Born: Liberty, Kentucky, February 10, 1849.
Died: Indianapolis, Indiana, February 4, 1926.

The subject of this sketch is the only preacher in the New Living Pulpit whose family is represented in the Old book. He is, therefore, a sort of connecting link between the two volumes, and hence is entitled to shake hands with the newcomers and give them a hearty welcome. He is the youngest of four brothers, all of whom have been distinguished in their respective fields of labor. His brother John was one of the contributors to the Old Living Pulpit.

Z. T. Sweeney was born at Liberty, Kentucky, in 1849, and began his public ministry at Paris, Illinois, when he was only twenty years old; and during the first year of his pastorate at that place, 225 were added to the church. In 1871 he was called to the church at Columbus, Indiana, where he was married in 1875 to Miss Linnie Irwin, daughter of Joseph Irwin, a prominent business man of that city. He has also held short pastorates at other cities, two at Augusta, Georgia, one at Richmond, Virginia, and one at New York; but his longest and most important was at Columbus, where he served twenty-seven years. During this time 3,600 people were added to the Columbus church, and when he left its active ministry it had grown from 200 members to 1,200. He still resides at Columbus, and is pastor emeritus.

He has also been distinguished as an evangelist. He has held as many as 22 protracted meetings in his home church, averaging six weeks for each meeting, and resulting in over 2,000 additions to the church. This feat is perhaps unequaled by any other minister of the Christian church. In many other places his evangelistic work has been very successful. The following extract is mainly from a life sketch in a volume entitled, "Churches of Christ:" "He has also dedicated 166 churches, and has never called for an amount of money which was not made up in response to the call, but once. He spent much time in holding meetings and in dedicating churches, also devoted a portion of each winter to lecturing upon the public platform and his entire time for years was taken by the Redpath Lyceum Bureau, of Boston, Massachusetts. He was placed in their catalogue in an honor list of six or seven 'universal favorites,' holding this place along with such men as Russell Conwell, Thomas Dixon, Prof. J. B. DeMotte and three or four others. In addition to his labors as a Christian minister and lecturer he held for years prominent State and Government positions. His ability as a campaign orator often induced the political party with which he is affiliated to attempt to put him forward as a candidate both for Congress and for the Governorship of his adopted state, but he steadily turned a deaf ear to all these solicitations, and declared that he would never accept an elective office, believing it would interfere with his usefulness as a minister of the gospel. The secret of his success lies in the fact that he knows what he desires to do, and then does it. He believes that the world gets out of the pathway of a man who knows where he is going. He has always been a power in his own community, and is best loved where he is best known."

He was U. S. Consul General at Constantinople from 1889-1893, during which time he was decorated with the Turkish Order of the Osmanieh. He has published several books; among which may be mentioned "Under Ten Flags" and "Pulpit Diagrams." In 1904 he served with distinguished ability as president of the American Christian Missionary Society. He is now president of the Commission on Foreign Relations American Christian Missionary Society, and his address on the Christian movement in Russia in which he gives his experiences among the Russian people is the most vivid and soul-stirring that it has ever been my pleasure to hear. For genuine touches of popular oratory I doubt if this has ever been excelled.

More than anyone else, Dr. Sweeney is responsible for the new plan of co-operation adopted by the General Convention at its annual meeting in Kansas City, October, 1917. Dr. Sweeney, as chairman of the Committee which had the matter under consideration for a year, introduced the report with such a tactical and eloquent address that, notwithstanding some of its features were not wholly satisfactory to all the members of the Convention, the Plan was adopted unanimously.

Dr. Sweeney has been an eminent success, both as an evangelist and pastor. It is seldom we find these two qualifications so happily and equally blended in one person. His sermons are characterized by great directness and simplicity, as well as force and comprehensiveness. One may not always be able to agree with him in all his conclusions, but no one of a sound mind can fail to understand him. Indeed his arguments are as clear as sunlight, and these generally carry conviction to all honest and unprejudiced hearers. His gifts of speech are almost marvelous, whether in the pulpit, on the lecture platform, or in private conversation. He has recently delivered a magnificent patriotic address which has captivated his hearers in many cities. His sermons, though always fresh and vigorous, have in recent years mellowed into a sweetness that has all the fragrance of an autumn ripeness. And yet the yellow leaves, which hang as the decorations, detract nothing from the beauty, but rather add to the comeliness. In any case the fruit has a more invigorating effect upon weary souls than the bright flowers, laden with rich aroma, which made brilliant his sermons of early manhood, and which were the promise of what is now the full corn in the ear. May these days of rich fruitage be long continued.