Bishop Edgar Amos Love

Honorable Bishop Edgar Amos Love was born in Harrisburg, Virginia, the son of Rev. Julius C. Love and Mrs. Susie C. Love. He received his early training in the public schools of Virginia and Maryland.  In 1909, he graduated from the Academy of Morgan College and entered Howard University.  In 1913, he graduated Cum Laude from Howard with a Bachelor of Arts degree.  In 1916 after three years of additional hard work, he received the Bachelor of Divinity degree from Howard University.  To further his training, he entered Boston University, from where he received the Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree in 1918.  Later he spent two sessions of graduate worked at the University of Chicago. Due to his distinguished work in religion as a teacher, pastor and inspired civic worker for the advancement of all humanity, Morgan College conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity in June 1935.

Brother Love pastored for fifteen months in Fairmount, Maryland, four years in Washington, D.C., three years in Annapolis, Maryland, three years in Wheeling, West Virginia, and two years in Baltimore Maryland, directing the great John Wesley M.C. Church.  As a pastor, Rev. Love, inspiring and efficient, made the Church, wherever he was, function as a community center for the people of the neighborhood, as well as a temple of worship.
 

When the call of the United States came for our youth to do service in France, our Founder promptly entered the Officers Training Camp at Des Moines, Iowa and was commissioned as a First Lieutenant.  He was assigned as Chaplain to the 368 Infantry, with which unit he saw service in the Vosges Mountains, and in the Argonne Forest, spending eight days in the great offensive, where he was gassed.  While in the army he had supervision over 3,000 men.

Aside from administering to the spiritual needs of the soldiers, he also taught in the army school.  He helped to organize a school for illiterates in the 809th Pioneer Infantry, which was developed into a regular school system.  The school included in its curriculum subjects ranging from reading and writing to motor mechanics and philosophy.  Fourteen teachers were drafted from the ranks and constituted the faculty.
 

In 1919, after being honorably discharged from the United States Army, Bishop Love became Professor of History and Bible at Morgan College.  At the same time, he served as Director of Athletics in addition to him serving as Principal of the Academy.
 

Bishop Love was community-minded; believing that religion is life in God and should be the guiding force in all affairs, he always found time from his religious duties to be active in civic matters.  For instance, he was a delegate from the state of Maryland to the First American Legion Convention that was held at Minneapolis, Minnesota. Because of his high attainments, he was appointed by Governor Ritchie of Maryland as a Member of the Maryland Interracial Commission.
 

He was the first Grand Basileus of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and served in that capacity for three terms. While attending Howard University, Brother Love and Delta Sigma Theta Founder Edith Young dated as students and remained close friends throughout their lifetime.

As a driving force and Founder of our great Fraternity, as a Soldier, an Educator, and a Minister, Bishop Love had an unusual career and has endeared himself into the hearts of many.
 

Ω Chapter: Founder Love is Interred at Mount Auburn Cemetery, Baltimore, MD.