Salem Bland

Vocation

Canadian Methodist theologian and one of the nation's most important Social Gospel thinkers. In the early 1900s he became a popular guest preacher across western Canada. He then moved to Toronto where he became the preacher at the Broadway Methodist Tabernacle, one of the largest Methodist churches in the city and one serving the large working class community of western Toronto. He remained there until 1923, when he moved to the smaller Western Methodist Church. He became a prominent figure in the new United Church of Canada. In 1935 he convinced the general assembly to pass a motion condemning capitalism. He also led the campaign in favour of the ordination of women, and succeeded in 1936. He became close friends with exiled American activist Emma Goldman, and when she died in Toronto in 1940 it was Bland who delivered the eulogy at her funeral. He also wrote a column for the Toronto Star called "The Observer" from 1924 to 1950. He died on February 7, 1950, aged 90. Link to Wikipedia biography