Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-06-25
Memorial Exercises

r
vice WAS held for the late Professor
Elder and tie late Professor Warren ,rbo
occasion was IL solemn one and eacJ,
word that was utter by the speaker,
was frci8hted with the rccollcctions Of
the older students and all the alumni
who were present. Both tributes wcra
eloquent. and while nothing is more d,f-
ficult thau eubogy. especially it it be de-
livereG to an audience of close friends
and acquantances. yet it was felt that
the addresses were eminently fitting in
every detail.
The life OF Professor William Elder
Sc. D.. for many years at the head of tn,
department of chemistry. WIS the first
presented, Rev. DIR. E.dw in c. Wbittcmor,
being the speaker. Dr. Whittemore's adj
dress was in substance as follows
1T is fitting that a New England col
leGe in the midst of its CONNIE ncement
days should rsi,Ise for tribute and memo
| rial to professors who through its ser
vice have given their lives to humanity.
! The fragrance of such a life fingers Ians,
and IT'S influ ence provcsa permanent en-
dowmcnt and inspiration
! IN the quaint old town of Yarmouth.
Nova Scotia. on adjoining estates dwelt
/
/ had a long lineage of rank honor and
wealth in England and Scotland respcc-
| lively. In case of the children OF these
| houses, the childhood friendship becTmc
the love of lifetime. and Samuel Elder
, became the wife of Sarah A. Shaw.
civilian Elder, youngest child in A
family of 10. was born Aug. ., 1870 Fort
umttely the boy WAS kept at home undcr
| its noble Influences instead of being rush
ed off to a. public school before the foun-
! dation of character had been laid. At
the age Of l. the thoughtful. rcvcr,nt
boy became Christian, accepting the
principles and ideals of 4 faith which lie
| ever aftcrw;lrd sought to fulfil and Civ
ling his loyalty to a Leader whom undc.
! no conditions cf life did he ever deny
| ''He was prepared for college Is pr
+, vatc tutors and at the Provincial Nor
NAL school at Truro. y. s. At &c he I've
| gan to teach school with success from tile
very start In 1861 he entered Acadia
| college. After graduation at Acadia n
went to Harvard for special work il,
stacrcc, having as teacher and soon as
frierd Louis Agassiz. J. V. Cooke ard n
| s. Shalcr.
| ''ln 1863 he was called to the chair OF
physical sciences at Acadia, position
which he held four years. In 1913 Frof
Charles f. Hamlin was called from COL
! by to Harvard. but the university
PROFANITY atoncd Tor this dcspoli..g of thr
, college by suggesting the name Of Wi
liam Elder Tor the vacant profeasOrshirI
Tor 30 years Professor Elder gave to tht
cole &c eminent service in the depart
ment of chemistry. and for L Of thcs:
- sa,l ale 10 ri ~, ii. Il
ogy.
In order to appreciate the life work
Of Professor Elder We must glance 1T IT,"
Iperiod in (which he wrought. It was NJ
axe of intellectual fcrmcnt ard unrest
The old was tested. but with confidcnt
| expectation that it would be found want
ing. Great discoveries in science wor.
announced. Darwin became to many q:
the creator Of new world and Huxley
was his prophet. Herbert Spencer In
horin,lsly constructed philosophy of tn,
universe to suit the new theories
professor Elder never dcprCc lated tn
value Of the new knowledge 50 tar a
there was any Pew Knowledge. IL m"
new theories with open mind. but sub
iccte1 them strictly to the test Of tn
reason whose banners they carried. Fl"
purc science assuming the role Of phil
osophy he had scant admiration
Professor Elder perceived also tfat t.
the age in which he lived had come mes
: sages beside those of the scientist. Tn
age with its tendencies to the matcria
: and its passion for possession needed t.
have these messages interpreted. and Thu
| Professor Elder was eminently fitted Il
lido II to the world the poets WEI" voic"
CRYING in the wilderness. u him the!
} were men sent of God. For surfa"e ar'
$ emotional religion Professor Elder ha'
: pity mingled with contempt; for shan
!, science Dragging as Goliath against tn
I hosts of the Lord he had contempt tina
$ was absolutely pure.
? "Trnder such coalitions Professor Edo
. taught college cl3sses for % years. lie
: Us think Of him then as a teacher.
e First, in his college department II
t his department he was thoroughly pre-
9 'pared His statements were regarded b,
4 scientific men with confidence ard r"
= snect. His conception of his work wa
Q in accord with tie ideal proper 70 4 col
1epe of the liberal arts. with his idea
= and ideals he coud- not fill to ," al
p exact and poss ibly an cXactia" teacher
He insisted on knowledge rather thar
II conjec ture.
n "Second. as teacher Of the hig'"
= life and of poetry. His nature aHd hi
|. nurture, his ability and his culture hi
t insight and his ideals. his religions fait
. and his devolt service, made tn" PEI
: sonal life Of William Elder rrmsfNab.
: one. Aristocratic in appearance manne
and feeling he was also rich III Sympa
= thy. kindness and benevolence. \ 20"
: in feeling and the higher vision. Profess
. sor Elder wrote little poetry Away
i modestly declaring that others haG don
:. = better. Those who listened to his lee
.tures upon the poets found new worl'
: to them.
.aThird. rs teacher of religion. II
p taocbipg science Professor Elder CAV" t
j God the same place which he found Hin