Mary L. Moreland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mary Leona Moreland
"A Woman of the Century"
Born	December 23, 1859 Westfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	March 17, 1918 Belvidere, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation	minister, teacher, writer
Alma mater	Appleton Academy Moody Bible Institute Illinois Wesleyan University Creal Springs College Chicago Theological Seminary
Notable works	Which, Right or Wrong?

Mary L. Moreland (born December 23, 1859 – died March 17, 1918) was an American Congregational minister. She was also a dedicated teacher and a talented writer.

Mary Moreland studied at academies in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Later, she took a special course called Chautauqua normal. She also attended the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and earned a degree from Illinois Wesleyan University. Before becoming a minister, she worked as a teacher and gave talks for the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (W.C.T.U.). She was also an evangelist, which means she traveled to preach.

While she was an evangelist in Illinois, a church in Wyanet, Illinois asked her to be their pastor. She became an ordained minister there on July 19, 1889. She led that church for seven years. After Wyanet, she served as a pastor in several other towns in Illinois. Mary Moreland believed that women should have the right to vote. As a minister, she often spoke out in favor of this cause. She wrote many books and pamphlets during her lifetime.

Early Life and Education

Mary Leona Moreland was born in Westfield, Massachusetts, on December 23, 1859. Her parents were James William and Harriet Atwood (Smith) Moreland. Her family had roots in Scotland.

She started school when she was six years old. Her family moved to New Ipswich, New Hampshire, and lived there for six years. When she was fourteen, she joined the Baptist Church. At the same age, she also started attending Appleton Academy. She graduated from the academy with excellent grades. Soon after, her family moved to Fitchburg, Massachusetts. There, she became a member of the First Baptist Church.

Around this time, she began her work for the temperance movement. This movement aimed to reduce or stop the use of alcohol. She was one of the first young women in Massachusetts to join the W.C.T.U. Even at sixteen, she was a successful speaker on the platform.

She continued her education at several places. She studied at Illinois Wesleyan University, where she earned two degrees. She also attended Creal Springs College, the School of Oratory in Chicago, the Chicago Theological Seminary, and the Moody Bible Institute.

Career as a Minister and Writer

Mary Moreland taught school for several terms. She spent six summers at the Chautauqua Assembly in Lake View, Framingham, Massachusetts. This experience helped her prepare for studying the ministry. She also took Bible courses and completed a four-year program called the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle.

During her time at the assembly, she gathered ideas for her books. These included Which, Right or Wrong? and The School on the Hill. While she was taking the Chautauqua course and writing these books, she also wrote many short articles for newspapers. People often invited her to speak at public meetings. She also wrote several small books, called booklets. Some of these were "Domestic Problem," "Women in the Bible," and "Mother's Opportunity."

In 1882, she had spoken in church pulpits many times. However, she didn't think then that she was meant to be a minister. In 1885, she visited her sister in Illinois. She planned to work there for the temperance cause. But she soon became interested in revival work, which involves leading religious meetings to inspire people. She was very successful at this. Her first revival meeting was for the W.C.T.U. One of her most notable revivals happened in 1889. More than 100 people converted, and a new church was formed.

Her first invitation to become a pastor came in 1888. It was from the United Brethren Church. She decided not to accept that offer. Later, she received an invitation to lead the First Congregational Church of Wyanet, Illinois. The church grew, and the people wanted Mary Moreland to be officially ordained as their pastor. After thinking about it carefully, she agreed. A group of ministers and church representatives met in Wyanet on July 19, 1889. This was a rare event, as it was one of the first times a woman was called to be a minister in the Congregational church in the United States. After a thorough review, the group voted to ordain her.

In 1893, Mary Moreland represented women ministers at the World's Congresses. These meetings were held at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. She served as pastor in Wyanet until 1895. After that, she led churches in several other Illinois cities. Her last pastorate was in Belvidere, Illinois, starting in May 1917.

Death

Mary Moreland never married. She passed away from pneumonia in Belvidere, Illinois, on March 17, 1918.

Selected Works

Which, Right or Wrong? (1883)

Books

• Which, Right or Wrong?
• The School on the Hill

Booklets

• "Domestic Problem"
• "Women in the Bible"
• "The Flag of the Free"
• "Mother's Opportunity"
• "His Guidance"