William Thomas Russell

William Russell was born in Baltimore, Maryland, to William and Rose Russell.[1] He received his early education at the parochial school of St. Patrick's Church in his native city.[2] At the age of fourteen, he entered St. Charles College in Ellicott City. Five years later, on account of failing health, he went to Loyola College, where he spent a year under the care of a physician.[2] He then re-entered St. Charles, where he remained for four years before continuing his studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. His health again failing, he returned to the United States and resumed his theological studies at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore.[2]

On June 21, 1889, Russell was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal James Gibbons.[3] His first assignment was as pastor of St. James Church in Hyattsville.[1] In addition to his pastoral duties, he studied at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he earned a Licentiate of Sacred Theology.[2] He remained at St. James until 1894, when he became private secretary to Cardinal Gibbons and curate at the Cathedral of the Assumption.

In 1908, Russell was named pastor of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Washington, D.C.[1] He there earned a reputation as an eminent preacher. In 1909, he inaugurated the Pan-American Mass, an annual liturgical celebration held at St. Patrick's on Thanksgiving.[2] Before being discontinued in 1914, the Mass was attended by President William Howard Taft and representatives of 21 American republics.[2] He was raised to the rank of Domestic Prelate by Pope Pius X in 1911, and named an honorary member of the Veterans of the Spanish War for his service as chaplain at Camp Chickamauga.[1] He published Maryland, the Land of Sanctuary in 1907, and authored the article on the Archdiocese of Baltimore in the Catholic Encyclopedia.[1]

On December 7, 1916, Russell was appointed the fifth Bishop of Charleston, South Carolina, by Pope Benedict XV.[3] He received his episcopal consecration on March 15, 1917 from Cardinal James Gibbons at the Baltimore Cathedral. Bishops John Monaghan and Owen Corrigan served as co-consecrators.[3] He selected as his episcopal motto: Alias Oves Habeo (Latin: "I Have Other Sheep").[4] In addition to his episcopal duties, he served on the executive committee of the National Catholic War Council, and was head of the press department of the National Catholic Welfare Council.[2] Russell served as head of the Diocese of Charleston for ten years, until his death at the age of sixty-three. His relative John Joyce Russell later served as Bishop of Charleston before becoming Bishop of Richmond.