SUMMERS, Thomas 0smond, clergyman, born in Dorsetshire, England, 11 October, 1812. He came to the United States in 1830, united with the Methodist church, was admitted to the Baltimore conference in 1835, and appointed to the Augusta circuit, Virginia In 1840 he was one of the organizers of the first Texas conference, four years later he was transferred to the Alabama conference, of which he was a member till 1876, and in 1845, as secretary of the Louisville convention, he assisted in the organization of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. The following year he was appointed co-editor of the "Southern Christian Advocate" and chairman of the committee to compile a new hymn-book. In 1850 he was elected by the general conference editor of their books and tracts and of the "Sunday-School Visitor," and in 1858 he took charge of the "Quarterly Review." During the civil war he returned to Alabama and performed pastoral work till 1866, when he was appointed editor of the Nashville " Christian Advocate." He became professor of systematic theology in Vanderbilt university, Nashville, Tennessee, in 1874, was dean of the theological faculty, and ex-officio pastor of the institution. He has been secretary of every general conference of his church. The degrees of D. D, and LL.D. have been conferred upon him. Dr. Summers has revised and edited hundreds of church books with introductions, notes, and additions. Among his works are "Commentaries on the Gospels and on the Acts of the Apostles" (6 vols.)" " Commentary on the Ritual of the M.E. Church, South" ; "Talks, Pleasant and Profitable" ; "The Golden Censer ..... Refutation of Thomas Paine's Theological Writings, not answered in Bishop Warren's ' Apology' "; Watson's "Biblical and Theological Dictionary," enlarged and revised ; and many tracts, pamphlets, and sermons.