Robert Parmelee Wilder

1863-1938. Missionary to India and virtual founder of the Student Volunteer Movement.* Born in Kolhapur, India, he was studying and promoting missions at Princeton College when D.L. Moody* called for the summer Bible conference out of which the SVM came. For two years he visited colleges on behalf of the movement. In 1892, on his way to India, he founded the British Student Volunteer Missionary Union. In India he worked with students through the YMCA. When ill-health forced him to leave India in 1902, he spent fourteen years in Europe promoting the World Student Christian Federation.* From 1919 to 1927 he was general secretary of the SVM. Then for six years he was executive secretary of the Near East Christian Council, residing in Cairo.