Waln, Nicholas a member of the Society of Friends, was born Oct. 19, 1742, at Fair Hill, near Philadelphia, Pa. He acquired a good elementary education at a Friends' school in Philadelphia, and on leaving the institution commenced the study of law; and before attaining to his majority was admitted to practice in the courts. In. order to extend his knowledge of the law, he went to England in the fall of 1763, and was a student for some time in the Temple. Having secured the object which carried him abroad, he returned to Philadelphia and resumed the practice of his profession. For seven years he devoted himself with untiring industry and success to his work as a lawyer, at the end of which time, having had a remarkable religious experience, he felt it to be his duty to abandon his profession and devote himself to religious work, as a member of the Society of Friends. He was a frequent visitor to quarterly and yearly meetings of Friends in different parts of the country; and his gifts made him an acceptable preacher wherever and whenever he felt moved to address the assembled people. Some of these public discourses were remarkable for their rower and their unction, and produced a profound impression on those who listened to them. He visited most of the Friends meetings in England in the years 1783 to 1785, and ten years after made a similar tour through Ireland. Everywhere he was welcomed, and made a good impression. His death occurred Sept. 29, 1813. See Biographical Sketches of Friends (Phila. 1871), p. 381. (J. C.S.)
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