San Francisco County Biographies WILLIAM ALEXANDER, D. D., LL. D. Submitted by: Pamela Storm Wolfskill & Ron Filion This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1907 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE FOUNDERS AND PRINCIPAL SUPPORTERS OF THE SAN FRANCISCO THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. When Rev. Dr. William Alexander was called to his eternal home, June 28, 1906, there passed away the last of that noble band of Christian scholars who founded the San Francisco Theological Seminary. Not many men in the Presbyterian Church on the Pacific Coast have labored in so many departments of service, by such varied means, among so many people and over so wide a field as did he. In the home and on the farm, in the pulpit and on the platform, in religious publications and secular, in the councils of the church, as President of colleges, and in the Professor�s chair of our Seminary, his influence was felt with power and for good. Dr. Alexander was born December 18, 1831, in Shirleyville, Pa. He was educated in Lafayette and Jefferson Colleges and Princeton Theological Seminary, and was thus by birth, environment and education fitted to take a prominent part in the work of the Presbyterian Church which he loved so well. He graduated from Jefferson (Now Washington and Jefferson) College in 1858 and from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1861. The University of Wooster, O., conferred upon him the degree of D.D. in 1876, and his Alma Mater LL.D. in 1902. He was licensed 1860 by the Presbytery of Huntingdon and ordained June 10, 1862, by the Presbytery of Northumberland. He was Stated Supply and Pastor at Hollidays and Spruce Creek, Pa., 1860-62; President of Carroll College, Wis., while Stated Supply at Waukesha, 1862-64; Pastor in Beloit, Wis., 1864-69; San Jose, Cal., 1869-71; President of the University City College, San Francisco, 1871-74; and Professor in the San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1871-1906. He was married in 1861 to Miss M.P. Osborne of Hudson, N.Y., and she and three sons survive him. Dr. Alexander was a strong preacher. STRONG PREACHER. At Beloit, Wis., he succeeded in uniting and greatly strengthening two feeble churches, and in putting to confusion the forces of Spiritualism in that city. He preached a pure gospel, held fast to the form of sound words and earnestly contended for the faith which was once delivered to the saints. None who heard him was ever in doubt as to where he stood upon Biblical and theological questions. He also had much influence as a writer. A WRITER. He wrote for the �Presbyterian Review� and many other magazines and papers. He edited the International Sabbath-School Lessons in one paper for three years, and had many sermons and addresses published. He delivered the principal address at the first inauguration of Professors, December 13, 1888, and again on April 27, 1897, at the celebration of the Quarter-Centennial Anniversary of the Seminary, he gave the historical address on �The Making of the Seminary.� He was also the author of �Nine Letters to Bishop McQuaid on Failure of Romanism,� and �Four Letters to General Geo. Stoneman on the Sunday Law.� LIFE-LONG EDUCATOR. For two years he was President of Carroll College, Wis.; for four years of the University City College, San Francisco, and for thirty-five years he was a Professor in the San Francisco Theological Seminary. Here in our Seminary he did his greatest work, and with that institution his name will ever be associated and held in highest honor. Three names are closely associated with the inception and founding of the Seminary. Dr. W.A. Scott had it in mind when he entered the Golden Gate in 1854, and Dr. Alexander says in his anniversary address that Dr. Scott �actually began the work by founding the old City College� in 1859. The subject was discussed at a called meeting of the Synod of the Pacific in San Jose in December, 1869, when �Dr. George Burrowes announced his purpose to donate his fine library to such an institution, whenever it should be commenced.� Dr. Alexander became President of the City College July 5, 1871, and had in one of his classes several young men who were studying for the ministry. He says in his anniversary address: �One evening, as I sat in my room, it came into my mind like an inspiration, that now was the time to start the Theological Seminary.� He had the constitutions of several of the Seminaries at hand, and he sat down that night and wrote out a Plan for such an institution, modeled largely after that of Princeton Seminary. He took this to Dr. Scott, who gave it his approval. They consulted further on the subject, presented the matter to Synod in October following, and the Synod took the necessary action to establish the Seminary at that meeting, as has been fully set forth at the beginning of this history of the Seminary. Dr. Alexander was elected a Professor at the first meeting of the Board of Directors, November 7, 1871, and continued as such until his death, June 28, 1906. At different times he taught in almost every department, but when the California Chair of Church History was established be became its first incumbent and continued in that department as long as he lived. For many years he received scarcely any remuneration for his services, and so taught in the City College and preached in the churches around the Bay in order to gain a support for himself and family. Yet he bore the burden cheerfully, and toiled on faithfully as though receiving a princely salary. In addition to this Dr. Alexander set aside the best room in the City College as a classroom for the Seminary and several other rooms as lodging places for the students, while he and Mrs. Alexander opened up their home to the students that they might enjoy some of the genial atmosphere of the family circle. Dr. Alexander was appointed by the Synod to assist the women in organizing the Women�s Synodical Missionary Society, which increases in numbers and influence constantly as the years go by. He was for a time Associate Editor of the �Presbyterian Review,� and in 1890 was appointed by the General Assembly to represent the Synod of the Pacific in the Committee on the Revision of the Confession of Faith. In 1889 he was granted a leave of absence for one year, and spent the time with Mrs. Alexander traveling and studying in Europe, the Holy Land and Egypt, that at the age of sixty-eight he might fit himself for better work in the Seminary. He was planning work for another year when the summons came to enter into rest. His work is done, but his influence will continue, and his honored name will ever be associated with this Seminary which he loved so well and for which he toiled and prayed so long. Source: Curry, James, D.D., History of the San Francisco Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. and Its Alumni Association Reporter Publishing Company, Vacaville, California, 1907.