biblical World", 1913-20 For a long period he was an editorial adviser on religious books for Harpers

Dr. Mathews did not believe that real scholarship could prosper in an "ivory-tower" and he was always active in a great variety of organizations and associations outside the University. He was a member of the Chicago Co-operative Council of City Missions (the forerunner of the Council of Churches), 1908-1915; of the Chicago Baptist Executive Council, 1910-1919; and of many other similar groups. His abilities as a leader and parliamentary officer were drawn upon in many ways within these groups He was the first president of the Federal Council of Churches, 1912-1916, and had much to do with the formulation of its policies and procedures. In 1915 he served at a very critical juncture as president of the Northern Baptist Convention and is credited with being largely responsible for saving that body from splitting in two over the question of Modernism versus Fundamentalism. From 1929 to 1932 he was president of the Chicago Church Federation.

The breadth of Mathews' interests is indicated by his association with a number of other activities not officially related to the churches or directly to theology. He was, for example, director of religious work for the Chautauqua Institute from 1912-1934, most of which time he was also a trustee of the association and a major figure in Chautauqua's development. In 1920 he served as a member of the Kobe College Foundation and made a trip to Japan which made him a national spokesman for Japanese and American friendship. His interest in politics and social welfare is indicated by his membership on the board of trustees of the Church Peace Union in 1914, as well as his participation and encouragement in the work of Jane Addams' Hull House. However, he strongly supported the cause of the Allies once the United States entered the first World War and from 1917 to 1918 served at the appointment of Illinois' governor as State Director of War Savings. He co-operated and supported progressive movements in politics led by men like Charles Merriam in Chicago and Theodore Roosevelt on the national scene.

Mathews died on October 23, 1941.

From the guide to the Mathews, Shailer. Papers, 1892-1942, (Special Collections Research Center University of Chicago Library 1100 East 57th Street Chicago, Illinois 60637 U.S.A.)