Christianity • Protestantism John Philip Newman (1 September 1826 – 5 July 1899) was an American bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, elected in 1888.

After an extensive tour on the Continent he visited the East, and for a year made a thorough study of Bible lands: Egypt, Arabia, and Palestine.

As a result of his research he wrote a book on the Holy Land, entitled "From Dan to Beersheba."

Newman began his mission in New Orleans, where he soon built a church worth fifty thousand dollars.

In 1870, Newman traveled to Salt Lake City via the newly completed Transcontinental Railroad for a highly publicized debate with Latter-day Saint church leaders over the controversial subject of polygamy.

For three days Newman and LDS Apostle Orson Pratt debated the question, "Does the Bible sanction polygamy?"

On the third and final day of the debate, more than 11,000 people reportedly crammed into the city's famed tabernacle to hear Newman's and Pratt's remarks.

In the meantime, Dr. Newman was Chaplain of the United States Senate, twice by unanimous vote, first assuming this position 8 March 1869, serving until 1874.

In discharge of the duties of this position, Dr. Newman crossed the Pacific Ocean, traveling extensively in China, Japan, and other oriental countries with which the U.S.A. had diplomatic relations.

His habits of observation and ability to describe what he saw pre-eminently fitted him for the duties he was required to perform.

His expenses amounted to only two thousand, three hundred dollars, covering his service for one and one-half years.

During various investigations, which were rife in 1876, Dr. Newman was summoned before a Congressional Committee, in answer to whose interrogations he gave much important information relating to the U.S.

Upon his return, Dr. Newman used his extensive notes in the preparation of a work entitled, "Thrones and Palaces of Babylon and Nineveh."

Newman returned to the pulpit of the Metropolitan Church, Washington, where he served an additional three years.

In the winter of 1882 he accepted a unanimous invitation to become Pastor of the Madison Avenue Congregational Church in New York, serving two years.

Dr. Newman then was appointed a third time to the Metropolitan Church in Washington, serving a final two years.