Born: Dunnsville, Virginia, June 3, 1867.
Died: Baltimore, Maryland, February 24, 1934.
Peter Ainslie was born at Dunnsville, Virginia, June 3, 1867. He bears
the name of his father and grandfather, both of whom were ministers
among the Disciples. He was educated at the College of the Bible,
Lexington, Kentucky, and later traveled and studied in Europe. Drake
University conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1911,
Yale University in 1914 and Bethany College conferred on him the degree
of Doctor of Laws in 1914.
His only permanent pastorate has been at the Christian Temple, Baltimore, Maryland, which dates from October 1, 1891. In 1899 he founded Seminary House, which is a school for Bible study; with this is connected the Girls' Club--a self-governing Club--for girls who come from the rural districts to live in the city. He was president of the National Convention of Disciples in Topeka in 1910. He has been president of the Council on Christian Union of the Disciples of Christ since 1910. He was appointed in 1913 by the Protestant Episcopal Church as one of a deputation of three to visit Great Britain and Ireland in the interest of the World Conference on Faith and Order.
He is editor The Christian Union Quarterly, Baltimore, and contributing editor The Christian Work, New York. He is a trustee of the Church Peace Union, founded by Andrew Carnegie and was a delegate to the Church Peace Conference at Constance, Germany, in 1914. He is chairman of the Commission on Sunday Observance of the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America and also a member of the Commission on Federated Movements. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the American Encyclopedia of Christianity; a member of the American Society of Church History; a trustee of the College of the Bible, Lexington, Kentucky; of Bethany College, Bethany, West Virginia, and of Disciples' Divinity House, Chicago; and director of the Christian Board of Publication. He is the author of a dozen books, the best known being, "God and Me," "My Brother and I," "The Message of the Disciples for the Union of the Church" (Yale Lectures), and "Christ or Napoleon, Which?"
This record shows that Dr. Ainslie is a busy man. These positions prove that he is a willing servant, and that his services are appreciated in a wide field of influence.
Though rather small in stature, he has a commanding appearance in the pulpit, and notwithstanding his voice is not strong, his articulation is so clear and his utterance so easy, he is heard with pleasure in our largest auditoriums. Few men among our present day preachers can command the appreciative attention of an audience more readily than the subject of this sketch. Of his sermons it can be truthfully said, while they may not always rise to the highest level, they never degenerate into questionable ideals for the sake of temporary popular effect.. He always speaks with dignity and impresses one with the fact that he believes his message is from God. Dr. Ainslie's success in his long pastorate in Baltimore is proof of ability to hold his people.