Acadia Bulletin
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
ACADIA BULLETIN -- ---_... VOL. XXXIII. SEPTEMBER 1 No.7 =--.=:-:-=.---- =...... - =.--...... ~- ~=-----~- ACADIA BULLETIN VOL. XXXIII SEPTEMBER, 1947 NO.7 3!n cffiemarittm REv. H. T . DEWOLFE, D.o., LL.D. Septembe r 14 , 1867-Sep tember 10, 1947 The Reverend Henry Todd DeWolfe D. D , LL. D. Centuries ago a writer among the ing of Dr. H . T. DeWolfe, one of ancients compared the passing of a .great Acadia's most distinguished alumnus, and man of his day to the falling of a mighty for so many years inseparably connected 'oak which crashing to earth Ie ft a lone with the life of the institution as Principal some ?lace against' the sky line. That of the Seminary and Professor of New must have been how many a graduate of Testament. A great oak, staunch and the Acadia Ladies' Seminary and of the true, has fallen. There is a lonesome University received the news of the pass place against Acadia's skyline. ACADIA BULLETIN Dr. DeWolfe was born at St. Stephen, Horton Academy of Acadia University. N. B., September 14, 1867, the son of the From this time until his retirement, [H. late Benjamin DeWolfe and Adelaide DeWolfe devoted his full time to the Vickery DeWolfe. Had he lived four teaching of New Testament in the Uni days longer he would have reached the versity. This was by no means a new milestone of four score years. On July venture on his part, for he had been Pro 12, 1893, he was married to Harriet Eaton fessor of New Testament Language and who survives him. Although Dr. De Literature since 1910, and for three years Wolfe had been retired from active ser before that date, Instructor in New Tes vice at Acadia University since 1936, he tament Greek. As -an educator, Dr. De continued to exercise a most useful and Wolfe had a sane approach to the prob helpful ministry by supplying pulpits and lems of education combining the more giving series of religious addresses on constructive elements of the older systems numerous occasions. He preached for with reforms necessitated by the needs of the last time in the spring of 1946. Fol a rapidly changing social and economic lowing a lengthy illness subsequent to this order. In 1909 his alma mater conferred time, he recovered and was able to be upon him the degree of Doctor of Divin about again for some months. On one ity, honoris causa, and in 1925 the honor or two occasions he read papers before ary Doctorate in Laws. At the Centen local organizations and societies. Late nial of the University in 1938, he re in July of this year he was stricken with ceived an address from the "Sems" and the illness that proved fatal. was told that a Henry Todd DeWolfe Dr. DeWolfe received his early educa Scholarship had been founded in his tion in the sch"ols of his native town, then honor. came to Acadia University, receiving his Students of other years will recall Bachelor's degree in 1889. He studied how thoroughly he entered into the at Newton Thelogical Seminary from life of the institutions on the hill. A 1890 to 1893. The next two years he football player of note in his college days, divided between acting as Instructor in he retained his interest in sports in the New Testament at Newton and pursuing after years and was often seen refereeing further studies in Berlin, Germany. He a game on the local campus. Significant continued to read and study theological ly enough, the last article Dr. DeWolfe literature in the German language until wrote for publication appeared in the the end of his teaching career and even July-August issue of the Acadia Bulletin afterward. From 1895 to 1901, Dr. De· over tht: initials E.D.Y., initials he often Wolfe was pastor of the Baptist Church used when he wished the identity of the at Foxboro, Mass., and during the sum writer to remain unknown. mers of 1899 and 1900 lectured at the So many of our mortal kind live dull, Summer School of the University of negative kind of lives. Not so, Dr. H. T. Chicago. DeWolfe. Life for him, despite whatever In 1901, Dr. DeWolfe returned to cares, sorrows, and mysteries pressed in Wolfville to become principal of Acadia upon him, was a pulsating, stimulating Ladies' Seminary. He retained this posi kind of venture. He lived vigorously and tion until 1925 when a rearrangement of well. Life was no dull, craven kind 0'£ the schools affiliated with Acadia Univer pilgrimage from the cradle to the grave. sity brought about an amalgamation of He was as sure as are those whose faith the Seminary with the Academy to form is grounded in the eternal verities of the 2 ACADIA BULLETIN Unchanging Word, that man was created HENRY TODD DEWOLFE for a high destiny. He loved simple things. His humor, always so much a A Tribute fr om the President of the part of him, flashed and soared as did his A. A. A. U. thoughts on so many themes. All these I first knew Dr. DeWolfe in the fall of made him the man he was to thousands 1914 when he Was Principal of the Ladies' of students who affectionately called him Seminary and I was a lowly 'Cad. At "Toddy" behind his back, but took no that time, and under those circumstances liberties with him when they addressed the knowledge was formal and remote' him to his face-the revered teacher the and I doubt if he was aware of my exist: eloquent preacher whose words ~ame ence but Toddy was a part of the estab pouring forth in a torrent as a cascade of lished Acadia legends. I came to know rushing waters, the kindly friend whose Rim somewhat more intimately in the rebuke led to sobering reflection, and summer of 1917 when he supplied the whose words of encouragement "helped church at Canso during his vacation and to keep men on their feet." I had just been invalided home from Besides his widow, the fonner Harriet overseas. His own son, Burton, had been Eaton, Dr. DeWolfe is survived by one killed at Vimy Ridge that spring and I son, Edgar (Acadia '24), of Wolfville, was impressed by the way he measured up N.S.; tWO daughters, Mrs. Helen Bishop to that heavy loss. His religion was no of Long Island, and Mrs. Francis Kent of academic thing; it was adequate for the Quincy, Mass.; a sister, Miss H. Elizabeth harsh experiences of life. I came to DeWolfe of St. Stephen, and a brother, Acadia that fall as a Freshman and came Rev. H. E. DeWolfe of Fairvale, N. B. to know Dr. DeWolfe as teacher and His oldest son, Burton, was killed in ac friend and there established a friendship tion in the First World War. It was in that lasted until his death. his memory that Dr. and Mrs. DeWolfe Temperamentally, Dr. DeWolfe was along with friends from the A. L. S. founded the Henry Burton DeWolfe ~ncli~ed to strong prejudices and sweep Ing Judgment but these tendencies were Bursary in Biology. checked by a truly Christian spirit of love Funeral services for Dr. DeWolfe were and kindness and the rigid discipline of a conducted Saturday afternoon, September scholarly mind determined to be fair and 13, at the United Baptist Church, Wolf honest with the data. This made for a ville. Dr. F. H . Eaton, recently retired remarkable combination and tended to pastor of the church, conducted the ser produce a warmth and passion in his re vice, assisted by Dr. F. W. Patterson, ligious life too often absent in those who President of the University. The choir have long been subject to the discipline led in singing, "Unto the Hills Around" of exact scholarship. A great teacher, and "Rock of Ages." Pallbearers were who in his more advanced classes en five members of the Faculty, Professors couraged and developed independence and Roy Ross, Evan M. Whidden, R. Mac initiative in his students, he succeeded to Gregor Fraser, Ronald S. Longley and a marked degree in developing men of in· Clarence B. Lumsden, and Dr. E. S. dependent mind, trained in the habits of Mason, retired Superintendent of Home objective research. But Toddy the schol. Missions. Interment was in Willow as was always more or less hid by Toddy Bank Cemetery. :he man: His wit, his joy of living, his The Bulletin extends deepest sympathy. Interest In student activities, the youthful. 3 ACADIA BULLETIN ness of his approach to life, all appealed with a quick step entered, and silence fell. to the undergraduate and made him an The girls before him studied his face to ob ject of affectionate respect to genera see if L111 were well! ... tions <)f Acadia students. "Once a Sem. always a Sem."-a col In 1936 I succeeded Dr. DeWolfe as lege classmate once said in a moment of the teacher of New Testament at Acadia impatlt:!1ce. The phrase remained in and also became his near neighbor on the memory for its inherent truth. The man Hill. The friendship which had begun who made it true has but recently left our almost twenty years before continued and midst. It has been my good fortune to grew in these new relationships. Always sit under several great teachers, but none kind, always anxiolls to help with books more revered than Henry Todd DeWolfe. and counsel, he was an ideal neighbor and Many pens and many voices will be lifted staunch friend.