Name/Title
AU Howard, Alfred T. - 1933-05-23 letter to Joseph Hastings HarrisEntry/Object ID
1990.1.406Context
The Bonebrake Theological Seminary
Dayton, Ohio
Alfred T. Howard
Missions and Social Ethics
Dunstable, Mass
May 23 : 1933
President J. H. Harris
Bonebrake Theological Seminary
Dayton, Ohio
Dear President Harris: A letter has been due you from my quarter for several days and I intended to write today on an item of business but the letter that came from Mrs. Howard last evening when I came here from Boston quite changes the main character of my letter.
Mrs. Howard writes that you have resigned from your position as president and I want herewith to express my deepest, most sincere regrets. I can not imagine what has turned up to make this step seem wise.
For my part I have believed right through this past quadrennium that you were the biggest and fittest man on the horizon four year ago for the Seminary presidency and I have had no occasion to change my mind during the years since then.
You won my admiration and esteem in the two previous General Conferences for it seemed to me you stood out in those General Conferences as one of the most discerning and broadest minded men in those Conferences. Your words and acts while you have been at the Seminary have fully sustained the above, earlier judgment. It seems to me you have handled campus matters in admirable fashion. I have not heard one word, not one word of criticism or you or your acts from any student or member of the faculty in the four years. By your leadership in the faculty our business has been better distributed and handled than ever before and I am certain there has been better satisfaction in the dormitory.
No one wants to evade a hard task but I can't hardly help congratulating you that you can roll off that cruel burden. I just wonder where the super man is who can carry the staggering load through these years ahead with conditions in and outside of the church as they are.
I want to express my appreciation too of the manner in which Mrs. Harris and "the boys" James and Richard have met the difficult financial circumstances in these recent years. They have all earned every body's esteem by their unusual talents and beautiful spirit. I am sure you all have still greater contributions to make to the church and the world in these years ahead.
Now this item of business. You gave me a small booklet to review. This consisted of three Editorial in an Episcopalian paper. It hardly deserves a review, not that the material is not good but I doubt whether the publishers planned to sell many copies. So I do not think I will send any review of it.
Yours with keen regrets and abiding esteem
A. T. Howard
