Clarence Herbert Benson

1879-1954. Presbyterian minister and author. Educated at the University of Minnesota, Macalester College, and Princeton Seminary (1908), he served pastorates in New York, Pennsylvania, and at Union Church, Kobe, Japan (1919-22). In 1922 he became director of the Christian education department of Moody Bible Institute. Between 1925 and 1933 he supervised the development of the All Bible Graded Series of Sunday school lessons, and with Victor Cory founded Scripture Press to publish them (1934). He helped to found what became the Evangelical Teacher Training Association (1930), founded The Church School Promoter, forerunner of Christian Life, and was associate editor of Moody Monthly (1926-41). His most influential books were A Popular History of Christian Education, The Church at Work, and The Sunday School in Action. Benson helped also to found the National Sunday School Association and its Uniform Bible Lesson Series.