Overview
Biographical Note
Scope and Content
Arrangement
Preferred Citation
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Record Creator: | Foss, Cyrus |
Title: | Cyrus David Foss Papers |
Date Span: | 1831 - 1909 |
Abstract: | Cyrus Foss was a Methodist Episcopal Church minister. The collection is made up of material relating to his ministry and his children Cyrus David Archibald and William Foss. |
Extent: | 0.45 cubic feet |
Resource ID: | drew.ms.2385 |
Cyrus Foss (1799-1849), American Methodist preacher, was born in Barrington, New Hampshire. At a young age, he moved to Dover, New York, and taught school in the nearby town of Beekman. Soon after, he received his preacher's license, and worked for the Methodist Episcopal Church on the Goshen circuit. In 1827, as part of the New York Conference, he was ordained deacon, and two years later was ordained elder
That same year, he married Jane Campbell, who gave birth to their five sons, three of whom became preachers (Archibald, Cyrus David and William). In 1842, he was put on the supernumerated list when his health began to fail. Throughout the seventeen years he served as a pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he was known to be a man of more than ordinary intellectual power, and of fervent religious spirit.
Cyrus died on February 28, 1849 in Carmel, New York.
Cyrus David Foss (1834-1910), American bishop, was born in Kingston, New York January 17, 1834, the son of Cyrus and Jane (Campbell) Foss. He graduated from Wesleyan University in 1854. He served as an instructor and then as principal at Amenia Seminary. In 1856, Foss married Mary E. Bradley. After her death in 1863 he married Amelia Robertson on May 10, 1865.
Foss became a member of the New York Conference in 1857 and two years later transferred to the New York East Conference. Two years later he returned to the New York Conference, serving a number of churches in these Conferences. H became president of Wesleyan University in 1875.
Cyrus David Foss served as delegate to several General Conferences before being elected a bishop in 1880, serving in Minneapolis until 1888, and then in Philadelphia. As bishop he traveled the world representing and observing Methodist missions. Foss died in Philadelphia on January 29, 1910 and was buried in Pawling, New York.
This collection is a testimonial to the prodigious preaching of Cyrus Foss, whose intellect and profound sense of spirituality powered his sermons. These traits were evident in three of his children documented here: Archibald and William became pastors, while Cyrus David was consecrated into the episcopacy in 1880. In addition to embracing every part of the Bible, Foss' teachings offer several interpretations of passages, often ending with stimulating conclusions.
The next series contains information on bishop Cyrus Foss. The third series contains information on Bishop Foss' brother, William Jay Foss. The fourth and final series contains papers and information relating to other members of the family.
Materials have been arranged in the following manner.
Series: Cyrus Foss
When citing material from this collection please use the following format: Direct reference to the item or its file folder, Foss Collection, Methodist Collection - Drew University, Madison, New Jersey. Do not make use of the items' call number as that is not a stable descriptor.
Copyright still owned by Drew. Permissions to publish must be directed to Drew
Call Number | Folder Title | Date(s) |
- 2131-5-1: 1 | Sermon Notes and Fragments | Undated |
- 2131-5-1: 2 | Sermons | Undated |
- 2131-5-1: 3 | Sermons | Undated |
- 2131-5-1: 4 | Sermons | Undated |
- 2131-5-1: 5 | Letters | 1831-1839 |
- 2131-5-1: 6 | Addresses and Lecture Notes | 1834 |
- 2131-5-1: 7 | Poems | Undated |
- 2131-5-1: 8 | Death of William C. Freeman | 1835 |
- 2131-5-1: 9 | Memoir of Cyrus Foss | Undated |
- 2131-5-1: 10 | Cyrus David Foss | 1872-1909 |
Call Number | Folder Title | Date(s) |
- 2131-5-1: 11 | Archibald Campbell Foss | 1856-1863 |
- 2131-5-1: 12 | Portraits and Images | 1888-1904 |