Huntington, Frederic Dan

(May 28, 1819-July 11, 1904). Bishop and editor. He was born in Hadley, Hampshire County, Massachusetts. Huntington graduated from Amherst College in 1839 and from the Divinity School of Harvard University in 1842. He was ordained minister of the South Congregational Church (Unitarian), Boston, on Oct. 19, 1842, and served as a Unitarian minister in Boston until 1855, when he went to Harvard as preacher to the college and Plummer Professor of Christian Morals. From 1845 until 1858, Huntington edited the Monthly Religious Magazine. While at Harvard he struggled with the Unitarian faith. In 1859 he decided to join the Episcopal Church. He left his positions at Harvard in 1860 and was confirmed in the Episcopal Church on Mar. 25, 1860. Huntington was ordained deacon on Sept. 12, 1860, and priest on Mar. 19, 1861. He organized Emmanuel Church, Boston, and served there until he was elected bishop. Huntington was consecrated the first Bishop of Central New York on Apr. 8, 1869, and remained in that position until his death. In 1861 he and George Maxwell Randall, later the first Missionary Bishop of Colorado, founded the Church Monthly. It was published until 1870. Huntington was supportive of the Social Gospel and committed to the ecumenical movement. He was also an opponent of extremes in ritual observances. He was the father of James Otis Sargent Huntington, one of the founders of the Order of the Holy Cross. Huntington died in Hadley, Massachusetts.