Clergyman
Centurion, 1912–1954
Born 10 January 1867 in Orange, New Jersey
Died 19 June 1954 in New York (Manhattan), New York
Buried Woodlawn Cemetery
, Bronx, New York
Proposed by George Alexander and J. Cleveland Cady
Elected 7 December 1912 at age forty-five
Proposer of:
Century Memorial
William P. Merrill graduated from Rutgers in 1887 and from Union Theological Seminary in 1890. In that year he was ordained a Presbyterian minister, and his first pastorate was in Philadelphia. From there he went to Chicago, where he spent sixteen years, and in 1911 he came to New York as pastor of the Brick Presbyterian Church. Unlike many clergymen, Dr. Merrill always insisted that Chicago was not the most sinful city in the country.
In Chicago he had been moderator of the Chicago Presbytery, and in New York, in 1941 and 1942, he was likewise elected moderator. He was one of the best known clergymen in the City. He became a leader in the movement for international peace and amity, but he was under no delusion that if only there were enough good will available then all would be well with the world. “Unless we wrestle mightily for the liberty of others, we shall not preserve our own,” he said in support of resisting the Communist occupation of the little nations.
This militancy was woven into the fabric of his being, and it was expressed in divers ways. He wrote and composed the music for a number of excellent hymns, the best known of which is Rise up, O Men of God—recently voted the most popular hymn in the Church of England.
When he came to the City, the Brick Church was at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Thirty-seventh Street. Twenty-five years later it moved to Park Avenue and Ninety-first Street, where it is now. The move was hard work, and coming on top of all his other labors it broke Dr. Merrill’s back. He resigned in 1938 and became Minister Emeritus. The release from active responsibilities somewhat restored his health. He was able to continue with the church for sixteen years, teaching Bible Classes, preaching a few times each year, the warm friend of old and new members of the congregation, and a continuing link between the past and the present.
Dr. Merrill was a member of the Century for forty-two years. He was a charming person. He had an uncomplicated nature, apparently free from festering doubts or inward tensions. He did his duty in that state of life to which God had called him, and he did it very well indeed.
George W. Martin
1955 Century Association Yearbook
