Beaver College - Beaver Log Yearbook (Glenside, PA)

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with the rights, dignities, and authority usually ap- pertaining to such administrative otticef' The Charter ot Beaver College was then delivered into Dr. Kistler's custody with the Board ot Trustees' pledge ot their support and sympathy. Dr. Kistler's acceptance ot the charge delivered to him was simple, direct, and challenging. He pledged his best endeavor to the future of Beaver College, and with this message we recognized some small foreshadowing ot the good things he would bring to the college. Dr. Kistler came to Beaver with a background rich with experience. l-le has been a minister in the Presbyterian church for twenty-six years, having been ordained in l9l5. ln that time he has served in tour churches: the Eleventh United Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: the South Side Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh: the First Presby- terian Church ot Warren, Pennsylvania: and the Central Presbyterian Church, Rochester, New York, which pastorate he held when he accepted the presi- dency ot the college. A prominent part in the various departments ot Presbyterian work has been taken by Dr. Kistler. First, he served as moderator ot the Erie Presbytery. A tew years later he was moderator ot the Rochester Presbytery, and at the same time he was vice- moderator ot the Synod ot New York. He has served as president ot the New York State Council ot Churches, ot the Rochester Federation ot Churches, and ot the Rochester Ministerial Association. Dr. Kistler was a member ot the General CouncQl ot the Presbyterian Church tor six years, the maxi- mum time allowed tor service in that group. During the time he served on the administrative committee ot the Council and also headed several other com- mittees. Dr. Kistler's varied activities also include work in civic, state, and nation-wide affairs. This year he is listed in Who's Who in America. Dr. Kistler was graduated from Westminster Col- lege, New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, in l9l2, re- ceiving a Bachelor ot Arts degree. Then he attended

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w L fl: wa .KISTLER

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the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary for three years, after which he was ordained. ln l928, Westminster College granted him the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity, and in l937 Beaver bestowed upon him the degree of Doctor of Laws. We students of Beaver have not found it difficult to accept Dr. Kistler as president. He accepted us, and we have had to do very little to respond. To speak figuratively, Dr. Kistler sat himself down in our midst and became one of us. At Song Contest, he marched at the head of the Freshman Class and threw away his green cap with the rest of the new studentsg Wednesday afternoons he emerges from the sanctum sanctorum of his office and has a cup of tea with usp practically every day he descends to the Chatterbox for the refreshment of a chocolate coke He and Mrs. Kistler have extended the hospitality of their home to us. Very early in the year they held a reception in their home. We were welcomed as members of the familyg we were made to feel at home. Cn that evening the Kistlers became the un- contested heads of the Beaver family. This family feeling has come to be part of Beaver in the past year, fostered by the warm and gracious personality of the president and by his understanding of all of us. He has listened patiently to our problems, our questions. He gives us a chance to express our ideas, and after having heard us, he gives wise judgment and careful counsel. Almost a full college year has passed since Beaver settled down under the guidance of this new presi- dent. ln this year we have cast off the feeling of constraint which comes with any new regime, we have forgotten the attitude of caution with which we watched the president during his first few weeks. We no longer refer to Dr. Kistler as the new presi- dent g he is now our president, and we know it with the comfortable feeling of an established friend- ship founded on understanding, assurance, and faith. To us individually and to the college as a whole, Dr. Kistler has brought many good things. His first year with us indicates that Beaver has entered a new and brighter era under his vibrant leadership.