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| Record Creator: | Showers, John Balmer |
| Title: | John Balmer Showers Collection |
| Title: | Showers Collection |
| Date Span: | 1911-1947 |
| Abstract: | John Balmer Showers (1879-1962) was an Evangelical United Brethren Church bishop and church leader. He was editor of the "Religious Telescope" and later publisher of "The Otterbein Press," a position he held until 1945.That year he was elected bishop to the Eastern Area and later to the North Central Area. This collection contains papers related to John Balmer Showers. The bulk of this material includes writings by Showers. Also included in this collection is a booklet kept by Showers during the he was a student at Berlin University. A certificate of appreciation present to Showers from Otterbein Press in 1946 and an honorary degree diploma presented to him from Indiana Central College in 1947 are part of this collection. |
| Extent: | 2.68 cubic feet |
| Resource ID: | gcah.ms.2443 |
John Balmer Showers (1879-1962) was an Evangelical United Brethren Church bishop and church leader. He was born near Paris, Ontario, Canada, son of the Reverend Joseph and Margaret Showers. His childhood was spent in the small towns and open country of Onotario Province where his father served as pastor of United Brethren churches. John Showers was educated in Canada at an early age. He obtained a license to preach in United Brethren church at eighteen. Showers graduated from Lebanon Valley College (B.A., 1907) and Bronebrake (now United) Theological Seminary (B.D., 1910). He did graduate study at Chicago University (1910-1911) and Berlin University (1911-1912). A research trip was taken to the Far East in 1922. Showers married Justina Lorenz in April 1911.
He was licensed to preach by a local church in 1898 and by the Ontario Conference of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ in 1899. In 1902 he was ordained by the Erie Conference. Showers served several pastorates including Dechard circuit (1900-1903) and Bradford Station (1903-1904) in Pennsylvania. He was at Westfield College (1906-1907) in Illinois and Belmont Mission in Ohio (1908-1910). From 1910 to 1926 Showers was professor of New Testament Literature and Interpretation at Bonebrake Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. In 1926, Showers became the associate editor of the "Religious Telescope." He remained in that position until 1933. From 1931-1933 he was an associate publishing agent for the denomination.
In 1933, he became publisher of "The Otterbein Press," a position he held until 1945.
The General Conference of 1945 elected John Showers to the episcopacy and he was assigned to be bishop in the Eastern Area. He was later assigned to supervise the North Central Area. In 1954, Showers retired as emeritus bishop. From 1954 to 1962, he lived in Dayton, Ohio. He died on September 25, 1962 and was buried in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Dayton Ohio.
This collection contains papers related to John Balmer Showers. The bulk of this material includes writings by Showers. There are three folders of short typed pages. Some are on selected topics such as faith, Pentecost, stewardship and service, evangelism, the home, and the preacher. Other writings are greetings, welcomings, or dedications prepared by Showers on special occasions such as anniversaries, dedications, and conference meetings. The remaining writings are tributes or memorials to A. B. Statton, Elizabeth Ann Powell, Harold C. Urschel, Sam Stanrod, and Walther Murth.
Also included is a booklet kept by Showers when he was a student at Berlin University. It contains a listing of courses in German. There is a certificate of appreciation present to Showers from Otterbein Press in 1946 and an honorary degree diploma presented to him from Indiana Central College in 1947 are part of this collection. An essay Showers wrote on his father-in-law, Edmund S. Lorenz, is part of these papers. Some work Lorenz did on the hymnal book questionnaire can be found in the same folder. Finally, there is a scrapbook entitled, "Memories of My Years at Otterbein Press." This contains photographs of Showers and staff members, as well as articles written by Showers.
Materials have been arranged in the following manner.
Material is arranged by original order.
When citing material from this collection please use the following format: Direct reference to the item or its file folder, John Balmer Showers Collection, United Methodist Church Archives - GCAH, Madison, New Jersey. Do not make use of the items call number as that is not a stable descriptor.
No restrictions.
Detailed use restrictions relating to our collections can be requested from the office of the archivist at the General Commission on Archives and History. Photocopying is handled by the staff and may be limited in certain instances. Before using any material for publication from this collection a formal request for permission to publish is expected and required.
Douglas Dutro Woodard Collection
| Call Number | Folder Title | Date(s) |
| 1583-2-1: 1 | Booklet - Berlin University | 1911-1912 |
| 1583-2-1: 2 | Tributes and Memorials | 1943 |
| 1583-2-1: 3 | Diploma and Certificate | 1946 |
| 1583-2-1: 4 | Greetings, Welcomings, Dedications | 1947 |
| 1583-2-1: 5 | Religious Topics | Undated |
| 1583-2-1: 6 | Edmund S. Lorenz Biography | Undated |
| 1583-2-2: 1 | Otterbein Press Scrapbook | 1932-1945 |
