Martin, Jesse Bauman (1897-1974)
 |
| Photo courtesy of Hunsberger Photography |
Jesse "J. B." Martin (1897-1974) was the son of Daniel E. and Blandina (Bauman) Martin, members of the Martin Old Order Mennonite congregation, north of Waterloo, Ont. With the permission of his parents, Jesse joined the St. Jacobs Mennonite congregation of the Mennonite Conference of Ontario in his late teens. His attendance at Hesston College and Bible School, 1919-23, and a short term at Goshen College in 1924, prepared Jesse for a life of service to the Mennonite Church (MC). He married Naomi Collier in 1926.
Ordained in 1925 as pastor of the Weber congregation at Strasburg, Ont. (now Pioneer Park Christian Fellowship, Mennonite), he was transferred to the Erb Street Mennonite congregation, Waterloo, in 1929, where he served until 1964. Ordained bishop in 1947, he served in the Central District, in the Niagara District, and at Clarence Centre, N.Y. His activities in the Mennonite Conference of Ontario included: home evangelist, 1929-34, 1937; Ontario Mennonite Bible School faculty, 1932-65 (principal, 1957-66); assistant moderator of the conference, 1936-45; moderator of the conference 1946-60.
He served the larger Mennonite Church (MC) on a wide variety of committees dealing with peace and conscientious objection, youth work, conference administration, and publications. Martin also worked with several committees and programs of the Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities (MC), including time spent establishing a Mennonite presence in Israel, 1953-54. He was in charge of local arrangements for the Mennonite World Conference (MWC) assembly at Kitchener, 1962, and a member of the MWC presidium, 1964-66. He served the Conference of Historic Peace Churches of Canada as a member of the Peace Problems Committee, 1941-58, and of the Military Problems Committee 1941-64. He served on several Mennonite Central Committee committees, 1944-68, including a term as chairman of the board, 1955-61.
Bibliography
Bender, Urie A. Four Earthen Vessels. Kitchener and Scottdale, 1982.
Warkentin, A. and Melvin Gingerich, compilers. Who's Who Among the Mennonites. North Newton, KS: Bethel College, 1943: 164
Springer, Nelson and A. J. Klassen, compilers, Mennonite Bibliography, 1631-1961, vol. 2. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1977: 477.
Various records of committees and agencies in the Mennonite Archives of Ontario.
Additional Information
©1996-2008 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.
To cite this page:
MLA style: Bergey, Lorna L. "Martin, Jesse Bauman (1897-1974)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1990. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 15 May 2008 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/M3785ME.html>
APA style: Bergey, Lorna L. (1990). "Martin, Jesse Bauman (1897-1974)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 15 May 2008 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/M3785ME.html>
