Ashworth Harold McGee

Ashworth Harold McGee Rev. Dr.(1898–1970) was an Indian Minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church later Methodist Church in Southern Asia best known for his inspiring sermons & evangelistic missionary work all over the world.

Ashworth was born on 11 February 1898 in Lucknow, India to James William McGee and Mrs. McGee. He had his schooling from Centennial Higher Secondary School, Lucknow from 1904 to 1919 and graduated from Lucknow Christian College in 1921. He excelled in Hockey, and won many medals & championships as a student. He mastered three languages: English, Hindi & Urdu.

Passed M.Sc.(Homeo) from Premier Homeopathic Medical College, Chandigarh in 1961Awarded the M.H.M.in 1966 by the Homeopathic Medical Mission in India

Ministry

Resigning from work in the Lucknow Christian College office in 1923, he began his Methodist preaching ministry that same year in the Tirhoot District of Bihar under the Rev. R.I. Faucett as Superintendent of the Conference. He was ordained as Deacon of the Methodist Episcopal Church by Bishop Frederick Fisher on 13 December, 1925 at Arrah, Bihar, and an Elder by Bishop John W. Robinson on 21 November, 1926 at Lucknow, U.P.

His first appointment in 1925 was in the difficult church in Muzaffarpore, The Methodist Episcopal Church, Muzaffarpore, where he spent 5 years of fine service. He along with his wife Francis toiled prayerfully to weld the members of the congregation into a unity which showed splendid application of Christian principles. During his pastorship, the church became self supporting(after 40 years of foreign dependence).

He was appointed as District Superintendent of Buxar District in May 1930. In 1936, he was transferred as Pastor of Lizzie Johnson Memorial Methodist Church, Cawnpore (now Kanpur). He Represented India at the General Conference of the Methodist Church held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA in 1956.

He participated in the "Mission to America" project of the Methodist Church and preached in 23 Churches in the USA in 1962.

He served as Executive Secretary of the Council of Evangelism of the Methodist Church in Southern Asia for many years until December 1967. As Executive Secretary of the Council of Evangelism , he preached the word of God in 18 countries of the world. He served as Property Chairman of the Lucknow Conference, and editor of the "Indian Witness" until his death.

He met Mahatama Gandhi in 1927 in Muzaffarpur, Bihar and being greatly impressed by Gandhi, he joined the Congress the same year, participating in the freedom struggle in his own small way of sensitising the masses through his sermons.

Family

He married Francis J. Lall(a teacher by profession), daughter of Mr. Jhan Lall of Bareilly on 20 May 1924, at the Methodist Episcopal Church, Bareilly, India. The Minister who soleminised the marriage was The Rev. D. Wellington. and witnesses who signed the marriage certificate were Rev. M.C. Singh and Ms. Edna G. Bacon.

* Daughter Rajbala Shakuntala was born on 8 July 1925 at Darbanga, Bihar, married to Mr. Samuel S. Silas of Kanpur.
* Son Jaswant Rajkumar McGee born , married Ms. Shrin Esther Silas.
* Son Jagdish Prem Kumar McGee born 4 February, married Ms. Mavis Davidson of Kanpur.
* Son Jagmohan Kristkumar McGee born 28 February, 19 , married Ms. Prabha Singh of Kotdwara Garhwal.
* Daughter Ms. Asha lata McGee born 6 June, 1938 - spinster died on 23 July 2006.
* Son Ashutosh McGee died when 17 years old.

He died of a massive cardiac arrest at Kanpur India on August 29, 1970, aged 72.

References

* Visions & Victories in Hindustan: Diamond Jubilee Edition(1931), edited by Bishop Brenton T Badley,Ohio Area Sesquicentennial Committee, 1962).
* The Centenary of the Methodist Church in Southern Asia :(1956), edited by John N. Hollister, Litt.D., D.D. (Executive Board of the Methodist Church in Southern Asia)

ee also

* List of Bishops of the United Methodist Church