William Fairield Warren

Warren was elected to the faculty of Boston University in 1866. He had a long and distinguished academic career. Warren completed his undergraduate studies at Wesleyan University in 1853, after which he went to Andover Theological Seminary from 1854 to 1856. Warren also undertook theological studies in Germany, where he gained a respectable reputation as a theologian. He began his studies there at the University of Berlin (1856-1857), after which time he moved to the old pietistic university of Halle (1857-1858). Warren was hired as Professor of Systematic Theology in Bremen Germany, a post he held for six years (1860-1866). During this time, he also earned an S.T.D. at Ohio Wesleyan University.

Warren offered the lion’s share of his life’s work to the service of Boston University. He was elected to the faculty of Boston University in 1866, where he served as acting president of the University. In 1873, he was elected to the Theological Faculty, where he wrote and taught about ancient cosmologies and world religions. That same year, Warren became the first full time present of Boston University, and he held that post until 1903. After retiring from the presidency of the University, he became dean of the School of Theology; a position he relinquished to Lauress John Birney in 1911. Even after that time, he continued teaching.

According to Warren, “Several millenniums ago an ancient Egyptian wrote: ‘When thou worshipest do it quietly and without ostentation in the sanctuary of God. Pray to him with a longing heart in which all they words are hidden; so will he grant thy request.’ That, like other early teachers who might be named [by] this contemporary of the patriarchs knew the secret of effectual prayer, who can doubt?”

Bibliography

The True Key to Ancient Cosmology and Mythical Geography. 1882.

In the Footsteps of Arminius: A Delightsome Pilgrimage. 1888

The Story of Gottlieb. 1892.

The Earliest Cosmologies. 1909

The Universe as Pictured in Milton’s Paradise Lost. 1915.