Solomon Stoddard

Gladden, (Solomon) Washington 1836 -- 1918 Protestant religious leader; born in Pottsgrove, Pa. Raised on an uncle's farm in New York state, he graduated from Williams College (1859), served several New England Congregational churches and was religious editor for The Independent (1871--75).In 1882 he accepted the pastorship of the First Congregational Church of Columbus, Ohio, where he remained for the rest of his life.An advocate of the "social gospel," he believed enlightened Christians could ameliorate social and economic ills.He was the author of more than 40 books, including an autobiography, Recollections (1909).