William Henry Houghton
1887-1947. Baptist minister and president of Moody Bible Institute. Born in South Boston, he was educated in New England schools. An early career on the stage was cut short for theological training after a deepening religious experience, and subsequently he joined R.A. Torrey* as songleader. Ordained to the Baptist ministry in 1915, he held several pastorates, including Baptist Tabernacle, Atlanta (1925- 30), and Calvary Baptist Church, New York City (1930-34), in each of which membership doubled. He conducted a successful evangelistic campaign in Ireland in 1924. Ten years later he became president of Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, a post he held until his death. During his tenure he strengthened the faculty; doubled the circulation of Moody Monthly of which he was editor (1934-46); encouraged Irwin Moon to join the institute extension staff (1938) to begin what became Moody Institute of Science; and provided the stimulus for the founding of the American Scientific Affiliation (1941). He was well known for his gospel songs.