Ball, William Spencer an English Congregational minister, was born in London, Oct. 16, 1815, of pious parents. He was converted when about seventeen, and shortly afterwards began to preach in Banbury. In 1843 Mr. Ball began a two years' course at Cotton End, after which he preached two years at Cadman, Hampshire; four years at Stainland, Yorkshire; and four years at Newton-le-Willows, where he died, Feb. 6, 1861. Mr. Ball was unassuming in manner, clear in judgment, deep, earnest, and unaffected in piety. He reached men's hearts by the force of his Christian character; and, although his preaching had in it nothing dazzling, his ministry was eminently successful. See (Lond.) Cong. Year-book, 1861, p. 221.
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More