the degree of Ph. D. and the second colored man to take the
degree in any university in this country.

Soon after leaving the university, Dr. Bowen joined the New
England Methodist Conference, and was appointed pastor of
the Revere Street Church. While in New England he also
preached acceptably in many white churches--serving one for
a month, and was asked to become their pastor after this
period. After serving St. John's colored church in Newark
three years, he became pastor of the Centennial Methodist
Episcopal church in Baltimore, and at the same time
professor of church history in the Morgan college for
colored people in that city. During this pastorate he
conducted a phenomenal revival in which there were 735
conversions.

Dr. Bowen next was the pastor of Asbury Methodist Episcopal
church in Washington for three years, and at the same time
Professor of Hebrew in Howard University for colored people
in that city. He here acquired a national fame as a scholar,
orator and thinker. During this pastorate he pursued the
study of the Semitic languages in the school of
correspondence of Dr. W. R. Harper, then at Yale University.
When he resigned his positions at Washington, he became for
one year a Field Secretary of the Missionary Society of the
Methodist Episcopal church, retaining his Washington
residence.

Dr. Bowen was next elected Professor of Historical Theology
in Gammon Theological Seminary for colored people at