Randolph S Foster., D.D., an American clergyman, born at Williamsburg, Ohio, Feb. 20, 1820. He was educated at Augusta college, Kentucky, and in 1837 entered the itinerant ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church in connection with the Ohio conference. From 1837 to 1850 he was pastor of churches in Hillsboro, Portsmouth, Lancaster, Springfield, and Cincinnati, and from 1850 to 1857 in New York and Brooklyn. In 1857 he was elected president of the Northwestern university, Evanston, 111. Three years later he resumed the pastorate, and was stationed in New York and Sing Sing. The general conference of 18G8 appointed him delegate to the British Wesleyan conference of England, and during the same year he was elected professor of systematic theology in Drew theological seminary, Madison, N. J. In 1870 he was appointed president of this institution, retaining the chair of theology. In 1872 he was elected bishop of the M. E. church, and soon after was chosen to make an episcopal visitation in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and South America. He has published the following works:

"Objections to Calvinism" (12mo, Cincinnati, 1849); Christian Purity" (revised ed., 12mo, New York, 1869);Ministry for the Times" (18mo, New York, 1855); and "Theism," in the"Ingham Lectures" (12mo, 1872).