Osman Cleander Baker

Osman Cleander Baker (30 July 1812 – 20 December 1871) was an American biblical scholar and Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Osman was born in Marlow, New Hampshire. He entered the Wilbraham Wesleyan Academy at the age of fifteen, where soon after he was converted to Christ, and was received into the church by Dr. Wilbur Fisk (who was at that time Principal of the school).

Osman was licensed to exhort in his seventeenth year. In 1830 he entered Wesleyan University. He had successfully completed three years at Wesleyan when failing health compelled him to leave the institution. Yet, while in college he also was licensed as a Local Preacher, laboring diligently in that office

The Rev. Mr. Baker became a teacher in the seminary at Newbury, Vermont in 1834. He was elected Principal of this seminary in 1839.

Having resigned the seminary principalship in 1844, the Rev. Mr. Baker was appointed Pastor of the M.E. Church in Manchester, New Hampshire. He was appoiinted Presiding Elder of the Dover District in 1846. During the next year he accepted a professorship in the General Biblical Institute in Concord, New Hampshire, which later became the Boston University School of Theology. Dr. Baker became a distinguished scholar. He also continued to reside in Concord for the remainder of his life.

The Rev. Dr. Osman Cleander Baker was elected and consecrated to the Episcopacy of the Methodist Episcopal Church by the 1852 General Conference. He discharged the varied duties of this office with diligence and success until 1866.

In 1866 Bishop Baker was attacked with partial paralysis while on his way to preside over the Colorado Annual Conference. He reached his destination with great difficulty. He thus examined and ordained the ordinands in a private room, rather than before the entire Conference. He then returned home, having suffered much pain and extreme exhaustion.

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