Matthew Sorin
Matthew Sorin [1]
a Methodist Episcopal minister, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 7, 1801, of Roman Catholic parents. His father died when Matthew was about nine years of age, and the latter was apprenticed to a paper-maker, whose family, though Protestants, were bitter enemies of the Methodists. He procured a New Test., read it secretly, and began its memorization. He joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1817: received license to preach in his early manhood; and in 1823 entered the Philadelphia Conference. He labored on Dauphin Circuit in that year; in Somerset, Maryland, in 1824; on the shores of the Chesapeake in 1825 and 1826: travelled Snow Hill Circuit in 1827; Salisbury Circuit and Accomac, Virginia, in 1829 and 1830; became discouraged, and located in 1831 at Drummondtown; started with his wife for the far West in 1832, but was overtaken and induced to return as senior preacher on Snow Hill Circuit, where, early in 1833, he was blessed with a great revival. That year he re- entered the effective ranks of the Philadelphia Conference, and was made presiding elder of the Chesapeake District. In 1836 he was stationed at Asbury, Wilmington, Delaware, then at Union Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; in 1839 at Ebenezer Church, same city; a failure of his nervous system rendering his supernumeration necessary, he tried book- publishing at Philadelphia between 1842 and 1848; then moved West, within the bounds of the Rock River Conference, and practiced medicine; removed to St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1852, and to Red Wing in 1853, where he took charge of the mission. His health being somewhat restored. he was transferred to the Missouri and Arkansas Conference in 1865, and appointed presiding elder of St. Louis District; in 1869 of Kansas City District; in. 1873 and 1874 was stationed at Austin, Missouri; in 1875 at Rolla; in 1876, at the request of the Philadelphia Conference, he was retransferred to its active ranks, and stationed at Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania; in 1877 was appointed to Bustleton; and in 1878 to Oxford, Chester County, where he closed his active labors, took a superannuated relation, and spent the remainder of his days travelling in the far West. He died suddenly, in Pueblo, Colorado, August 11, 1879. By his own energies and perseverance, Dr. Sorin became an able scholar in history, general literature, and theology. He was an intellectual and physical giant, one of the most powerful preachers of his day. See Minutes of Annual Conferences, 1880, page 27; Simpson, Cyclop. of Methodism, s.v.
