A Short Life of Luther Rice

Luther Rice was one of the most influential Baptists in American history, though his story has largely been forgotten. Enjoy this short biographical sketch of a man who lived fully for God!

March 25, 1783 – it was on this day, in Northboro, Massachusetts, that Luther Rice was born. His life would leave an abiding mark on the Baptists of America and the world.

Rice was born into a Congregationally-affiliated – but not particularly pious – family. Despite the lack of religious zeal, Luther was instructed in part by his devout aunt. He learned Scripture, memorized religious materials, and – as a teenager – experienced severe pangs of conscience. After a protracted and painful internal struggle, he experienced profound peace on September 14, 1805, at the age of 22 years.

For three years Rice studied at Leicester Academy, teaching day school and night classes to fund his education. In October of 1807 he entered William’s College, where he met several other missions-minded individuals. Two years later, Rice entered Andover Theological Seminary, where he met Adoniram Judson and other future missionaries. Together they founded the ‘Society of Inquiry on the Subject of Missions,’ which Luther presided over as president.

“I have deliberately made up my mind to preach the gospel to the heathen. I do not know but it may be in Asia.”

– Luther Rice

As members of the ‘Society’ planned how to get to the mission field, they petitioned local churches and ministers for support. The ‘American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions’ was organized for this purpose, and February 6, 1812 saw the five men (Rice, Judson, Newell, Nott, and Hall) ordained at the Tabernacle Meeting House in Salem, Massachusetts. They sailed almost immediately from Philadelphia, bound for India.

Rice arrived in India as a convinced paedobaptist, but his views began to soften. Even as he battled a “painful and lingering disease of the liver,” he reconsidered and eventually professed Baptist views, accepting the symbol of water baptism on November 1, 1812.

Relationships with the authorities in India were never strong, and by January 1813, the missionary hopefuls were forced to sail to the Isle of France (modern Mauritius). Faced with uncertainty, Rice embarked for America. Such a trip would give his health time to improve, and his expected short time in America would organize American Baptists to support their first inter-continental missionaries.

Rice returned to New York City on September 7, 1813. Rice decided to meet with the Boston Baptist Foreign Missionary Society – an organization already formed – and recommended a national society to support missions. He set out nearly immediately for a southern tour, during which he visited with several historic Baptist bodies in America. It was during this trip that Rice devised the plan of a national convention that involved state associations.

The direct result of Rice’s tour was the ‘General Convention of the Baptist Denomination in the United States for Foreign Missions,’ which met in Philadelphia on May 18, 1814. Despite Luther’s desire to return to the mission field, they voted that ‘he for some time longer continue his labors as an agent of this board.’

“…that we shall unite our prayers and labours, and finally lay our bones together, in an eastern clime.”

– Adoniram Judson’s hope for Luther Rice

Luther’s life now consisted of itinerant fundraising, preaching, and society-founding. He travelled extensively throughout the country – especially the southern states – preaching on the importance of missions, organizing missionary societies, and raising money for the new agency to support missionary work. Though he had hoped to return to the mission field, Rice’s efforts were so successful that the Board commissioned him to continue his work.

Rice became convinced of the need for formal education for young Baptist ministers. In 1819 he became involved in the ‘Columbian College,’ acting as agent and treasurer of the institution, all the while continuing to travel, preach, and organize.

Three years later, the tide of success had changed dramatically. The 1826 Convention voted to separate from the college due to its severe financial challenges. Though his name was cleared of wrongdoing, Rice resigned his positions at the College and separated from the Board.

Rice was not finished fighting for the school. He continued to itinerate, raising money for the College in a desperate attempt to keep it solvent. On a visit to South Carolina, he was struck with a serious illness. Recognizing his fatal condition, he willed his remaining possessions to the Columbian College and expired on September 25, 1836.

“…if we may have grace to submit unreservedly to the will of our Heavenly Father, to be always really engaged in his delightful service, we may say with good old Jacob, ‘It is enough.’”

– Luther Rice

Luther Rice stoked the missionary zeal of Baptists and organized the Triennial Convention. This organization later gave birth to the Southern Baptist Convention and the International Mission Board (IMB), which continue to play a major part in the lives of Baptists in America.