Ely, Richard Theodore

(Apr. 13, 1854-Oct. 4, 1943). Social Gospel advocate. He was born in Ripley, New York. He received a B.A. from Columbia University in 1876 and a Ph.D. from Heidelberg University in Germany in 1879. He taught economics at Johns Hopkins University (1881-1892) and at the University of Wisconsin (1892-1925). He also directed research institutes at Northwestern University (1925-1932) and at Columbia University (1937-1943). Ely believed that God called Christians to work for the salvation of their society and culture as well as the salvation of individual souls. He devoted himself to the promotion of social reform throughout his lifetime. Ely wrote a number of books on the relationship of economics and Christian faith, including The Social Aspects of Christianity (1889). He helped found the American Economics Association in 1885. He also helped found the Episcopal Social Union along with Social Gospel advocate William D. P. Bliss in 1891. Ely died in Old Lyme, Connecticut.