During his college years he served as an editor for the monthly University Herald, played baseball, studied classical history, and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa society.

[1][2][7][8] In 1909 Tipple accepted a call to be pastor of the American Methodist Episcopal Church in Rome, Italy.

Perhaps most prominently, he was the founder and president of Methodist International College (Collegio Internazionale di Monte Mario) from 1911 until 1923.

The most famous incident occurred in early April 1910, when ex-President Theodore Roosevelt, during his six-week tour through Europe, failed to meet with the Pope.

[10][11][12] In 1914, Tipple secured six acres at the southern end of Monte Mario, one of the most beautiful locations near the city.

[15] Tipple resigned as president of the college on 20 November 1923, stating ill health as the necessitating cause, and shortly thereafter the new fascist government would stall and eventually stop the extensive building plans.

[16] During 1910 to 1924 Tipple embarked on numerous lecture trips throughout the United States, Great Britain, France, and Germany.

During World War I, he maintained social service rooms in the Methodist building in Rome for British and American soldiers and sailors.

He joined his daughter Silva Tipple New Lake on the American expedition to the ruins at Van Fortress, Turkey, in 1938-40.