Pickering College - Voyageur Yearbook (Newmarket, Ontario Canada)

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1 I . i ' I ' in an PR As Beethoven's melody for the hymn, Joyful, joyful, we adore thee began, a hush fell over the Meeting Room where some three hundred students, faculty, old boys, parents and friends of the school were gathered on Sunday evening, March 6, at a Meeting for Worship in memory of Joseph McCulley, Headmaster of Pick- ering College from 1927 to 1947. Joe McCulley was a joyful man! lt was his spirit which brought new life to this old school after it had served as a hospital during and after the first World War. From 1927 to 1947 he infused Pickering College with the grace of good cheer, loving hope and strong conviction. Joseph McCuIley died on February 9th and tonight we have come to honour this man whose life has greatly affected the lives of all Pickering people. With these words, Harry M. Beer, a student, colleague and friend of the late Mr. McCulley, opened the Meeting. ln this tribute entitled, Joe McCulley, Schoolmaster and Friend, Mr. Beer re- called the warmth and enthusiasm of a man who was a pioneer in Canadian educational thought and an inspiring and vital master in his own classroom. He made us feel that life at Pickering was a mighty endeavour in which we were fortunate to share, Mr. Beer said. Since Joe McCulley's death many former students and teachers have been in touch with me and most of them mention that his influence was a turning point in their lives. He was a man of great compassion who was able to lift the spirit of a confused or troubled human being and lead him to self-fulfilment. He was a man of great strength who could share his strength with those in greater need and give them hope. Those of us whose lives he touched think of him as a great friend.

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Joseph McCulley, Headmaster from 1927 to 1947, was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1900 and came to Canada in 1907. ln 1916, he became interested in Boys' Work as a result of meeting Taylor Statten at a Y Conference in St. Catharines. Throughout the next forty years these two men were to remain friends Joe McCulley was selected by Taylor Statten to work on Camp Tuxis a Y proiect at Canoe Lake Algonquin Parkin 1921 ln the years following this he was very active in Camp Ahmek a Taylor Statten Camp for Boys operated on the same lake After graduating with an Honours degree in Philosophy from University College University of Toronto Mr McCulley was given a Massey Fellow ship which he used for graduate study in Modern History at Christchurch College Oxford While in England he visited Quaker schools and a number of new progressive schools These visits were to influence his approach to education in the future Also a graduate of the Ontario College of Education in the University of Toronto Mr McCulley was Tutor in Residence at Victoria College in the University of Toronto in 1926 27 lt was in the fall of 1927 that as Headmaster he re opened Pickering College For twenty years Joe McCulley was the moving spirit of our school Hrs quick intelligent mind and his enthusiasm for the educational challenge of Pickering enabled him to motivate boys and masters alike In working out the tenets of the philosophy of education which prevails at Pickering he was able to revitalize the schools Quaker heritage with principles of the new education and his experience in Boys Work under Taylor Statten If it were not for Mr McCulIeys enthusiasm the great experiment of Pickering College might not have succeeded ln 1947 Mr McCulley left Pickering to become Deputy Commissioner of Penitentiaries for Canada where his work involved education and training In 1952 he was appointed Warden of Hart House in the University of Toronto He continued in that capacity until his retirement in 1965 During this busy life Joe McCulley also found time to serve for ten years as Chairman of the Young Mens Committee of the National Council of the YMCA Until his death this year Mr McCulley maintained an active interest in the affairs of Pickering College and was a member of its Corporation r - ri rv ' r ' A 7 l' . . . , . r r 1 Y ' - , . Y ll ' YY ' ' , . r 1 ' ' Y ' Y - r . . , . . . . H . ,, . . ' I ' 1 ' ll ' Y, . . , Y ' - - r . . . , . I . . . . , .

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pw davit' Wana, X, iw sri S .91 N' Ulu... 'O-1 ...? May this school which bears his stamp continue to reflect his spirit! Mr. Beer concluded. Joining Mr. Beer in the conduct of this Meeting were: Reginald Godden, a former music master and pianist whose playing accompanied the singing of Mr. McCulley's favourite hymn, This is my Father's world and the school hymn, 'lJerusalem g C. R. Blackstock, a former Director of Athletics who read a selection from Tennyson's Ulysses , R. H. Perry, who read 'lFaith is the Victory from one of Joe McCulley's Sunday Evening talks, A. D. Rogers, the Chairman of the Board who read the scripture from St. Mark, 125 Joseph Buckley, Mr. McCulley's nephew who read The Declaration of Citizenship of The Athenian Youth , and Jack Struthers, an Old Boy who read an article, Reflections of A Headmaster, which Joe McCulIey wrote in 1937. Although the sense of loss at the passing of Jospeh McCuIley was deepened by the words and music of the Meeting, those present took heart from his own words, Let your faith be a burning torch. Let your faith be an over-mastering pas- sion, an overpowering ideal. Only for those who greatly believe and who greatly venture can great dreams come true. Sitting in the silent Meeting Room re- flecting upon all that was said, it was abundantly clear that Joseph McCulley's works bore witness to his words.