Ursinus College - Ruby Yearbook (Collegeville, PA)

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Iii 189S, after Dr. Raymond Dodge, Professor of Philosophy at I rsiiius, accepted a call from Wesleyan University. Prof. Urban was appointed as his successor. This position lie has since filled with marked ability. His scholarship, as well as his position as an educator, is more fully shown by his connection with educational circles and by his publications. He is an active member of the American Psychological Association, and of the American Philosophical Association. His contributions to the Psychological Review have been on the following subjects: “The Prospective Reference of Mind,” “The Psychology of Sufficient Reason, and “The Problem of a Logic of the Emotions and Affective Memory;” to the Philosophical Rcvinr. “The Relation of the Individual to the Social Value Series.” He is one of the Assistant Editors of the Dictionary of Philosophy and Psychology, edited by Professor J. Mark Baldwin, having special charge of the work in philology. To this work he has also con tributed one of the leading articles on the topic “Value''. Furthermore, Professor Urban has made contributions to the investigation of Affective Memory which have been recognized as important by Professor Ribot, of France, the pioneer in that field. He has now in press a continuation of this study, a monograph supplement to tlie Psychological Rcritu entitled. “The Consciousness of Value.” Thus Professor Urban’s work gives him more than a local reputation. Asa teacher there arc few subjects on which he does not have well-matured opinions, yet. hi keenness of insight into human nature makes him sympathetic and tolerant of other men's views “In his instruction, he is thorough, broad, and modern, using the best (redagogical principles. He urges independent work and research, and carefully guides the mind into proper channels to avoid false conclusions. Besides, the unconscious influence which radiates from him makes him a great favorite among his students. He is the student's friend, always willing to give aid, always open to private consultation, always able to give worthy counsel. But Professor Urban’s success as an educator is partly due to his character as a man. He is a Christian gentleman and an ideal college man. As such lie is not a recluse; he posesses the golden mean of true dignity and modesty, which, instead of repelling, attracts. With students and friends he shares the pleasures and joys on the athletic field, on the campus, and in social gatherings. On such occasions, his amiableness, his conversational ability and his delight in wit and humor draw many friends to him. Such is the record of a few of the facts of Professor’ Urban’s career ; better portrayed, however, in his daily life and work. It is a pleasant thought that his work has only begun. In the promising future that is before him the members of the class of 1903 wish him abundant success. 9

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1 r- Wilbur Marshall Urban, Ph. D. , Vvt ,4 SAYS DR. ORMOND, McCosli Professor of Philosophy at Princeton. “There is no small college that has a Professor of Philosophy to equal Professor Urban. The students and friends of Ursinus College arc realizing the truth of this statement, and we, the class of 1903. cherish the highest respect for our esteemed Professor. We, therefore, dedicate this volume to him whom we honor and with whose life, character and work we daily come in contact. Professor Urban's early life was spent in Philadelphia. He was born March 27th. [873, and is the son of Rev. A. L. Urban, of Woodbury. X. J. He attended the public schools of the city, and afterwards spent four years at the William Penn Charter School. At this institution he served as Editor-in Chief of its magazine, was graduated with honors as valedictorian of his class, and received the George W. Childs Entrance Prize for Princeton. In September, 1890, lie entered Princeton University. His college days speak for themselves. Ever after his Freshman year he was known as a cultured man, though never regarded as a “polcr . We may judge his broadness of mind and his efficiency as a student by the honors he won. He was the successful contestant for the Sophomore Debate Prize, and was appointed Washington’s Birthday Orator in his Junior year. Ilis literary ability is shown by the fact that he icceived the Baird Prize for Poetry, and the position as an Kditor of the jVassatt I.H r ny .1fagazitn in his Senior year. His education was not confined to classical studies alone: for when he was graduated in 1895, he received his degree, magna aim I a ude, with special honors in philosophy, and was awarded the Chancellor Green Fellowship in Mental Science After graduation, Prof. Urban went to Germany. For a year he studied at the University of Jena. In the following summer he was married to Miss Elizabeth Newell Wakelin, of Philadelphia, a graduate of Smith College. After travelling in England, France, and Germany, during the same summer, lie entered the University of Leipsic. There he spent a year under the instruction of Professors Wilhelm Wundt and Max Heinze, and received his degree of Doctor of Philosophy with the distinction of stun nr a cum fa tide. The subject of his thesis, which has since l een favorably reviewed in foreign and American journals, was “A History of the Principle of Sufficient Reason,—Its Metaphysical and Logical Formulations. In the fall of ’97 he returned to Princeton as a Reader in Philosophy, and gave a course of lectures, extending through the year, to graduate students and Seniors. 8 it

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r URSINUS COLLEGE Founded February JO, 1869 PRESIDENTS Rkv. J. II. A. Bombkrgkr, I). D..LL. I)., RKV. Uknrv W. Si'prr, I). I ., U,. I)., Rkv. Uknrv T. Spangi.er, l). I).. 18701890 1K92-1893 1893- 10 k.