The Biographical Dictionary of America/Bangs, Nathan

BANGS, Nathan, educator, was born at Stratford, Conn., May 2, 1778. He received a limited education; taught school in Canada and became an itinerant preacher in the Methodist church. He joined the New York conference of that church in 1820. He was married to Mary Bolton; became agent of the Methodist book concern in 1820, and editor of the Methodist Magazine, and editor of the Christian Advocate and of the various publications of the concern in 1828. He became editor of the Methodist Quarterly Review in 1832; a founder and secretary of the Methodist missionary society in 1836, and president of Connecticut Wesleyan university in 1841, serving one year. His son, Francis Nehemiah (1828-85), A. B. University of the City of New York, 1845, attended Yale law school; practised in New York with John Sedwick, and became president of the New York bar association. He published "History of the Methodist Episcopal Church from its Origin in 1776 to the General Conference of 1840" (4 vols.), "Christianism," "Errors of Hopkinsianism," "Predestination Examined," "Reformer Reformed," " Methodist Episcopacy," "Life of Rev. Freeborn Garrettson." "Authentic History of the Missions under the Care of the Methodist Episcopal Church," "The Original Church of Christ," "Essay on Emancipation," "State and Responsibilities of the Methodist Episcopal Church," "The Necessity, Nature, and Fruits of Sanctification: in a Series of Letters to a Friend" (1851); "Life of Arminius," "Scriptural Vindication of the Orders and Powers of the Ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church." His life has been fully written by Abel Stevens. He died in New York city, May 3, 1862.