Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Arthur, William (1819-1901)

by Clarke Huston Irwin

ARTHUR, WILLIAM (1819–1901), Wesleyan divine, born at Glendun, co. Antrim, on 3 Feb. 1819, was son of James Arthur, whose ancestors belonged to the counties of Limerick and Clare, by his wife Margaret Kennedy, who was of Scottish and Ulster descent. Shortly after his birth his father removed to Westport, co. Mayo. Brought up as an Episcopalian, he became a Wesleyan methodist, and began to preach at the age of sixteen, when, coming to England, he entered Hoxton academy for the training of Wesleyan ministers. Resolving to engage in mission work, he sailed for India on 15 April 1839, under the auspices of the Wesleyan Missionary Society. In India he laboured at Gubbi, about eighty miles north-west of Bangalore; but his health gave way, and he returned to England in 1841. In 1842 he was stationed at Wesley's chapel, City Road, London. From 1846 to 1848 he laboured in France, first at Boulogne and then in Paris. In 1849 and 1850 his ministry was in London, at Hinde Street and Great Queen Street. From 1851 to 1868 he was one of the secretaries of the Wesleyan Missionary Society, and he was an honorary secretary 1888-91. From 1868 to 1871 he was principal of the Methodist College, Belfast.

Meanwhile he was elected a member of the legal hundred in 1856, and was president of the Wesleyan Conference in 1866. In 1888 he settled at Cannes, where he preached occasionally in the Presbyterian church. He died at Cannes on 9 March 1901. He married on 18 June 1850 Elizabeth Ellis Ogle of Leeds, who bore him six daughters.

Arthur rendered good services to his church in its foreign mission work, in its educational enterprise, and in its home mission. To him was due its Metropolitan Chapel Building Fund in 1862, and he sympathised with Hugh Price Hughes [q. v. Suppl. II] in his 'Forward movement,' especially in modifying the three-years' system of pastorate. His portrait by Gooch is in possession of his daughter, Miss Arthur.

Arthur's chief influence was exercised through his writings. 'The Tongue of Fire' (1856; 18th ed. 1859) sets forth in glowing language and with great wealth of illustration the importance of spiritual power in life. Three books treat of Italy and the Papacy; 'Italy in Transition' (1860; 6th ed. 1877) describes a visit in 1859; 'The Modern Jove' (1873) reviews the collected speeches of Pope Pius IX; 'The Pope, the Kings and the People' (1877, 2 vols.) is a history of the papacy from the issue of the 'Syllabus' in 1864 to the Vatican Council of 1870; Arthur consulted the best authorities in Italian and German, and criticised adversely Manning's 'True Story of the Vatican Council' (1877).

Besides the books mentioned and numerous sermons, lectures and pamphlets, Arthur's works include:

1. 'A Mission to the Mysore,' 1847.
2. 'The Successful Merchant; a Life of Samuel Budgett,' 1852.
3. 'The People's Day,' 1855; 11th ed. 1856; an appeal to Lord Stanley against the opening of Exhibitions on Sunday.
4. 'Life of Gideon Ouseley, the Irish Evangelist,' 1876.

[William Arthur: a biography, by Thos. B. Stephenson, D.D., 1907; Crookshank, History of Methodism in Ireland, 1885; private information.]

C. H. I.