Adoniram Judson Gordon
1836-1895
A.J. Gordon was born in New Hampshire April 13, 1836. His
parents were devout Christians. At about 15 years of age, Ad-
oniram became interested in the salvation of his soul. Soon
after his conversion to Christ, he was baptized and received
into the church. One year later, he openly confessed to the
church his desire and determination to prepare for the
ministry.
        In 1856 he went to Brown University, and in 1860 he
entered the Newton Theological Seminary. Upon graduation in
1863, he accepted a call to become pastor at Jamaica Plain,
near Boston. After six very successful years there, he ac-
cepted the pastorate of the Clarendon Street Baptist Church
in Boston, the church where he was destined to become famous.
        Boston was full of skepticism and unbelief, and
Clarendon Street Church was in a very sluggish spiritual con-
dition when Gordon became pastor. Dr. Gordon remained pastor
of Clarendon Street Church for more than a quarter of a cen-
tury by persevering in preaching the plain, unvarnished
truths of the Gospel. He at last saw the church completely
transformed into one of the most spiritual and aggressive
churches in America. Dr. Gordon’s Spirit-filled life and
deeply spiritual books have had a powerful influence through-
out the world, and his memory has the sweet savour of a
saintly life. He was one of the most prominent leaders and
speakers in Mr. Moody’s great Northfield conventions, and one
year Mr. Moody left the convention entirely in his charge.
        In his Ministry of the Spirit, which is perhaps his
greatest work, Dr. Gordon presents the work of the Holy
Spirit in a threefold aspect: sealing, filling, and
anointing. Dr. Gordon was also a firm believer in the
premillennial coming of Christ. He preached much on these
deeper spiritual themes in many conventions.
        On the morning of February 2, 1895, Dr. Gordon, with
“victory” as the last clearly audible word on his lips, fell
asleep in Jesus.