Westminster Choir College - Quadrangle Yearbook (Princeton, NJ)

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Dr. Charles R. Erdman In Memoriam 18

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Board of Trustees Left to right, front row: Sargent, Erdman, Poe, MacCalmont, Mrs. Williamson, Bitner, Green, Scheide, Thompson. Middle row: Johnson, Davis, Bunn, Walker, Walker, Mrs. Thayer, Seabrook. Back row: Smith, Greene, McKeever, Williamson. BOARD OF TRUSTEES Mrs. Michael Berman ’32 Director of the Charlotte Choral Society, Alumna of the College Lee Hastings Bristol, Jr. Director of Public Relations at BristohMyers Products Division B. Franklin Bunn President of the Princeton Savings and Loan Association Franklin L. Burdette Professor and Director of the Bureau of Governmental Research at University of Maryland Jack A. Davis, Jr. ’47 Organist and Choirmaster of the Cadet Chapel at the West Point Military Academy, Alumnus of the College W. Howard Green President of Concord Foods, Inc. George S. Greene, Jr. Budget Supervisor at Foote Mineral Co. John B. Horner Webb Horton Memorial Presbyterian Church, N- T. Tristam B. Johnson Partner in Laidlaw and Company at the Princeton Branch, Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the College John Milton Kelly ' 30 Professor of Sacred Music and Director at San Francisco Theological Seminary, Alumnus of the College J . Merrill Knapp Associate Professor of Music at Princeton University William F. MacCalmont President of the College John P. Poe President of the First Ffational Ban of Princeton F. Epling Reinartz President of the Ffational Lutheran Council Mrs. Mary G. Roebling President of the Trenton Trust Company H. I. Romnes President of Western Electric Noel Sargent Consultant on Industrial Problems and International Relations for the Ffational Association of Manufacturers William H. Scheide Director of the Bach Aria Group, Vice ' Chairman of The Board of Trustees of the College Charles F. Seabrook Chairman of the Board of Seabroo Farms Company Dilman M. K. Smith Vice ' Chairman of the Board of Opinion Research Corporation Mrs. Frederick M. Thayer President of the Child Garden Clinic Mark R. Thompson Pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church of Scranton, Pa. H. Torrey Walker Executive Secretary of the Board of Publications of the United Lutheran Church in America, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the College John Finley Williamson Co ' Founder and President Emeritus of the College Rhea B. Williamson Co ' Founder and Dean Emeritus of the College 17

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- -V- Friend Man ... Westminster Choir College is the product of a dream. But it owes its very existence to those like Dr. Charles R. Erdman who realized the value of this dream and the importance it had for churches every- where. Indeed, it was due to the influence of this man that the Choir College w s invited to make its home in Princeton, New Jersey. It was also because of his interest that his friend, Mrs. J. Livingston Taylor, generously donated the present campus and the four original buildings. Dr. Erdman’s connection with Westminster Choir College did not end here, however. He became a member of the Board of Trustees, was appointed teacher of Bible, acted as chaplain in charge of the weekly religious service, and was an advisor to many of the students. One might think from the above paragraph that Dr. Erdman had devoted most of his energies and talents to Westminster Choir College. That is hardly the case, however. He was known nationally and internationally as a preacher, teacher, author, Christian citizen, and churchman. His life span of ninety-four years was filled with active and varied interests. As a preacher he held three pastorates, one of which was the First Presbyterian’ Church of Princeton; as a teacher he served at Princeton Theo¬ logical Seminary, as well as Westminster Choir College; as an author he is credited with thirty-five books; as a Christian citizen he was actively con¬ nected with numerous organizations for civic better¬ ment; and as a churchman he is noted among other accomplishments as having been the Moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly and President of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions. In addition, to these achievements, he has been awarded honorary degrees from two colleges and Princeton University. Despite all his activities, Dr. Erdman somehow had time to take a personal interest in any who sought his help. He had the ability to express deep philo¬ sophical thoughts in simple terms — indeed, his busy life always seemed happy and uncomplicated; and he was noted for his out-going friendliness to all — especially newcomers to Princeton. These were some of the attributes that have so endeared him in the hearts of the Westminster Choir College students who knew him. He added a special glow to campus for faculty and students alike. His enthusiasm for life could be seen, for example, as he would tramp down Nassau Street to our campus on a snowy Thursday morning, muffler flying, a cheery greeting for all, to conduct our weekly chapel service. Perhaps tears were shed last May as many West¬ minster Choir College students, among others, at¬ tended a service in the First Presbyterian Church for Dr. Erdman. However, this funeral was not sad — it was, in fact, the triumphant concluding event in the rich life of this fine Christian gentleman. 19