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SOME NOTES ON THE GENESIS OF THE DEPARTMENT
SOME NOTES ON THE GENESIS OF THE DEPARTMENT
by Ellison A. Smyth
by Ellison A. Smyth
Dr. Elton Trueblood gave the annual Y.M.C.A. Religious Emphasis addresses during the session of 1950-51. His emphasis on the need of technically trained students to have some instruction in the area of ethics was seed in fertile soil. In April, 1951, the Rev. Robert Bluford, Presbyterian minister to students left for other work. The President of V.P.I., Dr. Walter Newman was a member of the Blacksburg Presbyterian Church (later Deacon and Elder). Prof. Paul Dyck was chairman of the Student Work Committee at the Church. Newman and Dyck both had liberal arts backgrounds. Smyth, pastor of the church and a graduate of V.P.I. in Electrical Engineering (though later making up for his deficiency in liberal arts), was keenly aware of the imbalance in a purely technical education. The confluence of these factors led to the beginning of the Department of Philosophy and Religion at V.P.I.: the stimulus of Trueblood's emphasis, the need of replacing the Presbyterian minister to students position together with a very tight financial church budget, Newman's desire to find a way to test the political and academic waters by offering a few courses in the area of ethics in Virginia's Land Grant College, and the decision of Prof. Paul Dyck and the pastor of the Presbyterian Church to offer a simple plan. Dyck and Smyth met with Newman and suggested that the church secure a fully qualified and mutually acceptable man to give halftime to introducing courses in ethics at V.P.I. and half-time to directing the Presbyterian student work program--the college and the church to share equally in the expense. [Editor's note: See other accounts; this was apparently a quarter-time college/three-quarterstime church appointment.] The first three qualified men contacted by Smyth turned down the proposition. At the meeting of the Presbyterian Educational Association in July 1951, Smyth was given the name of Dr. Edward LeRoy Long, Jr., who had just finished his Ph.D. at Columbia University and his B.D. at Union Seminary, New York. Smyth had read his book Science and Religion and was impressed with his ability. Interviews with Dr. Long resulted in calls from the church and V.P.I. and the beginning of his service here on September 1, 1951. Long continued as pastor in charge of student work until January 1, 1955, when he became the full-time head of the Department of Philosophy and Religion. He held that position until December 1, 1957, when he left for Oberlin College. [Editor's Note: This does not match Long's version; he states that he made the decision to leave Tech in April 1957 and left at the end of the summer.]
Dr. Elton Trueblood gave the annual Y.M.C.A. Religious Emphasis addresses during the session of 1950-51. His emphasis on the need of technically trained students to have some instruction in the area of ethics was seed in fertile soil. In April, 1951, the Rev. Robert Bluford, Presbyterian minister to students left for other work. The President of V.P.I., Dr. Walter Newman was a member of the Blacksburg Presbyterian Church (later Deacon and Elder). Prof. Paul Dyck was chairman of the Student Work Committee at the Church. Newman and Dyck both had liberal arts backgrounds. Smyth, pastor of the church and a graduate of V.P.I. in Electrical Engineering (though later making up for his deficiency in liberal arts), was keenly aware of the imbalance in a purely technical education. The confluence of these factors led to the beginning of the Department of Philosophy and Religion at V.P.I.: the stimulus of Trueblood's emphasis, the need of replacing the Presbyterian minister to students position together with a very tight financial church budget, Newman's desire to find a way to test the political and academic waters by offering a few courses in the area of ethics in Virginia's Land Grant College, and the decision of Prof. Paul Dyck and the pastor of the Presbyterian Church to offer a simple plan. Dyck and Smyth met with Newman and suggested that the church secure a fully qualified and mutually acceptable man to give halftime to introducing courses in ethics at V.P.I. and half-time to directing the Presbyterian student work program--the college and the church to share equally in the expense. [Editor's note: See other accounts; this was apparently a quarter-time college/three-quarterstime church appointment.] The first three qualified men contacted by Smyth turned down the proposition. At the meeting of the Presbyterian Educational Association in July 1951, Smyth was given the name of Dr. Edward LeRoy Long, Jr., who had just finished his Ph.D. at Columbia University and his B.D. at Union Seminary, New York. Smyth had read his book Science and Religion and was impressed with his ability. Interviews with Dr. Long resulted in calls from the church and V.P.I. and the beginning of his service here on September 1, 1951. Long continued as pastor in charge of student work until January 1, 1955, when he became the full-time head of the Department of Philosophy and Religion. He held that position until December 1, 1957, when he left for Oberlin College. [Editor's Note: This does not match Long's version; he states that he made the decision to leave Tech in April 1957 and left at the end of the summer.]
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